Then I broke down. I cried and cried in my doorway and he held me. I felt his tears fall on me as well. After our breathing calmed, he pulled back slightly from me.
“I love you, Breigh. I will never let you down again. Please let me prove that to you.”
I still had tears falling down my face, but I didn’t care to conceal them any longer. I wanted him to see the pain he caused me. "I want to believe you so bad, but I have heard all of this before, maybe in different situations though. Promises broken...over and over. I was at first hurt, because I tried to tell you. Then I felt guilty because you felt like I lied to you. But finally I was mad. I had never given you a reason to not trust me. Here I thought you were the reason for my happiness, and instead you were the reason for a hurt I wasn’t sure I could get past."
I couldn't form any other words to say. I wanted to kick him in the shins, but then I wanted to bring his lips to mine and kiss him. I wanted to push him away, and I wanted to bring him in closer to me and not let go. So that is what I did. I grabbed him and held on.
This would have to do for now.
That’s the thing about when you get hurt, over and over in your life; you put that guard up. Maybe he would be able to break it down, but it would take some work. But I did love him. I loved Wyatt Galloway.
26
WYATT
Everything seemed to be going right on track, for once. After getting over the dog pile that Cash caused and making me almost lose my girl for good, I decided to take a second look at things.
Instead of being so quick to assume the worst, I needed to trust. I just hoped I could do it.
There was a good possibility I would be making apologizes for my actions for the rest of my life to Breigh, if she would have me.
My aunt and I arrived at Helen’s, Breigh’s grandma’s house exactly on time. They had invited us over for dinner, and although I was hesitant about it since everything happened, I surrendered. Things were still rough, and I regretted everything that occurred so badly.
She was trying to forgive me, but she was cautious. Not something you wanted someone to be when you loved them.
Breigh met Rhonda and me at the screen door. She welcomed us in, giving me a hug and my aunt, as if we had walked through their door a million times before.
“We are so glad y'all could make it. Grammy has been cooking all day and loving every minute of it.”
“Thank you for having us,” I said. I kissed her on the cheek, hoping it wasn't too much.
She pulled back right after that.
“Let’s go into the kitchen. We are almost done.”
She led us the way, and instead of how she normally waited on me, she walked ahead. I had to honestly remember that I did this, and I had to earn her back.
The smells permeated the house and I felt like a dog following my nose.
“Hello, Wyatt and Rhonda. I’m so glad you came.” Helen wiped her hands on her broken-in apron and then hugged us, giving me a kiss on my cheek. She then made herself busy placing things on the table from the counter, back and forth, just like I had seen Breigh do when she cooked dinner for me at her house and at lunch at the station.
“Go ahead and have a seat. We should be ready here in just a few minutes. Pork chops, greens, scalloped potatoes, and some rolls. There is a relish tray on the table for you to nibble on until everything is set.”
“Grammy likes to cook enough for an army.”
“I just like to be able to send home leftovers with company is all.”
“And peach cobbler. Breigh picked the peaches herself.”
I smiled at her. I remembered peach cobbler was one of her favorite desserts.
“Wyatt and Breigh, can you go out yonder and get some more ice for the tea?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Breigh looked irritated with her request.
I followed Breigh to the mudroom that had an extra fridge.
She stopped and turned to me. “You do realize what she is doing, don't you?”
“No?”
“She wants us to have a minute to get on the same page. She feels that I…”
“I know you aren't letting everything that happened go. I can tell you’re still upset with me.”
“I…” She paused and looked away. I was right.
“I just don't know how you could dismiss me without a response, an answer. You just assumed, and the worst part is you took Cash’s word over mine.”
“I know.”
“And you left. You turned around and left.”
“Yes, I did.”
I was fully aware that there was nothing I could say to make it better. Everything she said was true. There was no denying it.
I took her by the side of her face and held her still. “I promise you, I will never do that again.”
“I want to believe you, but I’m sorry. This has happened too many times in my life. I’m so tired of getting my heart broken.”
“I wish I could take it all back.”
I put the ice in the extra pitcher that they had in the secondary fridge, along with the tea, and started to walk back to the kitchen.
I kept quiet, although every fiber in my body was screaming to hold her and make her believe what I had said. I had to prove it to her, but I couldn't do it right this minute. I couldn't even
