Inspiring Soundtrack for this chapter:

Falling Like The Stars - James Arthur

Gravity - John Mayer

Cover Me Up - Morgan Wallen 

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"He's more myself than I am.

Whatever our souls are made of,

his and mine are the same."

― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

    ABBIE

Six months later, after finally making my way to Colorado, I decided Boulder was a bit too big of a city for me. So I moved in a small town nearby called Nederland. I love it here, it's more laid back, living expenses are cheaper than Boulder, and my apartment complex is within walking distance from work at the cafe.

"Come on Abagail, just one night, it will be fun! We won't be young forever! Plus, we're both gorgeous and its ladies' night!" Alivia said while pressing the BREW button on the industrial coffee pot, shifting in the same motion to cut a thick slice of the Lorraine Quiche, and grabbing the cup of Green Tea Matcha on the counter for her customer standing in the checkout line.

"I know I know, but I can't." I say with a sigh.

You never go, it's been like, what? Six months since you've been working here and pulling doubles? Were both off tomorrow, and our shift ends in two hours, please Abbie please! She begs, her short blonde curls bouncing like springs as she jumps up and down with a pouted lip.

"I have to save up for a car. I can't ride with you all the time! Plus, I start my second job at the Farmer's Market tomorrow." I say in a low voice, and make sure to avoid making eye contact.

She hates how hard I work, and I know she is going to scold me for picking up another job, even if it's only part time during the weekend. We're the same age and she is more carefree. But sometimes she acts more like a mom than my roommate. I love her for that. Alivia is so kind, the type of person who would give you the shirt off her back if she thought you needed it. That's why it was no surprise when she asked me to move into her apartment our first shift at the Cafe together.

"Fine! We can stay in and watch a movie But I'm picking AND, were stopping for ice cream before we go home, alright?" Alivia says in demand with the slightest grin followed by a wink.

As Alivia pulls out the parking lot, I dig into my ice cream, I'm glad we stopped, I get so focused on saving money I forget to have fun or spend a little on myself. And Rocky Road Ice cream never let me down, something about the fluffy bits of marshmallow always made me feel better. I guess marshmallows remind me of my youth, when it or chocolate could solve any heartache. Hopefully, Alivia will decide to watch After 2, She got me hooked on the audiobooks, and we are both dying to hear Hardin's British accent shouting "Fucking Trevor" in action!

Lowering my cup, I look out the window, watching a man stroll the sidewalk to Rocky Mountain's Creamery Shack.

"Wyatt?" I say under my breath.

"Did you just say Wyatt?" Alivia questions.

"Yea, I- I'm not sure, it was just his back. Maybe it was just my imagination teasing me. I just miss him so much, I feel like I imagine him everywhere, yesterday I thought I saw him too, when you and I were leaving the bookstore. Ice cream was his favorite bedtime snack, he always kept a tub of classic vanilla in the freezer, that's probably all it was." I say looking down stirring my spoon in my cup, no longer having an appetite.

"Awe sweetie" she sighs, squeezing my hand to comfort me.

"It was probably just a spark in memory. I know how much you care for him, and if I could wish him here for you, believe me I would in a heartbeat. But I worry about you- hanging on to a man that may never come for you. How do we know he ever left Louisiana Abbie? What if he is still there working with the cattle? Or-."

"Or what Alivia?" It comes out in a harsh defensive tone, luckily, she doesn't seem fazed.

Pulling up to our apartment complex, she puts the car in park, turning to me. "Well...What if his dad killed him that night? You said it yourself, he never stood up to his father until that night, and you never saw Wyatt upset like that... what if Jason killed Wyatt or Wyatt killed him and is in jail?"

The rims of my lower lash line fill with hot tears. "Don't say that, Wyatt will come. Nederland may not have been mapped out for us but, when he makes it to Boulder, he will want the same. He will realize Boulder isn't for him, just like it wasn't for me. He will want to move somewhere smaller too. Just like Hardin and Tessa...whatever our souls are made of his and mine are the same."

"I'm, sorry Abs, I didn't mean to upset you and ruin our movie night. Just forget what I said, it was heartless and stupid. Plus, if London couldn't keep Hardin and Tessa a part, surely Colorado won't!" Alivia laughs getting out the car.

Settling onto our secondhand couch, Liv plants a bowl of popcorn between us, before logging into her Brother Weston's Netflix account to find After 2's movie adaptation. As she reads the storyline, I slowly tune out her voice, letting my thoughts take control.

Secretly, I have started to lose hope. Wyatt didn't have ties to me, and because I was too stupid to tell him I was in love with him a month into our marriage, he may never know. Instead, I would just swoon over him, craving his attention and longing for his touch. Pacing by the kitchen door waiting for him to come home from work, like a puppy. He probably just thought of us as friends. That night he bandaged my finger, he was so filled with worry and concern, it was the cutest! Just the way he looked at me had my heart melting. I should have kissed him.

A week later, I cover a booth selling a spread of canned jams and jellies, candied yams and jalapenos, and jars of items you would never think you would see pickled at the Farmer's Market. As I began to stack and sort more canned items out of the boxes beneath the folding table, I swear I see Wyatt again from a distance. But this time I'm sure it isn't him. This man is sporting a tan T-shirt, tucked into a pair of green camouflage patterned pants with laced up boots, accompanied with two other soldiers. One dressed similar to him, but the other still wearing his matching button up. His skin is tanner, but still has a beautiful olive undertone just like Wyatt's. The arms of his shirt fit a bit tighter than I remember Wyatt's black t-shirts fitting, showing off half of a sleeve tattoo I can't quite make out. Did Wyatt even like tattoos? Plus, this man's shoulders and chest are slightly bigger.

Before I can step away from the booth for a better look, and older lady pulls my attention to ask about the canned squash relish.

"Yes ma'am, it'll be five dollars for the small jar, most people like to eat them with club crackers from what I hear." I answer her question without skipping a beat.

"Let me get two of those please, oh, and a quart size jar of that homemade tomato sauce!" she requests. "I haven't heard an accent quite like yours before. Where are you from if you don't mind me asking of course?"

I open a large brown bag, neatly placing the jars inside and folding the top of the bag in place, taping it shut with a round "thank you" sticker.

"I don't mind ma'am; I tend to get asked that question a lot. I never realized I had one until moving here honestly! Louisiana, about an hour drive from Baton Rouge on a good day." I say with a laugh.

"That was going to be my first guess!" She fidgets with her purse before pulling out a twenty, reaching out her hand. "You know, I saw you eyeing those Army boys, that tall one sure was handsome!" She chuckles. "It's common for them to visit our little markets and bar hop out here on the weekends. Did you know we have six Military bases here in the great state Colorado? Denver has a bunch of recruitment buildings too; I suppose that's where they came from. Anyways, I need to get going, hopefully I'll see you again next week! You watch out for them Army boys now Sweetie!" She says in a playful voice waving over her shoulder as she walks away.

Waving goodbye, I glance over to the far booth where I last saw the men, but I was too late. They had already run off.

Let me know what you think!