Page 42 of The Consequence of You (Heathley Academy #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

ASHER

C allie’s hands tremble as she fumbles with her seatbelt. Watching her struggle to fasten it for what feels like a lifetime, I put her out of her misery and take over, clicking it in on the first attempt.Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I try not to show my frustration.

“Why didn’t you come to Gray’s tonight? Are you still avoiding me?”

She ignores me, leaning her head against the cool glass of the passenger side window.

“Where’s Rossi?”

She continues to sit in silence, steadfastly ignoring me. She’s pale, more so than usual, and she’s clearly been drinking alone.

“You’re not going to throw up, are you?” I ask her, suddenly horrified at the thought. I might be in love with this woman, but vomit might be a line I wouldn’t cross even for her. I look at her again. What the fuck am I saying. I’d do anything for her. Cleaning vomit included.

Still, I decide it might be wise to pull into the upcoming empty lay-by. She might need some fresh air. Before I can get out and open her door, she speaks,

“I’m okay, I’m not going to be sick, I promise. You can carry on.” She adds a quiet, “please.”

I’ve never been so glad I chose not to drink tonight. She’d never have got a ride at this time. It’s so unlike her to be out drinking on her own, and is no doubt the result of everything that’s gone on.

Sliding my phone out of my pocket, I quickly text Rossi to let him know she’s with me. They must not know where she is, as there’s no way they’d let her out like this.

Restarting the car, I pull out onto the dual carriageway.

We travel for a couple of miles in silence. I can’t stand seeing her like this. All these years I thought I was incapable of love. Turns out I am as human as the next person. I had no idea it would feel like this. Like my whole purpose in life is to make her happy.

She makes a noise next to me, and I flick my gaze to her. She’s trying her hardest to keep her face impassive, but I see the despair all over it, and I want so badly to fix it. I slow down and pull up in another lay-by.

“Asher, what are you doing? I’m okay. I’m not sick.”

“I know sweetheart, that’s not why I’m stopping. I want to say something.” I switch off the engine and turn to her. “I’ve fucking missed you so much. I know you told me last week nothing could ever happen between us, but I don’t care. I need to say it anyway.”

“Asher-” I put a finger to her lips, silencing her.

“Our hearts have known each other since the beginning of time, Callie. I’m beginning to think they were forged by the same god.

I don’t know if I even believe in that shit, but you make me look at the world in a completely different way.

And I think if there is a god, they intended for us to find each other.

” I pause, waiting for my shaky breath to steady, as a lone tear rolls from her damp lashes.

“I love you. I don’t need you to say it back.

I’m just telling you so there’s no room for misunderstanding.

We’re inevitable, you and I. Whether you work that out this week or next, or ten years down the road.

” Another tear falls down her cheek, and I catch this one with my thumb.

I rub it across my bottom lip, tasting it.

She opens her mouth and I steal myself for yet another rejection.

“I love you, too.” Her words are quiet, and for a second, I wonder if I’ve misheard her.

“What did you say?” my voice cracks.

“I said… I love you, too, Asher.” My eyes smart, and I blink rapidly, trying to clear my vision.

“You love me?” I stutter out.

Callie reaches up and traces her fingertips along my jaw.

“I don’t know why you’re so surprised. You just gave me a whole speech about how inevitable we are.” She’s teasing me, and my heart pounds harder.

“Yes, but I, shit, I wasn’t expecting you to say it now. I’m so used to you fighting me on this.”

“I’m done running. You were right when you told me I wasn’t living. You were right about everything. I love you, but I need to tell you something, and it might change the way you feel about me.”

Callie chews on her bottom lip, and I want to yell at her that nothing she could ever do or say would make me love her less, but she needs this moment. She’s finally opening up to me, and I need to let her do it her way.

I link my fingers through hers and wait patiently for whatever it is she wants to tell me.

“I’m listening.”

“It’s exactly four years since my mother died.” I stroke the back of her hand in a way that I hope is soothing, and wait for her to continue. “It wasn’t far from here. The stretch of road where she died.”

She shivers and I resist the urge to pull her into my lap. I think back to the cruel way I accused her of holding on to her mother’s death when she first spoke to me about it. It’s no fucking wonder she’s taken so long to trust me with this. Shame heats my cheeks.

“I’m sorry I was so dismissive of your grief before.”

She wipes her cheeks with her sleeve, and I can tell she’s struggling to stay composed.

“You don’t owe me an apology, Asher. You were right about me not being able to move on from it.” My chest tightens at the thought of what the last few years must have been like for her. “Everything changed for my whole family after that night. We lost Mama, but we also lost each other.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry you went through that.” I hold her hand, but she pulls it from mine.

“You don’t understand. It’s my fault she’s dead. I killed her.”