Free Leaving Amy (Amy #2) by Julieann Dove Page A

thought grossed me out.
    “Let me turn this around on you, shall I? Was the good doctor privy to see your body or are we both in the dark of what you truly look like without clothes?”
    “Oh, please, Wesley. As if.” Yeah, I wasn ’ t sure what I meant either. But don’t drag my and Mark’s relationship into the same company as him and his tramp.
    Out of nowhere, he took my hand that was pinching the terry cloth and kissed it. “Amy, I don’t want you to throw Violet in my face every time I say something that upsets you.”
    Yuk. Why did he have to say her name? It made it seem so real. I know I like to mention and throw this person up in his face, but I don’t think in real time; it’s more of a strategy…a diversion to have it all seem like it was his fault.
    “I simply wanted to open up about something that was on my mind. That’s all.” He kept hold of my hand. I wasn’t sure what else he wanted from me. This towel was not coming unpeeled from my pale body any time before the bathroom door was locked and he was on the other side of it. This was not a part of the deal.
    “Okay.”
    “Okay, what?”
    “I’m not sure what you want me to say. You told me you wanted more intimacy and I’m saying okay.” I shifted weight to account for him still holding on to my hand.
    He bit down on his lip. “I know it’s probably not relevant now to you, is it?”
    “Umm…” I looked from the shower door to the mirror, not sure what to say. “I guess I know now that bothered you.”
    “What if I’d mentioned it to you when we were still together…before the accident?”
    “You mean before you left me?” Let ’ s get that clear.
    “Sure.” He released my hand, but still wore the puppy-dog eyes.
    “I guess I would’ve said…” I don’t know what I would’ve said. That would’ve been so unlike him to actually tell me something that bothered him about me. Or vice versa. Eating fries in his Jeep, now, he had zero problem conveying that kind of information.
    “I don’t know, Wesley.”
    “Fair enough. I don’t know what I expected.” He turned around to leave.
    “Wesley,” I said before he shut the door. He turned to me. “I never felt pretty enough for you to see me.”
    He walked back toward me, shaking his head. He cupped my cheek and looked tenderly in my eyes. “Amy, you’re gorgeous.”
    Wow, this towel was getting hot. “Thank you, Wesley. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
    He bent down and softly kissed my cheek, as though I’d break if he applied any pressure. It felt strangely nice. Normal, yet unexpected. Who was this new guy? Where was the other one tied up and gagged? How many existed inside this man?
    He spoke quietly into my ear. A tiny wave of prickles moved down my arms. “I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
     

     
    Margaret and Claire were on the sofa, playing gin rummy, when I came down the stairs. Despite my attempts to help with cleaning up dinner, they both demanded I go get ready to go to my friend’s for a visit. I think they’d seen a slight change in me this Thanksgiving and wanted to help any way they could to perk me up. I hoped Wesley would stay behind but I kind of knew I wasn’t that lucky. And I knew more that he wouldn’t let me drive his car.
    “Wesley, don’t tell me you still have that silly hat.” I stared at him while suppressing a laugh.
    It was a stupid red hat that he’d had since high school. His last piece from the past was now tattered on the brim; dirt seemed to be the only thing keeping the other threads secure. He was checking himself out in the mirror by the front door.
    “Amy, of course I do.” He threw a look to me, like “watch what you say.”
    “It’s just that I thought I put it in the giveaway bin last year.”
    “Luckily I saw it and saved it.”
    “Hmm.” I didn’t know what else to say. Yes, it reminded me of a different Wesley. One who I looked at wistfully from a distance, but then I grew to hate when he took