Page 50 of Gravity

“As you are mine.” Placing his arm around my shoulder, he kisses the top of my head as I cuddle into his embrace. His heartbeat under my ear is soothing to the soul, generating a calmness over me. For the first time in hours, I can think more clearly regardless of the anxiety that weighs heavy, but even though I’m now relaxed, I can’t settle with the pacing from my brother.

“Asher, come and sit down. You’ve not stopped since we got here.”

“I’m fine. I need to keep my mind active. Stops me thinking.”

“If you need it active then sit and read a magazine or something. Just stop the pacing, you’re making me more nervous.”

When he looks at me, guilt radiates in his eyes and his shoulders drop. “I’m sorry. I just… fuck. I don’t know.” He lets out a heavy breath and rubs his hand over his face. “What if this was me. What if this is all my fault?”

“Why would it be your fault?” Grayson asks.

“I gave him a beer. He asked for a damn beer.”

The look in his eyes tells me he now feels like I had earlier—where I’d felt helpless for not being able to do anything. The look in my brother’s eyes now screams that he is holding himself completely responsible for all of this.

Leaving Grayson’s embrace, I go over to him, standing in front of him and grabbing hold of his arms to make him stop. When he looks down at me, his eyes are clouded with so many emotions that I can’t read which one is the most prominent. Despite his asshole ways, and the times he smothers me in protection I don’t wish for, I dislike seeing him so strung out about things like this.

“Ash, this is not your fault. It’s not the only beer he’s had since his stroke, and knowing him, it won’t be the last. The man loves a beer with his boys. This is not down to you.”

He studies me for a moment before he pulls me against his chest and wraps his arms around me, gripping on to me so tight that it’s a struggle to breathe but I go with it. “God, I fucking hate this.”

“Me too.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you earlier. I just freaked out and wanted to make sure Dad was okay. It wasn’t until I was in the ambulance that I realized I never checked you were okay.”

I smile, understanding it completely as I look over at Grayson. “It’s fine. I had Gray taking care of me.”

“What would we do without him, hey?”

“Nora would be fine. It’s your pussy ass that I’d worry about.” Grayson cuts in, relieving the tension between me and Asher.

“You love me really.”

“Can’t think why?” Grayson grins, causing both my brother and me to laugh for the first time since we got here before Asher kisses my head.

“You know I love you, Nora, right?”

“In your own twisted way.”

“Watch it,” he squeezes me tighter playfully. “I always swore to Dad that I’d protect you any way I could, and even the age you are, that doesn’t change for me. That will never change for me. You’re our little lady.”

“Correction. She’s my little lady,” Grayson adds with a grin.

“She’s your Shortcake.”

“And also my little lady. Find your own name for her.”

“The only other one I can think of is ‘annoying’.”

“Asshole!” I jab him in the ribs playfully, grateful that his strange vibe has left him for a moment, and I’ve got the old Asher back.

He chuckles. “Couldn’t resist.”

I’m about to reply when I see Mom through the window of the family room, heading down the corridor with Dad’s regular doctor, Dr. Newman. “There’s Mom.”

In a flash, Asher is racing out of the door with myself and Grayson right behind him.

When I approach, Dr. Newman greets us, but it’s the look on Mom’s face that has my chest tighten with apprehension.