Remember When...

Chapter 6

Writers Note: Thanks for reading!!!! Please vote and comment!!!

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We head out along the southern coast road and pull into a small café about 3 hrs from home. I love the feeling of the Harley under my butt however; I am going to pay for this tomorrow. I can feel it.

We order cappuccinos and sit in the alfresco section overlooking the beach. I excuse myself and head to the bathroom.

When I return, Troy has that far away look in his eyes as he looks out over the ocean. There is something there that pulls on my heartstrings and sadness descends upon me.

Troy is a beautiful man. Inside and out. He has model looks and reminds me of an older Didier Cohen. The years have been good to Troy.

"Earth to Troy" I say as I take the seat beside him. Troy looks to me and it takes a few seconds for him to realize where he is.

"Sorry Tori, just thinking" he mutters.

"You seem to be doing that lot. Drifting off and apologizing," I say trying to lighten the mood.

Troy shakes his head as though to un jumble his thoughts and gives me a drop-dead smile. "Where were we?" he says taking a drink of his coffee.

I can't take this any longer and I have to know what is bothering him. I take a deep breath.

"Troy? Can I ask you something? However I want you to answer me truthfully and don't tell me it's none of my business," I blurt out

Troy gives a chuckle "Go for it"

"Please tell me why you came back and what it is that is making you so sad. It's breaking my heart."

"I don't think you really want those answers Tori," he says with downcast eyes. "And I'm not sure if a can tell you"

I don't like the sound of this.

"Please try" I encourage.

"I'll try but, you can't interrupt me until I have finished. Understand?" he says with sad eyes.

I nod my head not knowing what the hell he is going to say. I feel a knot in my stomach.

"I love you Tori and I am IN LOVE with you. I always have been. Daniel knew. He would catch me, at times, looking at you and remind me that you were his wife and that I didn't stand a chance. We came to an agreement that I would never tell you or act on my feelings and he would not have to kill me," he says with a chuckle.

I am gob smacked. I can't believe what I am hearing

"You promised not to talk until I am finished," he says as I open my mouth. I close my mouth but my mind is reeling.

"When Daniel died, I was torn apart. I lost my best friend, my mate and the day of the funeral I was heartbroken. For you and for myself. All I wanted to do was take you in my arms and tell you everything would be OK but I couldn't. If I had held you the way I wanted to, I would never have let you go. I found myself fantasizing about us having a life together and I knew it was so wrong. You were the wife of my recently deceased best friend for fucks sake!!!! "

"I made the decision to walk away so I wouldn't have to see you on a constant basis, to hear you cry and to see your pain, I don't think I could have survived that" he whispers "You were so broken and I wasn't able to put you back together the way you needed. Only Daniel could do that and I didn't want to be second best."

I can't believe what I am hearing. He can't feel like that. He is Daniels best friend.

I don't know how to respond to Troy. He has just laid his heart on the line and I can't wrap my head around it. He loves me? That's just too much.