He tried to gather me close, but I pulled out of his arms.
“Aston, please. I’m begging you, just go home. Go home to your other kids. They need you right now. Take a shower, get a good night’s sleep, and deal with this drug shit. I don’t need anyone to rescue me. First, Milly sent Mike here, then Piper called Seth over here, and then you showed up. For God’s sake, I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”
“Can you?”
“Screw you, Aston. Yes, I can. I want you to go. Really.”
“Not until I at least set my eyes on Piper.”
He crossed his arms in front of his chest, his expression formidable, and I knew I wasn’t getting rid of him until he got what he wanted.
“Come on and be quiet. And then you’re going,” I said firmly, then turned to pad my way toward Piper’s bedroom.
Gently, I opened the door and motioned for him to peer inside. Piper was in a much-needed deep sleep, burrowed under the covers, her hair tangled all around her face. As quickly as I allowed him to look, I swiftly shut the door and stalked back toward the kitchen.
“Don’t do this.” Aston came up behind me and slid his arms around my middle.
“Aston,” I said, turning and finding myself caught in his sneaky embrace.
“Please, Bex. I have a plan. My dad was messing with it, and I can’t let him do that.”
“Oh, you and your mysterious plan. I meant what I said, that I loved you. Love you, Aston. But this can’t go on.”
“It can’t be over,” he begged, pleading with his eyes.
So typical when it came to Aston, I found I couldn’t say no to him.
“It’s on hold,” I told him.
I didn’t move away from his arms. I couldn’t. Aston was home to me, but I had to separate myself from him. I needed space. We needed a breather.
“This will be over in a couple of days. Please, Bexley.”
I pulled out of his hold. “Go. Go to Mara and Aston Junior. This isn’t fair to them. Relieve Denise, and take care of them.”
His head hung low, and I was desperate to comfort him.
Shoving that need away, I pointed to the door. “Go.”
“Will you have Piper call me tomorrow?”
I nodded. “If she wants to. Remember, Aston, this isn’t about you.”
I pulled the door open, and he walked out without another word.
Bexley
After a mostly sleepless night, I sat in the kitchen, drinking coffee.
“Morning, sweetie,” I said to Piper when she came into the kitchen, and swiped her messy hair out of her eyes with my free hand.
“Are you okay, Mom?”
She’s asking me?
“You don’t have to worry about me, Piper. I’m the mom. Let me do the worrying for both of us.” Setting my coffee mug down on the counter, I gathered her in for a hug.
“I was scared,” she said into my chest. “But I’m not now.”
