One Wish Left

CHAPTER 23: TEST

Just as Jesse had suggested, Brodie was driving Laura out to the countryside to watch shooting stars. He'd done some research with the forecast and had picked out this night as the one with the best chance of clear visibility. It was absolutely perfect. Only a small sliver of the sun could be seen on the horizon, and already the heavens were alight with stars. He'd even packed a quilt since the temperatures were beginning to drop on these early October evenings.

As he turned onto the residential dirt road and parked his truck off to the side, he looked over at Laura, who was peacefully and quietly eyeing the skies out her window. Brodie had a funny feeling in his stomach as he watched her. She'd become so important to him, his whole world. It was paralyzing to think of losing her somehow. Sometimes, he still felt unworthy of her, and his deepest, secret fear was that she would realize she deserved better and leave him.

Three weeks ago, when he'd had the stomach flu, Brodie had overheard Laura's phone conversation with his cousin, Jesse. The two had talked for what must have been hours, and although Brodie had been pretty out of it at the time, he could recollect much of their discussion. He could tell they got along well and genuinely cared for one another. She'd even told Jesse about issues with her mother that she hadn't yet shared with him.

He told himself she was just being kind, and he knew that Jesse's personality brought out that kind of vulnerability in others because of his cousin's sensitive and empathic nature. Nevertheless, overhearing their banter and confidence in one another hit on the nerve of his fears. Brodie himself already thought that Jesse was a better man than he was; he wouldn't be surprised if Laura realized it soon, too.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

He shook his head to clear it. "Oh, stuff and nonsense."

She squinted her eyes at him. "You are a terrible liar."

He laughed and reached for her hand. "You know me too well."

"Impossible," she said, granting him his favorite smile.

As he stroked her knuckle with his thumb, he grew solemn. "Babe, you're too good for me. I'm—"

"Brodie Johnson! You quit that right now," she commanded. She cupped his jaw and turned his face toward hers. "You listen to me: I will not sit here and listen to this. Stuff and nonsense is right!"

He chewed his cheek, wanting so badly to believe her.

"And you are such a hypocrite, by the way!" she accused.

That snapped him out of his funk.

"What?!"

She withdrew her hand and crossed her arms. "You heard me."

"You mind explaining that, babe?" he said with a cocky half-smile.

"You are the one who is always telling me to be confident. That I'm incredible and can do anything. That I should realize my own worth and value. And look at you now." She clucked her tongue in reprimand. "You should practice what you preach, Johnson."

Damnit. She was right.

He smirked at her. "Remind me."

Her expression lightened by a fraction. "You are worth the world to me. You are my world." He smiled at how her words echoed his thoughts about her. "What would I do without you?" she asked as she went on. "How would I deal with people at school? How would I deal with my parents? My mom is driving me up the wall, and you're the only thing keeping me sane!"