“Is Hudson planning to start his own army now?” West asks, shaking his head as he puts the book back. Haphazardly, which I know will piss Hudson off. He likes everything in his life perfectly ordered.
“Probably,” Parker says. He looks at me. “Seriously, just talk to him about this security stuff. And your problems, too.”
“I’m not burdening him with my problems,” I tell them. “And as you said, it’s easily dealt with.”
“What’s easily dealt with?” Autumn asks, walking in. She’s wearing a silver dress that’s pretty much molded to her body, the tiny sequins sparkling as she walks. Parker lifts a brow and lets out a low whistle at the same time.
“I thought you were going out for drinks with the girls?” I say, because she and Francie are heading out tonight – celebrating Francie’s last night here on Liberty before she heads home tomorrow. But this outfit doesn’t screamdrinks with the girls, it screamsparty like it’s 1999.
“I like to look pretty.” Her eyes lock with Parker’s and she smiles. West shakes his head. “What are you guys talking about anyway?”
“Nothing important,” I say. And it’s the truth, yes I’m pissed that I have to deal with business problems, but I try not to bring that to the family.
“That’s good. Because I need to talk to Asher alone.” Autumn looks pointedly at West, because Parker will pretty much do anything she asks of him when she’s wearing a dress like that and she knows it.
“Uh oh,” West murmurs, giving me a grin. “Somebody’s in trouble.”
I shake my head as he and Parker walk out, and Autumn shuts the door and turns to look at me.
“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it,” I tell her. She has that same expression on her face that she used to get as a child. Determination mixed with annoyance. I remember trying to teach her how to tell the time when she was five and I was a teenager. Every time she got it wrong she’d wrinkle her nose and pout.
“Why are you being such an ass to Francie?” she asks.
“What makes you say that?”
“The fact that you can’t look at her without frowning. I saw you yesterday, glaring at her at the party.” Autumn sighs, plopping down in the seat West just vacated. “She’s my best friend, Ash. And yeah, she used to have a crush on you. Emphasis onused to.”
I blink. “No she didn’t.”
“Don’t worry, I think you’ve pretty much assholed any crush out of her. But she’s having a hard time and I hate that you’re making it worse.”
“What kind of hard time?” I bark out, because this is news. She didn’t mention anything last night. There’s a weird twist in my chest that I try to ignore.
I hate that I didn’t know. That she didn’t tell me. That I can’t be the one she turns to when things get hard.
“Just stuff.” She shrugs. “But anyway…”
“Stuff? What’s that supposed to mean?” I glare at her. “Seriously, Autumn, you can’t tell me she’s having a hard time and not tell me what it’s about. How am I supposed to help?”
My sister rolls her eyes like I’m an idiot. “Why are men so stupid?” she asks. “I’m not asking you to solve anything. Women aren’t puzzles to be easily put together you know? We can work our own problems out, thank you very much. I’m asking you not to make things worse.”
I open my mouth then shut it again, because I have no idea what she’s talking about. “Does she have a stalker?” I ask, my voice low. Because if that asshole is harassing her…
“What?” Autumn’s mouth drops open. “Why would you say that? Of course she doesn’t. Not everything is a security issue, Ash. Even if you wish it would be.”
“Why would I wish that?” I frown.
“Because you like solving problems. And if you can’t solve them, you feel like you’ve somehow failed. Which is completelystupid if you ask me. Anyway, I’m not here to talk about your deficiencies.”
“My deficiencies?” I repeat, my eyes wide.
“Shut up. Stop making everything about you.” She tips her head back, like she’s losing her patience. “Just promise me you’ll stop being an ass to my best friend. If I didn’t have her…”
I rein my annoyance in. I know how important Francie is to my sister.
“What kind of problems is she having?” I ask, my voice gentler this time.
“Just work stuff.” She shakes her head. “I told you, it doesn’t matter.”
