What the Heart Knows

“I don’t really know what to say.”

“I know the feeling.”

“You seemed to understand what she meant about secrets.”

“I did.”

“When were you going to share this?”

“I was working my way up to it. I’ve been open with you, Juni.”

“Have you?” she asked.

“Yes. You knew there were things in my past I wasn’t ready to discuss.”

“What I want to know is why? Did you know this thing was following you around?”

“No! You know I’d never put you in danger that way.”

“Do I?” She gasped, and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that, Oliver. I’m just upset.”

“No, you’re right. I said from the beginning I was too old and jaded for you. This is just another addition to the list of reasons why we shouldn’t be together.”

“NO!”

“Juniper, if me leaving you will make all of this stop, it’s what’s going to have to happen.”

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head no. All her anger and doubt went out the window as she leaned over the console to clutch his arm.

“Madeline said we needed to stick together.”

“She also said, she was being blocked by this, whatever it is. Maybe it’s leading us straight into a trap.”

“You don’t even believe in this stuff.”

“Weird things have been happening to the both of us for a while now. Even you can’t deny that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re sudden interest in punk music, the different clothing style, and what occasionally seems like a personality transplant.”

“Are you trying to be funny?” she asked, not amused by the use of the word transplant.

“No. You can’t see it, but I do.”

“Are you so dead set against moving on you’d grasp at straws to get rid of me?” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him, disgusted.

“I understood that this was new for you when we first got together. It was your first attempt at getting back on the horse, the same as me. In my mind it put us on an even playing field. Now, I refuse to be the only one fighting to keep this relationship going. You’re so quick to find the negative in everything and let your doubts over power the progress we’ve made. For every step forward, we have two back.”

She was torn when it came to Oliver. He could be the sweetest man she’d ever known one minute, and a brooding enigma the next. The hot and cold was slowly driving a wedge between them, and hearing that he had secrets felt like a sledgehammer to the chest.

“I know I’m not perfect, but I do love you, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to keep you safe,” he said. His voice was low and husky, and it took a few moments for the words he’d spoken to set in.

She turned to face him so fast she risked whiplash.

“You love me?”

“Yes. Damn it!”