Free Me After You by Mindy Hayes

everyone is saying about her husband?”
    I suck in a breath and nod without looking up. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but yeah, he died. I know that much is true.”
    “That’s messed up.”
    “I know.” I can’t look at him, though I feel his eyes burning holes into the side of my head. He won’t be finished with the conversation until he’s asked every last question, and I don’t want to talk about it with him. I already know what he’s going to say.
    “So what’s your move? What are you going to do?”
    And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell him. I level a stare at him to keep him from going there and then return to brush in circles. Of course, my glare isn’t enough to keep him from touching the subject. “She’s back, and you’re not going to do a thing about it?”
    Dropping my hand from the bike, I sigh heavily. “What am I supposed to do, Aiden? She just lost her husband and, as far as she knows, I left because I didn’t want her anymore. We’re not going there. Forget it. Don’t even try.”
    “That’s such a wuss move.”
    “Respecting my relationship with Lily is a wuss move? Being a gentleman and giving Sawyer space is a wuss move?”
    “Fine. Give her a little bit of time, and then make it right. She’s back , man. Are you really telling me you’re going to let her slip away again? I’ve seen you moping around ever since I moved back home almost a year ago. A year . So, it’s obviously been going on for a lot longer. Make it right, Dean.”
    “I’ve got Lily now.”
    He snorts. “You and I both know Lily is only a replacement.” I glare at him because she’s my girlfriend, and I care about her. His hands rise in surrender when he knows he’s being a thoughtless prick. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but you can’t sit here and tell me that you can stay with Lily knowing Sawyer is finally back home.”
    I shake my head. “I’m not going to break things off with Lily because Sawyer has returned, dude. It may not make sense to you, but I love Lily. I know you’re not completely wrong, but it’s not right to hurt Lily like that. I won’t do it. And, c’mon, even if I did do that, Sawyer’s husband has only been gone for a few months. She’s not ready.”
    “So you’ll stay in a hopeless relationship because you don’t want to hurt Lil?” he says.
    I shrug because I don’t want to get into this with him right now. I don’t want to have to explain myself, or the relationship I have with Lily, to him.
    “You’ve got to work out your crap, bro.” His index finger is pointing at me and I’m this close to reaching out and breaking the dang thing off. “I’m not going to sit here and watch you lose Sawyer again because you’re too scared to finally take what belongs to you.”
    “Let it go, Aiden,” I answer sharply. “I’ll figure it out.”
    “Good. Because I’m tired of seeing your sulky, sorry face. It’s getting pathetic.” I chuck my rag at him, and he bats it away with laugh. “Win her back, my friend. You two were made for each other.”
    I grunt out a laugh, but earnestly ask, “What if I can’t?”
    “Then at least you can say you tried. You didn’t brood in your garage while she found someone else to bring her back to life.”
    My chest sinks at the thought. “She looked different to you, too, huh?”
    Aiden nods his head solemnly, looking toward the ground. “I hardly recognized her, man. She’s still just as gorgeous, but that spark that made her the Sawyer we both remember is gone.”
    I nod knowingly. “Every time I see her it hurts. Not just because she’s not mine. It hurts to see that the life in her eyes is completely gone.”
    “So, bring it back,” he urges, as if it’s that easy. As if nothing could be simpler.
    “She hates me, Aiden.”
    “Then give her time. Doesn’t time heal all wounds? Just don’t wait too long. Before you know it, some other Grayson is going to sweep in and steal her all over again, and