For Avaley * unedited*

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter 13

“It looks like I am always meeting you at sunset.”

I couldn’t help but to smile. My heart was racing. He was the holder of my missing piece of heart and just holding his hand I felt complete again. I haven’t felt this much since I left him. Just one touch and I felt whole.

He looked good. Exactly the same to be exact, with a couple of wrinkles around his eyes, otherwise you would swear time stood still. I found myself looking at him in awe. How I missed him.

“So are you done attacking your father?”

I hung my head in shame. I was feeling bad enough for what I did. Now to know that Evan knows what I did. My head snapped up.

“You pulled me off of him . . . You heard” as utter terror and shock ruled my face. I never wanted him to find out in such a dramatic way. I needed the eye connection during my explanation. I needed to see his understanding to my words. Tears sprang to my eyes as the terror ripped my heart once again.

He stopped me by pulling me into himself. Throwing his arm over my shoulders tucking me right under his arm like it was still second nature and natural. I slid my arms around his waist and held on. I felt him relax and place a kiss on top of my head. I was home, he was my home.

He put his finger under my chin and made me look at him. Using the thumb of his free hand he wiped my tears away.

“Paige, stop. It’s not your fault.”

“But it is. It is why I needed to talk to you.” I started to sob “Evan . . . yours.” That is all I could managed to get out between sobs.

He dropped his arm from around my shoulder and started to rub my back trying to calm me. I held on to his waist since that is all that was holding me up at this point. My knees finally gave in and I hit the dock. I forgot to let go and pulled Evan off balance. He hit the dock with a large thud hurting my arm but I didn’t care. We both fell into a fit of giggles.

“I always seem to be taking you down.” That only made us laugh harder. My tears now switched in nature dulling the pain.

He rebutted “I enjoyed it last time better.”

I smacked his chest knowing he was referring to me sitting on him. He acted like it hurt although I knew it didn’t. He wrapped both his arms around me and pulled me up into one of his famous bear hugs. Well at least famous with those who know him. I couldn’t help but to giggle through the hug at my strange blanket like drape over Evan.

“I missed you Paige.”

I looked up at him with the track of tears on my face now from laughing. His eyes captivated me, they always had. They were the most translucent color of blue green. The pupil looked like a boulder at the bottom of the sea. I almost had to shake my head to move on and say what I needed to say.

“Evan there is something I need to tell you and it’s not easy for me. So please let me get it out.”

“Okay so what do you need to tell me?”

I broke contact with his eyes. Took a couple of deep breaths and looked at him again. I know there was nothing but complete fear across my face. The recognition of that played across his face and his arms tightened.  I know he was confused and scared but couldn’t understand why.

“I need to tell you why I left.”

He sat up and pulling me onto his lap. His heart was racing out of his chest. He was holding on for dear life.

“I need to do this please let go of me.”

He reluctantly let go. “Paige I heard why and I now know what happened.”

“NO” I yelled “That’s just it you don’t. You don’t know all of what happened.

He scooped me into a hug trying to hold all of me at once. “I know enough it doesn’t matter. You are here now that is all that matters. Let’s leave the rest in the past.”

I saw my daughter walk up to the edge of the dock. Smart girl, she did find me too. She is too much like her parents. I threw her a look and she understood. Well at least now I can do this. Her support of being here gave me some courage. At least I will only have to explain this once. She sat down on the edge of the dock within hearing distance. Evan didn’t notice her yet and I was glad. I pulled him out of his arms.

“Evan, please”

He sighed “Okay.”

I let a little smile play at the corners of my lips. I actually won the first battle. I’ll have to laugh about that later. That is if he is still talking to me. He watched me closely, and he was finding this almost as difficult as I was expecting. I know it’s like pouring salt into a wound. Shit, I don’t know how to do this.

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