Southern Secrets (Southern #7) - Natasha Madison Page 0,50

weekend, he would head down and see if there was anything we could afford. Then he would come back and tell me all about the apartments he looked at and how it was going to be perfect for us." I put my hand to my stomach, feeling like I’m going to be sick. I take a second, the lump in my throat getting bigger and bigger. Even though I told myself he would never get another tear from me.

"I counted down the days. Counted down the hours until the day I turned eighteen. He had been gone a week. He was fixing up our place, he said, and putting the final touches on it. He even sent me pictures." The hurt is like it was yesterday instead of years ago. "The night I turned eighteen, I didn’t sleep a wink. Not one fucking second. I was so excited for him to come and get me. I was on pins and needles all day. I couldn’t wait to finally tell everyone about us. I was so excited to finally do all the things I dreamed of doing with him. Walking into my parents' house. Holding his hand. Kissing him when I wanted. Finally able to show everyone that I found someone I was going to spend the rest of my life with. My parents threw me this ridiculous party with everyone there." I close my eyes as my heart shatters yet again in my chest. "His truck got there. I got up with a huge smile on my face as I saw him get out of the driver side. I was one second from running to him when I saw the passenger door open. My feet were stuck to the ground. This woman climbed out of the truck, and he held out his hand for her, and together they walked into my party." I look into his brown eyes, feeling all the warmth that a hug could give from one look. "He introduced his new wife to everyone." Saying the words almost cut me off at the knees. I put my hand out onto the table. "He was married." I take a deep breath in. "He was married to someone else."

I close my eyes again, and this time, I feel his arms around me. "Baby," he says softly. "Don’t cry."

My arms go around his neck as I bury my face into his neck. "It’s why I’ll never give anyone control. It’s why I won’t let anyone pay for anything. It’s why I work two jobs. It’s why my dreams are mine and mine alone. It’s why I have to do this myself. It’s as much for me as a fuck you to him," I say, laughing.

"He doesn’t deserve your tears," Asher says, kissing my forehead. "He doesn’t deserve to have any space in your head." His voice goes lower. "He had perfection in his hand, and he let it go." His voice is almost a whisper.

My head comes out from his neck, his eyes on mine. "Amelia," he says my name, and this time, it’s me who makes the first step. My hand comes out, and I finally touch his face the way I’ve wanted to touch it since I met him. The stubble from his beard is pricking my hand. "You," I say, smiling. "You are the only one who’s tempted me." My fingers go to his lips, touching his bottom lip that I want to kiss. "The only one I’ve ever let myself dream of having.” I move my nose with his, softly side to side. "You were everywhere." The tears roll down my cheeks, past the smile that has formed on my face. "And I mean everywhere." It’s his turn to smile. "It pissed me off so much. I fought with Chelsea today about it," I admit. "You got under my skin, Asher."

"I didn’t mean to," he says softly, and I lean in, kissing his lips softly. Once, twice, and then on the third time, his hand goes to the back of my head, and he tilts his head to the side. My mouth opens, and his tongue slides into my mouth.

Home.

It’s the only thing that comes to mind when our tongues tangle. I kiss him until I’m breathless. I kiss him with everything that I have. I kiss him, afraid I’ll never get to kiss him again.

"I don’t want to stop kissing you," he says, “but …" My eyes open to see him staring at me. His