* * *

The tears that took her from that day never stopped. It seemed that was all her body was programmed to do, as if her soul was weeping.

Feeling powerless was a terrible thing. A really awful thing that hurt both mentally and physically. But desolation was even worse. She’d never experienced that before. Never experienced this feeling, like a substantial part of her was missing. Gone.

That was the best way that she could put it. Gone.

She was curled up on the sofa at home.

Home, the house she’d lived in too briefly with Wade. The house she should never have left. Chloe had come straight back here. It felt like the natural thing to do, as it was where she belonged. Anywhere that was his, anywhere where he was.

She didn’t care what he said, it wasn’t over between them. Chloe would never accept that, and she wouldn’t entertain the thought of it either. What was getting to her was that it didn’t seem like there was anything she could do, and it was driving her insane.

She kept going over what she knew in her mind, trying to think of every way possible that she could help. However, each time she was stumped.

The problem linked back to the psycho, the psycho that wanted to destroy the Vandervilles—and was doing a terrific job at it—and had ensured there was no connection to them or Wade and Merissa. So they had to establish a connection. Someone had to. But how.

How did anybody do that? Regina told her Detective Fray and Cora, Gilly’s PI friend, were doing whatever investigation they were doing, but nothing seemed like it was quite enough.

It was three days ago now that she’d seen Wade. Three days, and each day with no results or evidence of innocence made Wade look even more guilty.

She shifted against the largest cushion when the doorbell rang and she rose to answer the door.

It was Wes.

He’d been coming by every day to see her. Each time he brought ice cream, a bag of Jolly Ranger candy and a blueberry muffin. She fell into his arms for their usual embrace, but today she lingered for a little longer, wanting to absorb his strength.

“My friend,” he whispered into her ear and kissed her forehead. “Come on. I’ll fix you some ice cream.”

He did, sharing a large bowl. Yesterday he’d brought along some chocolate sprinkles and mini marshmallows. He added them both to the delicious helping of strawberry and pistachio ice cream he got from their favorite parlor.

In the past they would indulge together in their times of worry and stress. When they were doing their SATs back in high school they practically lived on ice cream. It was soul food for them that was guaranteed to fix any problem.

The things they classed as problems previously were all so very trivial in comparison to what was going on now. The only thing that could fix the way she felt right now was Wade being released from prison and this psycho person placed behind bars for killing Merissa.

Jesus, every time she thought about the fact that there was a killer on the loose, someone who was after them, it made her blood curdle and she felt so sick she could vomit.

Wes sat her down on the sofa again. He sat opposite and watched her.

“Is it safe for you to be here?” He looked worried. He’d looked worried ever since everything happened, ever since she decided to take the plunge to give in to her feelings for Wade. All those months ago seemed like a lifetime had passed.

So much had happened.

“I can’t be anywhere else.”

“You could go back to the beach house, or better yet, come stay with me.”

He was sweet to offer, but she had to decline. “I have to be here.”

“Why? Chloe, you’re in this house by yourself and there’s a killer on the loose. That can’t be a good thing.”

He was right, but her attention was drawn to the fact that he didn’t think that Wade killed Merissa. He’d been saying the same or similar things on his last few visits, but she’d been too distraught to comment. More than anything Chloe was grateful for his support and his belief in Wade’s innocence.

She’d told him all that was going on so he was clued up on everything.

“It’s home,” she told him on the edge of a breath and brought her knees to her chest as she leaned over onto the cushion. “It’s home,” she repeated.

She remembered when Wade asked her to move in with him. This house felt like her home since, and leaving again was like leaving him.

“Sometimes we have to take a break from home, Chloe. Sometimes we have to go away and come back when things are better.”

“I feel close to him when I’m here. All his things are here.”

Wes rested back in the armchair and gazed up at the ceiling. Then he straightened up again and rested his elbows on top of his thighs. “There has to be something we can do.”

“You want to help Wade?”

“No, that oaf can rot…” his voice trailed off when he saw her distress and he rolled his eyes. “Yes, I want to help him, because helping him helps you.” He frowned and bit the inside of his lip.

“I don’t know what to do. Where do we even begin?”

“You said Regina told you they looked at all the CCTVs and everything in the area.”

She nodded. “She said that the same thing happened where there was no recording of the time of the incident. Just like with a lot of the other incidents where we needed a camera.” She hoped that would have been evidence that Wade was set up, but no. The DA said it still wasn’t connected.

She failed to see how it wasn’t. In light of everything else going on, she couldn’t believe a person could refute the connection. They said it was too circumstantial and assumptive.

Wes looked like he was thinking about it, or an idea. “Do you know if they looked at all the cameras?”

“I guess they must have looked at what they had access to. Plus, they asked people around what they saw.”

“Did Wade actually tell you what happened himself?”

“No.” Because he was just talking about her not being with him. She didn’t want to think about that, it was too sad and painful for her.

His words had held both sentiment and pain at the same time. Wade had told her he’d loved her since he was six years old. Every time she thought about that her heart would ache for him.

The declaration, she was certain, was intended to eradicate her upset over him not choosing her when they were younger. Her outburst on Tuesday was about him not wanting her and watching him be with one girl after another.

The minute he said that, any angst she may have felt over the past disappeared.

“It could be useful to hear it.”

That could definitely be useful, but she wasn’t sure how it would help if so many people had already heard his testimony and were investigating but hadn’t come up with anything. According to Regina, Cora was supposed to be seriously amazing at what she did. Granted, it had only been a few days since the murder, so Chloe supposed time was what everyone needed.

“We could go,” Wes offered.

For the first time in days she felt a glimmer of hope. “We?”

He released a slow sigh. “Yeah, we. We can go. It may be helpful to go to the crime scene, too. I know we can’t go inside the house, but I’m more interested in what’s outside the house.”

Chloe smiled, the action almost felt foreign to her as that too was something she hadn’t felt in days. Wes was indeed thinking, and while Regina had Cora, who was amazing and everything great, Chloe had Wes. And she didn’t know anyone that was better than him at doing anything technical or thinking outside the box. Like he seemed to be now.

She could see his point, about the outside of the house. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m not sure yet. I may know when I see it. Sometimes things click better when I can see it.” He nodded pensively.

“Thank you, thanks Wes. I appreciate this.” Even if it led nowhere, it was something. They were taking some form of action, as opposed to doing nothing.

“Any time.”

“Thank you. It means a lot that you’re helping. I know how you feel about Wade.”

“Sure, he’s my least favorite person, but not even he deserves this.”

She’d fully updated Wes on everything, and she was grateful for his understanding.

“I’m worried about what will happen if no one can help.” The thought had struck her over and over again, and worse, she’d been reading on the internet about all sorts of possibilities. The sentences for murder paralyzed her with fear when she read though all the potential sentences Wade could face. Depending on whether he was sentenced for first- or second-degree murder, he could be looking at anything from life imprisonment to death. That was what it said on the legal advice website. She remembered seeing notes that the death penalty hadn’t been carried out since 2006, but she was being realistic and knew there was nothing to rule it out in Wade’s case. They could kill him. A tear ran down her cheek at the horrific thought and her hands started shaking.

Even Wes looked worried. “We can’t think about that. We can’t. We just have to try and be strong. You have to. More than me. I will be strong for you.”

“You’re a great friend, Wes.”

“Aren’t I just?” He smiled.

She loved that he could always find a way to offer light humor just enough to soothe.

“Friends for life, Chloe. That’s you and me. We’ll be in a nursing home together eating Pop Tarts for breakfast and Jolly Ranchers for dinner.”

“I like the food part, but somehow I don’t think we’re nursing home people. You’d be bored playing chess and checkers.”

He nodded, agreeing. “And they’d think I was strange. I’m not giving up my superhero t-shirts.”

She looked at his X-Men t-shirt and smiled. Wes was the only person who could wear clothes like that and make it look seriously cool.

“And I don’t like tea.”

“Chloe, I’m sure they’ll have hot chocolate.” He laughed. “How about this thought. We’re 65 and we’re on the beach watching our grandkids play in the sand. We send them away so we can keep all the candy to ourselves.”

She laughed at that thought. She actually laughed, then she nodded. “Yes. That’s better.”

His expression returned to its former concern. “I’m worried about you in this house, Chloe.”

“I’ll be okay. I promise I’ll be safe,” she assured him. “I promise.”

“Okay. I’ll continue to come by.” He pressed his lips together. “How’s Taylor?”

At that she smiled. This smile came effortlessly. Him being here was helping, but his evident affection for her best friend pacified her aching heart. She’d forgotten that he’d all but confessed his feelings for Taylor when they were at the hospital and she was in the coma. She also knew they spent time together over the last weekend. Neither had said anything, and the chance hadn’t really cropped up to talk about it. Her weekend was spent trying to calm Taylor down in one way or another. First it was the whole Richard thing, and then finding out that Brian was her father.

Then fast forward to today, which saw Chloe locked in the house crying for Wade and worrying herself sick.

“I wish that I could say she was fine.” Chloe brought her hands up to her chin and clasped them together. “You should go see her. She’d like that.”

“You think it would be okay? I don’t want to impose.” Her nervousness was adorable because it was something he so rarely expressed.

“You’re not imposing. I know she’d be glad to see you.”

“Did she say something?” Wes straightened up quickly, looking on at her keenly. “I mean, not that she would, given what’s going on. No, I don’t expect her to have said anything.”

“Did something happen?”

“No.” He shook his head.

“She likes you,” Chloe said softly.

“Did she say that?”

“She doesn’t need to.”

He smiled, looking pleased to hear that. “I’ll go see her. And then I’ll come back here for dinner.”

“No, come by tomorrow. I’ll be fine.”

He stood up, walked over to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Make sure you eat, Chloe.”

She nodded.

It was nice that he came. It was always nice to be with him, in the presence of his company. But…as soon as he left and the silence of waiting settled throughout the house, her worries returned.

Her worries came back full force and all she could see was Wade. His eyes filled with sadness and grief, his face bruised, the look of love on his face. The way he loved her.

She’d never give up on him. Not ever.

She just had to have hope. Get it from somewhere.

* * *

* * *

Taylor stroked Pisces as she purred on her lap. She sat on the front porch swing, gazing out to the waves, breathing in and out as it graced the shoreline of the beach. There weren’t many people out. She preferred it this way. It was a nice time to observe her surroundings and get lost in her mind. The picturesque view of the clear sea with the sun sparkling off the surface, the golden sand, and the soft azure sky helped to calm her troubled mind.

Poor Wade. What were they going to do? What was he going to do? When she saw him he looked terrible. He said he’d been in a fight with one of the other inmates. They went for him because he’s the state’s attorney’s son. Although Wade won, his face was left battered and bruised. He looked battered and bruised.

When her mother said that things weren’t looking good for Wade, Taylor refused to believe it. She refused to accept that all hope was lost.

And now in the stillness of the quiet afternoon she still refused to accept that there was nothing that could be done to help her brother.

“Taylor.”

The sound of her name made her turn her head around quickly. How hadn’t she seen him?

Wes stood before her with his hands in his pockets, a lock of his curls drifting against his forehead as the salty breeze lifted it.

He’d driven up to the house, parked, and walked up to her, but she’d been so well and truly lost in her mind that she didn’t even notice.

“Wes. I’m sorry I…” She actually didn’t know what to say to him. It’s funny that, all the time she spent at the police station and the prison, all that time, she thought of him. She was thinking that he’d keep her hopes up.

Everyone was being so truthful, bringing down the hard reality of the situation, highlighting that there was no hope. So she wouldn’t hope. Sometimes, even if the only option was desolation, it was nice to hear someone say, “don’t worry, it’ll be okay”. Wes was that guy.

But she hadn’t seen him since the Sunday before last, and today was Wednesday. A little over a week since Wade was arrested and charged.

It wasn’t as if she saw him on a regular basis, but she thought they’d made a connection. Then she thought of the obvious. Maybe he didn’t want anything to do with her because he thought Wade was guilty. If it was one thing she knew, it was that Wade had given Wes a terrible time in high school. He’d bullied him. Of course he would think that Wade was guilty of murder.

So maybe Wes was looking for Chloe. “I think Chloe’s at home. She didn’t come by today.”

Chloe left yesterday looking like hell. Taylor planned to check up on her later.

Wes offered a coy smile and something sparked in his brown eyes. “I’m here to see you.”

Her heart sped up when he said that. “Really?”

Pisces jumped off her lap and scampered away as she rose from the swing. She brought her hands together and watched him. He came closer and stood just a breath away from her. That cologne he’d always joked about filled her with its woodland musk and made her feel slightly giddy against the hopelessness that weakened her.

“I’m sorry I didn’t come before. I just wanted to give you and your family some space to deal with what’s happening,” he explained.

“Do you think Wade’s guilty?” He was entitled to his opinion, and whatever it was, she couldn’t have any resentment towards him for it.

“Forgive me, your brother isn’t my favorite person. I’d be the first in line to give evidence towards him being the devil, but even then, I wouldn’t think that he’s guilty of murder.”

Relief washed over her when he said that.

“Also, I know what’s been going on with this psycho and your family. Chloe told me everything.”

Taylor gazed up at him and felt the warmth of that feeling she’d only felt with him.

“Thank you,” she breathed, sincerely appreciating his support.

“How are you holding up?” Concern spread across his fine features and deepened when she shook her head. “I should have come by before.”

“It’s okay.” She pressed her lips together and looked away as she felt close to tears again. Every time Wes had seen her lately she’d been crying. She didn’t want to do it again.

Warmth seeped into her heart when he reached out and touched her face. She returned her gaze to him and now found herself lost in the deep hues of brown in his eyes.

There was no mistake about her growing feelings for him, none whatsoever. What she had to be mindful of was that she was always being watched, and anyone who got close to her could be in danger. At that thought, she stepped back and tried not to look too panicked. “I shouldn’t. You shouldn’t.”

“Why not?” His cheeks flushed.

“It’s not safe to be around me.” She shook her head. “If you know everything, you know it’s not safe. They’ll, whoever this person is, will come for anyone I care about.”

It was the classic strategy. To hurt the people you were targeting, hurt their loved ones and anyone they cared about. That was the worst punishment. She’d never done anything to anyone, but that didn’t matter here.

If anyone was watching her and Wes now, they would be able to see quite clearly that they looked more like a couple than anything else.

“You care about me?” he asked, completely glossing over everything else she cautioned about.

“Wes, I just said you could be in danger.”

“I don’t care about that.” His lips slid up into a soft smile and he held her gaze. “Taylor, do you care about me?”

“Yes,” she replied, feeling her own cheeks flush now.

“Is that in a cupid, adorable, teddy bear sort of caring way? No one wants to see something happen to cupid, or an adorable teddy bear.”

Humor, always with the humor. “How can you joke so easily?” She couldn’t help the smile that played on the corners of her mouth.

“It helps. So, Taylor, in what way do you care about me?” The seriousness returned to his face. He looked at her as if he was desperate to know, to hear her answer.

“I…like you. A lot. I know I’m so far below your league.”

She paused for a moment to think about what she just said. She’d never thought that about herself before. Probably because the men she tended to date had about the same academic background as her. She’d gone to UCLA to study fashion, barely attended the classes that interested her because she was always tending to her Kappa Alpha Theta events and other sorority matters.

Things like having a strong academic background didn’t matter when you were the daughter of a renowned fashion mogul and a Vanderville. Men flocked to her in hoards and she’d never worried about impressing anyone. Until now.

The man before her was so intelligent just looking at him and speaking to him made her want to make sure she pronounced her words right.

A surprised laugh escaped his lips and it nearly threw her off her confidence a little. Her skin warmed and she felt her face go hotter. Of course it would. She’d just told him she liked him a lot, then drew attention to her flaws.

He was probably thinking of how far below him she was. Maybe that’s why he laughed.

She frowned and moved to go, but he caught her arm and pulled her back towards him. Before her next words could form in her mind, he smoothed his hand across her cheek, bringing her closer so he could lower to her lips.

The connection stunned her soul. If she thought she’d ever felt anything for anyone when she was kissed before, or if she thought she was in love previously, what she felt just then eradicated everything before that moment.

It was difficult to describe, but she would have to say that it felt like a new life force had entered her body, filling it with pure, raw happiness. It was like receiving oxygen after being deprived of it, air into her lungs revitalizing her being. The energy from the kiss rushed over her body, rushing over her skin, seeping through its layers and making its way to every fiber of her being, every cell that formed her, everything that was her.

She melted against his chest where he held her, and even that produced its own effect.

When he pulled back, she gazed up at him, searching his eyes. He continued to hold her, and it was a good thing, too, because she didn’t think she’d have the strength to stand on her own, and definitely not when he was looking at her like that.

As if he thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world and he wanted her.

“I like you, too, a lot. The joke is totally on me. You couldn’t possibly think you’re below my league.” He narrowed his eyes at her.

“I am, Wes,” she replied, finding her voice.

“No way. It’s me who doesn’t even begin to climb up the scale. But please, can we stop comparing and measuring. I’ve had to do that all my life.”

She reached up and touched his face; the sadness in his eyes compelled her to do so because she couldn’t imagine someone like him needing to do that. He turned and brought her hand over to his lips so he could kiss it. The gesture made her smile.

“Let’s go for a walk on the beach,” he suggested.

While she could think of nothing sweeter and more refreshing, the worry she felt previously returned.

What was happening was serious. It was a serious matter that she couldn’t overlook, and she wouldn’t be able to live with herself if something happened to Wes.

She shook her head. “I’m scared.” She was actually terrified, and then there was the whole fact that she’d just gotten out of a long-term relationship. “And I don’t want you to think that you’re rebound guy, because you aren’t.”

“I don’t think that.” He shook his head. “I understand if you find it hard to separate your feelings for Richard. You were with him for a long time.”

“No, I actually don’t have a problem with that.” It was the strangest thing, but seeing Richard with his family, and knowing that he had lied to her and cheated, killed any love she may have had for him in an instant. That stupid kiss she shared with him was down to her weakened state at the time. She still felt weak from the accident, and her body was still recovering. However, her mind was there. It was here, and so was her heart. “He hurt me, Wes, and made me feel like nothing. He made me feel like I’m the kind of person you’d have on the side, but never be serious about. And then he made me look like a homewrecker. Me.” The whole thing still saddened her. That part did, because she was made to look like that against her will and wishes. “I have no feelings for him, other than the urge to stay away and forget him. But I’m scared for you, Wes. I can’t allow something to happen to you, just because you know me.”

He shook his head and smiled. “I’m not going anywhere, Taylor. And now that I know what it’s like to kiss you, nothing on Earth is going to prevent me from doing it again.” A slow smile danced on the edge of his lips. Looking at them made her want to kiss him again. “I choose danger if my reward is you.”

God, had anyone ever said anything like that to her before? Had she ever felt like this just from a few words? As if her heart would burst at the joy of just being in his presence.

He released her hand and cupped her face. “Come with me, Taylor. We’ll walk on the beach and then we’ll come back here and I’ll make you dinner. While we do that, you can help me brainstorm ideas on how we can help Wade.”

This was what she meant about him. His positivity. While everyone accepted the situation as a lost cause, he was busy thinking outside the box. Seeing through the obstacles and trying to find a way around it. But she was in complete awe that he’d want to help, given his awful past with Wade.

“You want to help?”

He shook his head and smiled. “Correction. I’m going to help. I don’t know how yet, but it’ll come to me.”

“Really, you think you can?” She couldn’t believe it.

“I can’t make any promises, but I’m going to do my best. Wade was framed and the person who framed him went through a lot of trouble to hide any- and everything to prove his innocence. I just have to find something.”

All she could do was stare. “Oh Wes, you’re the best.”

“Thanks. Now come let’s walk and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.” He smiled and took her hand, tugging her along.

Her hand in his felt like it belonged there. It was as if they’d always been like this. It would be great to hear what ideas he had to help Wade, but she looked forward to spending time with him, and she’d savor every minute they had.