Wildflower (Colors #4) Read Free Page B

staring into those familiar light brown eyes felt like I’d been thrust back into the past. Hearing him call me wildflower in that voice I knew so well, though it had deepened with age, was like a knife through the heart. Staring at his gorgeous face in the middle of a church during my grandmother’s funeral only exacerbated my pain.
    “W-what are you doing here? How did you…?” I trailed off, having trouble forming words thanks to my muddled brain.
    “I wanted to pay my respects,” he answered, and I didn’t miss the pain mixed with sympathy that flashed in his eyes. He loved Grammy. Back when we were together, he used to spend hours sitting out on the front porch with her, each of them lazily rocking in her old, creaky rocking chairs, talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. Other than Ethan, he understood my pain better than anyone. It made sense that he would be hurting from the loss of her as well. “God,” he breathed as his eyes scanned me from top to toe, and I felt that look over every inch of my body. “I can’t tell you how good it is to see you again, wildflower. I’ve missed you like crazy.”
    My chest seized painfully at his admission. An old ache I’d let go of years ago took hold once again and threated to drag me down. I opened my mouth — to say what, I didn’t have a clue — but luckily Ethan cut in before things grew even more awkward.
    “Hey Coach Murphy,” Ethan spoke uncertainly from behind me.
    I turned back to my brother, my brows knit in confusion. “Coach?”
    “Varsity football,” Noah answered for Ethan. “It’s my second year with the high school.”
    I didn’t understand. Before I left, Noah had a full ride to Ohio State to play football. It had always been his dream. He spent his whole life talking about going pro. What was he doing coaching a small town high school football team? “But I thought…”
    “A lot of things changed after you left.” His words settled in my stomach, leaving me feeling somewhat queasy, and as he continued talking, that sick feeling just continued to grow. “I didn’t like myself very much back then. I had to take a step back and figure out what was important.”
    I didn’t want to know what was important to him. I didn’t want to care. But that niggling of curiosity in the back of my mind wouldn’t stop poking at me. What was important? What had changed in the several years that led him from the path he had been so determined to take?
    “Harlow,” Navie spoke over my shoulder. “Who’s your friend?”
    My answer came instantly and abruptly. “He’s not my friend.”
    Silence encompassed our small circle and I could feel the tension building around us. “Why do I feel like I’m missing something here?” Rowan asked in a hushed voice.
    There was no point in trying to keep it a secret from my friends any longer. The cat was already out of the bag.
    With my eyes still glued on Noah’s handsome face, I told my friends something I knew they never expected to hear from me.
    “He’s my ex-husband.”
    And with that bombshell, I ran. Just like the eighteen-year old-girl that had her entire world ripped apart all those years ago. I already had enough heartache and drama in the past week to last a lifetime. I couldn’t handle any more. And when I felt the walls beginning to close in on me, I turned on my heels and headed for the doors.

“You have a husband ?”
    Navie’s shrill voice cut through my brain, agitating the headache I’d had for the past several hours and making it that much worse. After my unexpected brush-in with Noah, I’d quickly escaped the church, running like the hounds of hell were nipping at my feet. Later on, as we all attended the graveside service, I’d been unable to keep myself from looking through the mass of people for those honey eyes. The disappointment I felt in not seeing them, and my weakness for looking in the first place, made me angry. With him and myself.
    Afterwards, we