Part 25 (1/2)

”Uh oh, did you guys have a fight?”

”No. Not really. I just told him that I wanted to be alone tonight. I feel like he is suffocating me.”

”Did you talk to him about it?”

”No. I am tired of talking about it,” I said, not talking about the same thing that she was talking about.

Lauren and I wrapped ourselves in warm fuzzy blankets and sat on the back deck with a twelve pack of beer. It was just what I needed. The November sky was dark and cloudy, kind of like my mood, but laughing about silly stuff with Lauren pulled me right away from my self- absorption. We only made it outside for about an hour and were freezing. We ordered Chinese around seven. Lauren flirted with the poor delivery boy something fierce. I couldn't help but laugh at her.

She didn't stay long much after that. She woke too early, and it was getting close to her bedtime. I found myself alone and d.a.m.nit if I didn't miss my sheriff. I was surprised that he hadn't called, but I was sure that he was trying to give me my s.p.a.ce.

I showered and cuddled up on the couch as I flipped on the television. I channel surfed for a while, never landing on one certain show. I took a deep breath, giving in and dialed Dawson.

”Feel better?” he asked on the first ring. I smiled. I loved him so much, and wished then that I hadn't been such a prune. He would have been right there with me had I not decided to go all dark on him.

”Yes, and I am sorry.”

”What are you sorry for?”

”I don't know. For being such a pain, I guess.”

”You're not a pain, Ry. I love you just the way you are.”

I snorted. He shouldn't love me. He shouldn't love me at all. He should have run the other way as soon as we met.

”Well, I feel like a real idiot now.”

”Why?”

”Because, I am going to bed alone.”

”I will be there in twenty minutes,” he said. I could see his smile through the phone.

”You will?”

”Unless you don't want me to.”

”I want you to.”

I almost missed Las Vegas after enduring winter in

Maine. It was freezing, and I was tired of being indoors.

Dawson and I spent a lot of time looking at wedding magazines and planning our little wedding, and I freaking loved it.

The week after New Year's, I had gotten out of the shop later than usual. Star was off visiting her daughter, Moonie in Australia. I wanted to go with her. I was sure she was warmer than I was. I locked the backdoor and sc.r.a.ped the ice from my winds.h.i.+eld.

Nine degrees? Really?

I cranked the ignition and my old car didn't like the winter either. It wasn't starting.

I did the only thing I knew to do. I called Dawson.

”Hi, baby. You on your way? I've got a pot of chili, homemade bread, and a warm cozy fire waiting for you.

”That sounds amazing, but my car won't start.”

”What's it doing?”

”This,” I answered and cranked the key again, holding the phone for him to hear.

”Hmm, sounds like the battery. Go back inside where it's warm. I'll be there in ten minutes.”

I did as I was told and watched out the front gla.s.s, waiting for Dawson.

I leaned in and kissed him as soon as I got into the warm car. ”Thank you.”

”You're welcome. I called Charlie. He's going to come over in the morning and take a look at it for you.”

”You're my hero,” I teased. He was my hero. I didn't know where I would be without him. I didn't even like to think about it.

I think Dawson could have won a chili cook off contest with his chili. It was the best chili I had ever tasted, and my Grandma Joyce made some pretty good chili. I was so full. I couldn't eat another bite. I tried to get him to let me clean up, but he refused and made me go soak in a hot tub while he did it.

We sat in front of the fireplace and made out like a couple of teenagers. Dawson hadn't asked about my escape since we had gotten into the argument on Thanksgiving. It had been weighing on my mind though. I wasn't having the nightmares and Drew didn't haunt me in my sleep. It wasn't that. I just felt like it was something that was important to Dawson. Something that he wanted me to share with him. I felt like I owed it to him. He had been there for me so many times, including that night when my car decided to break down on the coldest day of the year.

”Dawson?” I softly spoke, pulling away from his lips.

”Riley?” He mimicked my tone. I smiled.

I turned my back and snuggled up to his chest. It was easier for me to talk when I didn't have to look at him. He opened his hand, and I placed mine in his.

”You ask the questions,” I suggested. He knew what I was talking about.

”Are you sure, Ry?”

”Yes. I'm sure.”

”Um, okay. You're here, so I presume you did get into his office. Tell me how that came about.”

I was silent for a bit as I thought about that night. It was the dead of summer and extremely hot out. I hadn't even been in the pool because the water wasn't refres.h.i.+ng at all. It felt like bath water, and the air outside was so thick. Drew had come into my room after getting home late and drunk.

”I'm not going to go into the details about that because I will stop and want you to have s.e.x with me,” I told Dawson.

”That's okay. I have a pretty good idea how it went, and truth be known, I hate to hear about the things that he did to you,” Dawson said, kissing my head.