Wash

“Just one quick peek?” he begged.

I set my purse down and headed outside. Immediately, the moonlit canyon and glittering stars took my breath away.

“Here, have a seat,” Jake said, motioning to a chair beside him.

“I’d rather stand. It’s amazing,” I said, “absolutely breathtaking.”

He turned to meet my gaze, and I quickly looked away. “You’re mad at me.”

“Yes, but it’s not just that. On top of the fact that it’s a little hard to be around you so much, we’re having problems with a shipment back at the boutique.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Like I’ve told you time and time again, walking out on you was the worst mistake I ever made. I lost the only good thing in my life, and I’ve regretted it every single day since. I swear, not a day has gone by when I haven’t thought about you.”

“It was the most painful and difficult thing I’ve ever been through.”

“I know. I also carry the scars.”

“Really? You poor thing,” I said, scowling at him. “Any scars you have from that day are self-inflicted in case you’ve forgotten.”

When I looked away, he pushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m so, so sorry for what I did to you, to us.”

“Did you break up with me because the romance was gone or the sparks weren’t there?”

“Are you kidding? We had huge chemistry.”

“Then was there somebody else?”

“No.”

“Did you want someone prettier? Was I horrible in bed?” I asked. “I’m sorry, Jake, but I just have to know. These questions have been bouncing around in my head for years.”

“Ashly, you are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on, and our sex life was…well, amazing. We shared a connection I’ve never felt with anyone, and we were so in love. I just panicked. I-I just wasn’t ready for marriage back then and—”

“Why did you come back to New York City? Was it about seeing friends and family, or were you trying to stalk me?”

A breeze swept through his dark, messy hair. “I can’t imagine living without you.”

“Nadia said you were at my mother’s funeral. Why didn’t you say anything to me?”

“I didn’t want to make your day worse. Look at the way you reacted when you saw me in your lawyer’s office. I didn’t want to cause a scene like that at your mother’s funeral.”

“No, I suppose not.”

“I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother.”

“She was my best friend,” I whispered, my voice quivering. “If you don’t mind, I don’t want to talk about her death. I can’t handle it.”

“I know how hard it is.”

We didn’t say much after that, and I enjoyed the silence as I stared at the sky. A while later, Jake went back inside and brought out a couple sodas for us, a sweet gesture; he’d stocked our mini-fridge with Pepsi from the vending machine.

I paused when he softly pointed upward.

“Look! It’s a shooting star.”

I watched as the bright beam traveled across the dark sky.

“It’s gotta be a sign,” he said.