“Higher,” Jace instructs, adjusting Asher’s elbow. “You want that anchor point consistent every time, or you’ll never hit what you’re aiming at.”
Asher shifts, his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth in a sign of true concentration. He releases. The arrow sails wide, thunking into the grass a good five feet from the target he’s set up against a hay bale. “Dammit.”
“No, that was better. You’ll get it.”
As soon as the pups realize I’m approaching, their attention turns and chaos ensues. Both men turn. Jace’s dog trots over with all the manners and dignity our pups lack. His stubby tail wags, and I crouch to scratch behind his brown ear, making sure to give plenty of love to all.
“That’s Clutch.” Asher lowers the bow, grinning like he’s been caught doing something mildly rebellious. “And this is Jace Jenkins, town mechanic and all-round outdoorsman.”
I straighten and brush dog hair off my jeans. “Hey, nice to meet you.”
Jace steps forward with his hand extended. “You’ve become quite the celebrity around these parts. Welcome back.”
“Thanks, but sadly, I don’t think I’ll live up to the hype.” I accept the welcome, his palm calloused and strong. It’s the kind of grip that comes from years of hard work.
“I’m sure that’s not true.” His smile crinkles the corners of his eyes, and I see why the women of Emberwood all have their sights set on him. He’s rugged and hot as hell. “I knew your dad from the shop. He was a good man.”
It does my heart good to hear someone mention my father first for a change. “Yeah, he was. Thank you.”
Asher bounces on his toes. “Speaking of the garage, Jace just gave the cars the all-clear. Both of them are good to go.”
I blink. “Oh, really?”
“Yep. The Mustang needed new fuel line, and the minivan needed a battery, but they should run like a dream,” Jace says.
That’s good to hear. Having reliable transportation means freedom. It means not depending on Wylder or Sebastianor anyone else to get where we need to go. And with the temperature dropping every day, it means heated seats instead of freezing our butts off walking. “Thank you. Seriously, that’s great news.”
He waves my thanks away. “Just doing my job.”
Asher shakes his head. “With them sitting there that long, they weren’t nearly as bad off as I expected. It’s crazy to me that they didn’t need more work done.”
There’s a reason Jace makes such a good mechanic. He’s what’s known in the magical world as an artificer. It’s a type of magical individual who blends magic with technology. Not that he goes around telling people that.
I’ll have to fill Asher in on that later.
“All that matters is that they’re both roadworthy and safe,” I say.
Asher nods. “Yeah, it would be a shame for you to wrap that Mustang around a tree. We gotta protect the classics.”
I laugh. “Gee, thanks. For a moment I thought you were worried about me.”
“Nope. Just the car.”
I chuckle and point to the bow in Asher’s hand. “So what’s with the Robin Hood routine? I know you’ve always had a thing for men in tights, but this is new.”
Asher flashes me a sassy grin, but then it’s replaced by something more earnest. “I just thought it’d be a useful skill. I used to do this at YMCA summer camp when I was a kid, and I always liked it.”
Jace nods. “He’s got decent form for someone who hasn’t touched a bow in years. Give him a week, and he’ll be hitting the gold.”
Oh, my heart. Asher’s playing it casual, but I know him too well. This isn’t about nostalgia or fun. This is about preparation.About being ready. About not being useless when things go sideways in my life.
My chest tightens. Asher’s always been there for me—through every panic attack, every sleepless night, every moment when I felt like the world was too much. And now, with the world changing around him and everything spiraling into chaos, he’s doing what he does best: adapting.
He’s finding a way to contribute, to stand beside me even when the odds are stacked impossibly high.
“That’s really cool,” I say softly. “I think it’s a great idea.”
He meets my eyes, and something unspoken passes between us.I’ve got your back, baby girl. Always.
