-----------------------2020----------------------------

Sleep was supposed to clear Elena's mind. But she first had to stop thinking of her past before she could fall asleep.

She had been in Saint Charles for only one day. She barely left the house and hasn't spoken to anyone she used to know. And still she couldn't stop thinking of those times.

There was something about Saint Charles that made her mood different. She didn't like being back, because it reminded her of all the bad things. But she also thought back to the many good things. And then she started doubting. Didn't she want to be here?

She wondered about her friends. Julie was still working at the hospital, her mother had said. She was doing fine, but had closed herself off. She worked too much and spent no time with friends and family anymore. The only people she talked with were patients.

Nova was doing wonderfully well. After convincing her summer love to stay in Saint Charles, she had married him and now they were awaiting their second child. They were both active in the town's community and organized parties and barbecues.

Micah had started his training for the army, and succeeded last year. He was now more often in war zones abroad than in Saint Charles. There was no talk of a girlfriend, but that was not the kind of man Micah was. He loved his sister, but no woman could ever top her. He wasn't really a family man.

And Asher...

From what she had heard, he was well. But just like her, he had lost his smile. He still came to parties and said hello to Elena's parents when passing by. He met up with Nova on a few occasions. But mostly he stayed inside his house.

She didn't know anything else. She would always avoid the topic when her parents came by. And when they did start talking about him, she would ask them about Nova or Micah so that she would not have to think of Asher.

But tonight she wondered. How was he? What did he look like? Was he a broken man, or had he quickly recovered?

Did he still think about her like she thought of him?

She turned in her bed. She shouldn't wonder about that. If she shut him out of her life, she should not wonder about him. It would be a blessing if he had forgotten her, but it would also stab her in the heart.

Another question popped up in her head. What would she do if she saw him?

It was almost inevitable in a small town like this, so she should prepare for it. But what would it be like? Would he smile at her? Would her heart skip like it used to? Should she tell him she was happy?

She wanted to know more about him. How he was doing, what he was thinking of, if he was happy. But she didn't have those privileges anymore. He was not her man anymore, and that had been her decision. Did he hate her for making that decision?

No, she didn't want to know. Her parents had said he didn't hate her. If anything, he still loved her. And that's why she couldn't talk about him. He would draw her in, maybe convince her to stay. Then she would end up being reminded of the awful things she did and how much she had hurt him.

So no, if she saw Asher, she shouldn't speak to him.

She turned around again and stared at the ceiling. There would be no sleeping tonight, she feared. She didn't want to think about him, but she couldn't help it.

-----------------------2014----------------------------

With a white key card, Asher opened the door of their hotel room. The door slammed against the wall, startling both of them. But the sight left them frowning.

"This is a small room," Asher commented.

They entered it and looked around. Underneath a small window was a double bed. The opposite wall was covered with a television and a little dresser, and an old chair was stuffed in the corner.

A small door led to a tiny bathroom with only a dirty shower, a clogged toilet, an uncleaned mirror and a brown sink. Towels of which the hygiene was debatable hung against the dirty wall, making Asher frown.

Elena dropped her luggage on the ground and sighed. "As long as it has a bed, it served its purpose."

She heard Asher's laughter before he exited the bathroom.

"Oh, I know what you mean," he said with a wink while his arms wrapped around her waist.

Elena chuckled. That was not what she meant, but she liked where his mind was going. She was still smiling when his lips crashed down on hers. She happily deepened the kiss and opened her mouth for him.

His arms roamed her body and rumpled her clothes, but he quickly pulled them off. Pushing her against the wall, his mouth trailed down to her neck. She let out a moan, unable to not show this man how much she loved what he could do to her.

Her hands found the hem of his shirt and she quickly rid him of it. She took his head in her hands and forced his lips back to hers. Her belly was fluttering and her legs were weakening, but she still managed to pull off his pants.

With desire burning inside them, they made their way to the bed and gave into their longing for each other. Love was great. But loving Asher was greater.

-----------------------------------------------------------

When the night started to fall the next day, the hotel door opened. Elena and Asher stumbled inside the room, both a little drunk. Their hands were holding each other and they were laughing for no reason.

But once the door was shut, their laughter died. Their bodies were pressed against each other and their tongues were dancing. Every once in a while, a moan filled the silence.

Then there came the thumping of shoes falling on the ground and clothing being thrown somewhere. And eventually their naked bodies fell on the mattress, the only words spoken being each other's names.

When they were finished and had calmed down their racing hearts, they managed to say more than just names. Elena didn't know where her thought came from, but she had spoken it before she could overthink it.

"When do you want to have kids?"

Asher frowned when he looked at her. Then he shrugged. "I never thought of it. But not yet. We're still too young."

"And what if it did happen now?"

His frown deepened. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Elena laughed while shaking her head. "No, I'm not pregnant. I was just wondering."

A small smile played Asher's lips. "If a child would come now, I would love her very much, even though I would prefer if we waited."

With a chuckle, Elena nodded. "I agree. But I want a boy."

Asher shook his head. "I'll give you a girl," he said before giving her a light kiss on her forehead.

-----------------------------------------------------------

On the third day, when the door opened again, there was no room for words, since Asher and Elena's lips had already found each other. Even before the door slammed shut, Asher was already pulling off Elena's top.

They stumbled to the bed, trying to undress each other faster than the other one could. With still a few pieces of clothing around their bodies, they fell on the bed. The clothing quickly found a place on the floor, but was long forgotten by them as they were entangled in each other's embrace.

The flashing lights of Las Vegas lit the room in random patterns and colors, but Elena couldn't be bothered. She was too preoccupied with loving her man.

-----------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, a killer headache woke Elena much too early. The bright Nevada sun was already shining through the window, but that didn't help with the pain. She groaned and closed her eyes again.

Despite her drunken state the night before, she still remembered everything that had happened. From the kind words to the sweet kisses and the fun on the bed. She had never thought being on vacation with only Asher would be this fun.

She would have laughed at that thought if she didn't have such a headache. Of course she knew a vacation with Asher would be fun! But she must admit she hadn't thought of the fun at night.

Las Vegas had been Elena's crazy idea. She had told Asher once that it would be silly to live a life without ever seeing the place. He had convinced her to go, and now there they were. But the casinos and fancy buildings weren't what she loved about the city. It was the nights she spent with Asher. No worries about anyone interrupting them or seeing them naked.

It was wonderful!

A finger touched Elena's nose, and instantly a smile appeared on her face. Asher chuckled before she opened her eyes and looked at him. Bright blue eyes were watching her with mirth.

"Good morning," he said with a low, sleepy voice.

"Ssht," she whispered. "My head hurts."

She felt the bed shake because of his laughter.

"Drank too much?" he guessed correctly.

She groaned with embarrassment and pulled the blankets over her head. Asher easily pulled them out of her grip and lifted her head to meet his gaze.

"Let me help you think of something else," he said before his lips gently covered hers. Forgetting the headache instantly, she crawled on top of him, discovering the convenience of being naked already.

-----------------------2020----------------------------

Asher and Elena were not the type of couple that had sex every day. But those three days in Las Vegas were different. They weren't themselves. Was it the buzzing of the city that had changed them? Or the knowledge that it was their first time away from Bear Lake?

Or maybe it was just the knowledge that they wouldn't be interrupted.

Whatever it was, Elena didn't want to think of it too much. She had loved being in bed with Asher, and it was something she missed. But she should forget him and move on. Maybe he wasn't even that good.

-----------------------2014----------------------------

There weren't many sporting options in Saint Charles. Asher and Elena stuck to running. The path along Bear Lake was gorgeous. Even though she had run it so many times, she still enjoyed it very much.

Mostly she would go running with Asher. When they would pass by people, those strangers would wave at them, or shout their name. Everyone knew Asher and Elena, and sometimes she hated it. Could she not have some time alone with her boyfriend?!

Today they had started their run early in the morning, hoping to beat the heat. They had started in the cool morning air, but by the time they arrived at Asher's home, it was too warm to run much longer.

He invited her inside the house, and she was grateful for the air conditioning. She followed him to the kitchen, where he turned toward her.

"Do you want some water?" he asked.

"Yes, please," she responded eagerly. He filled a glass and gave it to her, before filling another one for himself. She assumed her face looked as red as his, which was not very flattering.

"I need a shower," he said as if reading her mind.

"So do I," she responded with a sigh.

"Yes, you do." There was a smile on his red face as he took her hand and pulled her up the stairs to his bedroom. Without a word, they walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind them.

Nerves fluttered her belly as she thought of what he wanted to do. She wanted this too, but she was also a little reluctant.

Yet when Asher's lips found hers and his hands carefully roamed her body, her resolve disappeared and she gave him her all.

-----------------------------------------------------------

When the movie ended, Asher took the remote and turned off the television. Elena had found a comfortable position on his chest and groaned. She didn't want to leave this position.

Asher chuckled, then brushed his fingers through her hair. For some reason, it felt more erotic than it should, and she liked it. Maybe she had just found a reason to move from her position.

She turned her head to look and Asher, who was already looking at her.

"Your parents won't be coming home tonight, right?" she asked.

"No, they won't. They told us to expect them only tomorrow, around 4."

"And your brother is in his bed?"

"Probably sound asleep by now." He frowned. "Why?"

Elena smiled a mysterious smile. "I have just discovered we have the house to ourselves."

He chuckled, and his smile remained while asking: "what are you thinking of?"

"We won't get interrupted."

Those were the only words needed for Asher to understand what exactly she was thinking of. He smiled at her before he jumped up and pulled her along to his bedroom.

After that night, they had discovered how to take advantage of their parents leaving the house. And if they had an uncontrollable desire and a too busy house, Asher's pickup was perfect.