Page 23 of Inside Silence

It’s not until an SUV turns into the parking lot and pulls into a vacant space a few spots down, I finally manage to prompt him.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

He raises his head slightly and lifts his eyes to look at me from under his eyebrows.

“Us.”

It’s like ice water is poured down my spine with that single word.

“There is no us to talk about,” I return coldly.

He tilts his head slightly. “Are you sure?”

The bark of laughter bursting from my chest is incredulous.

“Are you serious right now? Because I don’t have the time or energy to explain to you how fucked up that is. Coming up on sixteen years ago soon, Nathan… You. Left. Without a word, I might add.” I pull back my index finger from where it was poking into his chest. “You’ve been back here…what? Less than a month? Now you want to talk about us? Newsflash. There is no us! A lifetime was lived in the decade and a half since you vanished off the face of the earth.”

I’m well aware I’m yelling at this point—I appear to be drawing some attention—but I can’t help myself, I’m beyond pissed off. How dare he?

I curl my hands into fists and press them into my thighs to keep from punching him.

“You barely cleared out of here before you cancelled your phone, Nathan. Like a coward, you denied me an explanation. So don’t you dare suggest there is an us. You killed that right a long time ago.”

“I did,” he concedes easily.

Too easily.

“But I’d like a chance to explain anyway.”

I shake my head and let my eyes drift over his shoulder. Why am I even tempted to listen? Did I really believe I could forge a casually friendly connection with this man by going to his house, and having dinner with him? Or am I really that helplessly drawn to him?

“I fell in love and had a life with a wonderful man after you left,” I volunteer in a last-ditch effort to create some emotional distance.

“I heard. I’m so sorry for your loss,” he echoes the words I shared with him only a few days ago.

Of course he heard. Silence is a small town and nothing stays quiet for very long.

He bends down until our eyes are level before adding, “But I’m glad you found some happiness for a while.”

He looks sincere enough, until his gaze slides down to my mouth.

Unnerved, I bite my lip, which causes his eyes to snap back up to mine.

“I’m exhausted. I should head home,” I state, breaking whatever voodoo has me drowning in his blue-gray eyes.

Immediately he straightens up and backs away, giving me space to get to the driver’s side door.

I’m about to climb in when I hear his voice close behind me.

“Give me a chance, Savvy. A chance to talk, that’s all I ask.”

“I’ll think about it,” I mutter, quickly pulling the door shut.

My hands are shaking when I start the engine.

Damn you, Nathan Gaines.

Chapter 8