Free If Only (The Willowbrook Series Book 1) by Ashlyn Mathews

dusting of snow.
    “Looks like a warm front is moving in for folks southwest of Ashton,” the weatherman on the television said. “Expect the snow to melt rapidly as the temperature rises.”
    At the mention of temperature rising, she glanced over her shoulder. Gotta love a man who didn’t mind doing the dishes.
    “Did you hear that, Rhys?” she asked as she shifted in her seat to look toward the kitchen. Otherwise, she’d get a knot in her neck. With his brow furrowed, he ran his fingers over the fronts of the bottles on the spice racks.
    “Rhys?”
    He glanced up. “Huh?”
    “The guy on the news said the snow’s gonna melt, a warm front’s coming.”
    “Oh,” he said seeming distracted. “That’s good.” He directed his sight at the fireplace. “I should make that fire then.”
    She didn’t argue when he marched past her and hunkered in front of the fireplace with a determined set to his shoulders. Within minutes, he had a fire going.
    The flames flared, and Asa realized she liked the sight, sounds, and smell of a fire. Wanting to enjoy the moment with him, she stood and plopped herself next to Rhys with their backs rested against the couch.
    He patted the side of him closest to the fire. When she shook her head, he reached over, grabbed her, and settled her in his lap. Tucked in his arms, she watched chunks of snow fall off tree branches through the picture window in the living room. The weatherman wasn’t joking when he’d said the snow would melt quickly.
    “I forgot to mention the news guy said power should be back soon,” she said. “Good.”
    They sat in silence, and though it was a comfortable quiet, she wished she had the guts to be the first to bring up the subject they weren’t willing to talk about—him leaving soon. What else would he do once the snow melted and his grandmother’s affairs were settled?
    Thinking this might be the last time she’d see him, Asa leaned her shoulder closer into him. At first, his body tensed as though her nearness caused him pain. Then he relaxed before tightening his hold on her waist.
    “We need to talk,” he said.
    Ah, so he gathered his courage first. Why wouldn’t he? He was the brave one of the two of them. She shifted in his lap to get up, but he grabbed her arms and wound them around his neck.
    “Asa—”
    “If we talk about you leaving and not coming back, I’ll cry.”
    She bit her bottom lip. Two people who kept their emotions hidden. It wouldn’t work, and Rhys wouldn’t change for her, nor did she expect him to. He’d continue to withhold his feelings, and if and when he decided to show them, he might say god-awful things, leaving her to wonder if what he had said was true or if he said the opposite of what he had meant.
    “I won’t put you down for showing you care or become the opposite of the angel I know you to be.” He skimmed his finger down the side of her face. “It’s okay if you want to cry, sweetheart. I’ll accept your anger and sadness any time. You’re only human.”
    He was right. Unprepared for the love in his voice, her tears started, and she couldn’t stop them. Oh, God, why did Rhys have to go and be the good guy she’d known him to always be? Why couldn’t he be a jerk? It would make ending their friendship easier.
    But, Asa wouldn’t let his words sway her. He loved her because . . . because they were friends and nothing more.
    “Finish what we started a year ago,” she said, her voice falling to a whisper. “Apologize for your hurtful words, and I’ll forgive you. Give me your forgiveness for blaming you for my father’s death, and I’ll forget how much you mean to me. I don’t want you in my life anymore, Rhys.”
    His face hardened, and she scrambled off his lap. She’d never seen him this angry before, even after her accusation.
    “Why, Asa? Is there another guy? Cuz, I’ve got it from a good source you’re not involved.
    Was my source wrong?” He stood and backed her against the