Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 10

what's going on with that Terry jerk, but I do know he wants you to stay." He put his hand on my arm for a moment. "He's been happier since you've been here. Happier than he's been for a long time."
    "All right. I'll think. I'll take a walk. But if Terry's still here when I get back, I'm…"
    "Screw Terry. He's an asshole. Just think about Will."
    I left Jaime and walked back out into the rain and sleet, collar turned up against the biting wind. The last of the season's leaves swept across the yard. I headed down the long drive. To the road and back would be long enough for me to think. Except, I couldn't. My head was a tangled mess of longing for Will and anger at Terry for appearing out of the blue and fucking things up. I was pissed at myself, at the weather, at life in general.
    The sleet quickened, driving me off the track and into the dubious shelter of the trees. The moving branches flung droplets of icy water into my face. Wet leaves squelched under my boot heels. I wanted to turn around, crawl into Will's arms and stay there forever.
    "What the hell are you doing?" Will's voice was almost lost beneath the wind and rain.
    I turned around. Will, hair plastered to his head by the downpour, droplets running down his face. Anger and hurt warred in his eyes.
    "Thinking." I shoved my hands into my pockets. I knew if I touched him, I'd give in.
    "Don't leave me, Bryn. Please."
    I looked at him, at eyelashes spiked by the rain. My throat tightened and choked the words I wanted to say. "I should go."
    "No. You need to stop running, Bryn. Even tumbleweeds have to stop rolling some time. Stay with me. If you don't, Terry wins. He'll think he has a chance. Stay."
    I touched his face.
    He closed his eyes and covered my hand with his. "I need you."
    How long had it been since someone had said that to me and really meant it? "I think I need you too." I did. God, when I felt his fingers curl through mine, I knew it. I knew I didn't want to be anywhere else. Telling Will I loved him could wait until the moment was right.
    "Thank Christ for that." The sleet turned to snow around us. Flakes clung to Will's hair and shoulders. "Now will you come home with me? It's fucking cold out here."
    "Do we get to throw Terry out?"
    "He'll throw himself out." Will leaned close, his breath warm on my lips. "Then I'm taking you upstairs and I'm going to fuck you senseless."
    I swallowed, suddenly and painfully hard.
    He took my hand. We walked back along the track, side-stepping the puddles as the snow swirled through the trees. I wanted to be in bed, to shut the door on the world and make love beneath the autumn-colored quilt.
    Terry waited in the hall, twirling his car keys around his fingers. "I wondered where you'd got to."
    "Now you know." Will slung his coat over the banister. "Are you leaving now?"
    "I don't suppose I'm going to change your mind, am I?"
    "No." Will slid his arm around my waist and pulled me close.
    "You're going to throw away everything we had for him?"
    "You threw everything away when you left. Coming back here with a suitcase and an apology was never going to be enough." Will's fingers curled into my sweater.
    Terry's cheeks flushed red. His eyes glittered. "Bastard." He glared at me. "Pleased with yourself?"
    "I haven't done anything. All I did was decide to stay."
    "And haven't you got yourself a cushy set-up. Looking after a few bed and breakfast guests in exchange for all this. What did you say you did for a living?"
    "I didn't say." I kept my hands still.
    "So you just fetched up on Will's doorstep and here you are. Set for life."
    "Are you deliberately looking to get punched or are you just like this all the time?" I stepped toward him, ignoring Will's sharp intake of breath. "You're an annoying asshole. If you want a black eye, I'd be happy to give you one before you leave."
    I stepped back again. Will deserved better.
    "I think it's time you were leaving, Terry." Will retrieved my hand.
    Terry tossed his car keys into the air and snatched them back. "Yeah. I'll leave you both to deal with the local rednecks and the gossip. I'd wish you well but…no."
    "Allow me." I opened the front door for him.
    A cold wind sent flakes of snow flurrying onto the door mat.
    Terry picked up his suitcase and pushed past me. I'm sure if he had a skirt, he would've swished it with indignation. Instead, he strode down the steps, opened the trunk of his leaf-covered car and tossed the case in, before slamming the lid down. He