Perfectly Pink - An It's Always Been You Romance (Complete)

Chapter 31

Green and grey blurred past as the truck merged into the traffic speeding down the interstate. Mary stared out the window, wrapped her arms around her middle, kept herself pressed against the passenger side door. Partly to hold herself together and partly so Simon won't touch her. Because if he did touch her, put his hand on her thigh like he had at the beginning of the trip, there would be no way she could stop the onslaught of tears threating to spill from her.

She knew she was being cold. Couldn't help it. Her only defense. Only option. The cab of the truck too small, filled with the scent of his aftershave.

Simon let her be, didn't push. Why didn't he push?

Trying to keep her voice as calm as possible, she excused her standoffishness by telling Simon she was tired.

"Close your eyes, baby. I'll let you know when we are home." Simon cooed.

Home. She felt like she was leaving home, not returning to it.

With closed eyelids, she tried to find her composure; her resolve. But images of the perfect morning they'd spend together fought for dominance, her heart in conflict with her head. Everything was so easy, so right. She let her guard down, been herself with Simon.

But it couldn't last. The bubble burst back at the gas station. Simon was in paying when Mary looked over and saw Angela Kessel at the pump beside her. Mary lowered her head, turned away, and leaned on the hood of the truck, trying to avoid her. Thankfully, the woman didn't notice her, too focused on the precious bundle in the back seat of her car, her three-month-old baby. If she had, if Angela had seen Mary with Simon, everyone in Bridgetown would have known about it the second the gossip returned to town.

A knot formed in Mary's stomach. Simon was a good guy. No, he was a great guy. Just not for her. He'd make some local townie a great match, a wonderful husband. She didn't fit into his world, and he didn't fit into hers. There were plans, expectations, promises made. Her father required his daughter to make something of herself, and being with the local bar manager was not on the bill.

Hunter, the man who was going places, he was who Mary was supposed to be with. Her father liked Hunter, admired his politics, had high hopes for this career. Hunter was big city, an influencer and checked all the boxes. He and Mary made a good match. They looked good together on paper. They would have perfect children together.

Simon's child would be adorable. Visions of a little boy with his floppy hair running around made her smile. No, she had to push the thought away. No matter how much she wanted Simon, it couldn't happen. She couldn't disappoint her father, the family.

They were a little over an hour away from town and as lovely as this escape had been, the sight of Angela reminded Mary it was time to face reality. Return to the life she was supposed to live.

But before she closed the door, Mary had wanted one more moment, one more kiss.

Watching Simon stroll back to the car, Mary allowed herself to appreciate his every move. In the past, she'd been forced to rely on stolen glances at him. But here, now, she blatantly ogled Simon. Admiring how his muscles flexed under his light blue T-shirt, how his face broke out into a smile when he first saw her. How the smile morphed into concern when he approached and asked if everything was okay.

Wanting to erase that look of concern etched onto his face, she practically attacked him when he got close enough. With everything she felt yet couldn't say poured into the kiss, she made it the best last kiss ever. Clinging to him, she didn't want to let go, didn't want this time with him to end.

But she knew it had to. So, she'd crowbarred herself away from him, climbed into the truck and asked him to take her home.

"Mary?" Simon gently touched her arm. "We're here."