“Fuck,” Enzo murmurs under his breath. “June, I’m sorry. That’s a fuckin’ hard thing to have happen in your life.”
“I blamed myself for so long, because I was telling her to go away, but, now I know that nothing could have changed what was going to happen that day, the only person to blame was the man behind the wheel.”
“Did he go away for it?”
“He sped off, and they found him at a local lookout, he had taken his own life. I guess he couldn’t live with it either.”
“Fuckin’ coward,” Enzo growls.
“Yeah,” I say softly, “but at the same time I’m so glad I don’t have to live my life knowing he’s in prison and could one day be free.”
Enzo nods. “How did your parents handle it?”
“They didn’t,” I tell him. “Mom and Dad split up after about a year, and he moved away. I haven’t seen him since. Mom and I are still close, but it took a long time. She was so ... broken. She just couldn’t get through it. I didn’t understand at the time, I mean, I was broken too but I needed her. Now I’ve got Hudson, I get it. God, do I get it.”
“Be the worst thing that could ever happen in your life, losin’ a child.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “Now it’s your turn, you have to tell me something you’ve never told anyone else.”
“I don’t have something I’ve never told anyone else, but I do have something that not many people know about me. I was born a twin, and I lost my brother, too.”
I blink, staring at him. “Oh, Enzo, I’m so sorry.”
He gives me an appreciative smile. “The easiest part for me I guess, is that I don’t remember him. We were only four when he passed, and I only have photos to look back on, but I do know we were close. Best friends. At least, that’s what my momma told me.”
“What happened to him?” I ask.
“He was sick from birth; he had a condition and unfortunately his immune system was really weak. He got sick, and he just didn’t pull through. My parents said they knew he wouldn’t live a long life, but it was the hardest day of theirs when he died.”
“I can only imagine. So you remember nothing at all?”
Enzo shakes his head. “No, sometimes that’s more frustrating than anything because I see pictures, but I don’t recall any of it.”
“Well, I’m sure that in the time he was around, you were the best thing in his life.”
Enzo stops and I do, too. He turns toward me, and his eyes narrow a little as he takes me in. “Never told a woman that in my life.”
My heart swells.
“I guess I’m pretty special, then?”
“Yeah, I guess you are.”
Shit.
What is happening here?
Retreat.
Retreat.
Yet ... I can’t seem to bring myself to.
“I DON’T WANT TO GO back,” I murmur, staring up at the sky as Enzo and I lie on a small blanket he brought along for the walk. He also had some water and a snack bar. I guess they did bring some extra food after all.
He told me he wasn’t really supposed to use them unless we had to, but he figured nobody would notice.
I respect the hell out of that. A girl needs a snack.
“No rush to move,” he murmurs, and his fingers trace over the back of my hand, moving up over my wrist and gliding up my arm before coming back down.
I shiver, because that feels nice.
It feels really nice.
The way he’s touching me is so genuine, without thought, and I’m loving every second of it.
I turn my head until I’m looking at him, and he does the same. “Can we make out? Because honestly, it’s really hard lying here with you and not kissing you.”
His brows raise a little. “I’ve never met someone who is as confident as you.”
“I’m not especially confident, I just know what I want I suppose.”
“I like it.”
“Enough to kiss me?”
“I thought you were punishing me.”
Dammit.
I did say that.
“Well shit, I’ve got nothing. You’ve caught me out. Can I punish you later?”
He grins.
“If I kiss you, I won’t stop. I can’t afford to spend my time here fucking you, even though I’d love nothing more, because I have to prepare the fish because those mother fuckers will butcher it and it’ll taste like crap. I’m the only one who does a decent job. So, as much as I’d love to kiss you, I can’t.”
“One kiss?” I pout.
He leans forward and kisses my puckered bottom lip, and oh, it sends a shiver up my spine. “No, not one kiss, but later, you might just find me in your bed.”
Oh my.
He stands and reaches out a hand, helping me up. We pack up and make our way back to the camp just before the sun sets. The fire is going, everyone is sitting around it talking, and all the beds now have a place. I have to admit, it’s no way near as scary as I originally anticipated. I thought for sure I would hate being out in the open like this, but with everyone around, it’s actually a new favorite of mine.