Page 32 of A Constant Love
She scoffed. “City slicker.”
Our laughter started all over again.
When we finally quieted, she looked at me. “Yeah, Ty, I’m different when I’m here…but not in the way you’re thinking.”
I didn’t interrupt but waited for her to continue at her own pace.
“This place was always my home. I loved everything about this small town, but I knew I wasn’t going to make something of myself staying here. I wanted to leave this place and chase my dreams but always still have Armstrong here to call my home base.
“But then the whole James thing happened, and I ran. He raped me, and I let him chase me out of town. I thought I had gotten over it. I thought I had moved on, but I come back here, and I am reminded of who I used to be, and I realize that awful night…that awful man…still has a hold on me.”
Taking her hand in mine, I gently rubbed the back of it with my thumb while she continued.
“Tyler, you have helped pick up some of my broken pieces, and I have fallen in love with you. I’m so sorry for the way I have been acting; it’s not been fair to you at all.”
“Baby, I get it. You are going through stuff, and I respect that.”
She held up her hand. “No. I am done making excuses. How long am I going to be going through stuff? How long am I going to let him take away the best parts of me? I used to be hell, fire, and brimstone, and now I’m nothing more than some ash. No more. I have to find a way to have closure and be at peace.”
“And how do you plan to do that, Kansas?”
She shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. But I think a good place to start is remembering why I love this place so much instead of focusing on the traumatic things.”
“Well, I will do whatever I can to help with that, baby.” I kissed her on the cheek.
She grinned a devilish grin. “I’m really glad you said that.”
Two hours later, we were back on the same dock, but this time, we had fishing poles in hand. I won’t lie…I had never gone fishing. Needless to say, the Wendell’s liked eating sushi more than catching the fish that made it.
I was trying to make the most of it, but my boredom was quickly growing.
“What do you think we should eat for dinner, Sam?”
“Shhh.” She had head leaned back and her eyes closed.
“I mean what is there to eat around here?”
“Hush.”
“I mean I guess we could get something from the store to make…or just order pizza. I guess pizza would be good. I mean they have to deliver out here, right?”
Her eyes shot opened. “Oh my gosh, can you not just enjoy the moment? You’re going to scare all the fish away.”
“I’m bored,” I shrugged.
She started to giggle. “You’re worse than a little kid, you know that?”
“But come on, how can you do this? Just sit here for hours in silence waiting for something to happen. Isn’t there something else that you like to do that’s more exciting?”
She stood up with her fishing pole in hand.
“Come on, Trust Fund. “
I really needed to keep my mouth shut.
Sam’s next great idea of doing something fun was riding around on ATV’s…in the mud.
She was a damn maniac on it, and the whole time, I was worried she was going to flip hers.