All Chapters of What if We Drown : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

The water was cold as it kissed her ankles, the softly spoken words dissipating on the breeze that tangled within her curls. A gasp stole from her lungs as she stumbled back, her feet dragging through the sinking sand.That cool kiss hadn't been a part of her memory. She'd felt it, clear as day. Somehow, lost in the memory of that day with her father, she'd lost control of her movements and had drawn too close to the rolling waves.The water continued its ebb and flow, unfazed by the events that had transpired. All while Ashlyn's heart thundered in her chest at the vivid memory that had quickly shifted into the tangible textures she'd just experienced.Twenty years had passed since the last time she'd felt the shifting sand and the foamy kisses, her muscle memory dormant through it all. But with one touch, with one unexpected kiss, her body had responded as though it had only been a day. Her toes had buried into the sand, the granules tickling the soles of her feet when the wave ha

Ashlyn stepped around Derek, her attempts to mask her confusion reflected in the wavy smile she cast towards him before she stepped out of the water and jogged up the beach towards the bonfire. She could feel Derek at her back as he followed behind, his feet shifting in the sand the only sound he made.Ashlyn navigated around the crowd of people seated around the fire, muted words of praise and congratulations for what she'd done reaching her ears.She didn't like being the center of attention, almost as much as she didn't like being in the dark about what was going on. And something had to be going on, it was the only way to explain the smiles that Abel and Kass wore when they looked to her, and Derek at her back.Before she could take her seat beside Kass, Kass gave a subtle shake of her head. Ashlyn's brow quirked, and she went to object when the soft cadence of a young girl's voice reached out to her."Sit with me, Ashwyn," Sage called out around the thumb that she nursed. Ash

"Why don't you want him to save you? Don't you love him?" Sage looked down at her feet, her words coming out in a broken mumble. The sorrow and confusion that Sage spoke with was a spear to Ashlyn's heart. She didn't even know where to begin on trying to explain the complicated mess that was her feelings.Ashlyn glanced towards Derek, her lower lip drawn between her teeth, as she gestured for him to help. Derek crouched beside Ashlyn and placed a finger under Sage's chin, drawing her face up to look at him."Sweetie, sometimes things aren't that easy. Sometimes the witch uses magic that the prince can't break. Sometimes a person needs to do it on their own, and that's okay too." He turned his head to smile at Ashlyn.Ashlyn listened as Derek chose his words carefully, so as not to shatter all of the magic that they believed in.The childlike innocence that Poppy and Sage believed in caused an aching in Ashlyn's chest. At that moment, she envied them for the simplicity which they s

Misunderstandings were inevitable, a common occurrence, really.But when Derek turned to look at Ashlyn, there was no misunderstanding in what he had said. His eyes were wide with panic that he'd spoken too soon and were alight with a spark of hope that she now knew the truth. Even so, despite the contrast of emotions in his eyes, Ashlyn knew that he believed wholly in what he'd said.He loved her.Her heart floundered before it was taking off to soar at great heights. Breathless and dizzy from the sudden spike in her heart rate, Ashlyn watched his face, chasing each and every emotion as it passed. Her eyes took it all in, desperate for something, an emotion, to cling to. She was confident that her expression must have mirrored his, processing the what, the why, and the how.The set of Derek's eyes softened as he completed the turn, so he sat facing her completely, his knees touching her thigh.Ashlyn intertwined her fingers tightly against Sage's back, while mentally trying to c

"Ash, hey. Listen to my voice, feel my hands in yours. You're going to be okay." Zion's voice was leveled and calm, even though he was only eleven.Her hands tightened around his, her nails biting into the back of his hands, but never once did he complain."Good. You're doing great. Now, I want you to tell me five things that you can see." Slowly, Zion let go of Ashlyn's hands and waited for her answer. His eyes never left hers.The way that he looked at her, with loving concern, caused an aching in her chest.Unable to bear looking at him, she closed her eyes, regretting the maturity she asked of him. It wasn't fair that while other kids his age were out playing war or baseball on the field, Zion was sitting beneath the tree, coaching his older sister through some grounding exercises he'd learned online. And all because someone had been bullying him for having her for a sister.Her mind circled, the guilt, and the shame she felt warring behind closed lids. The acceleration in he