“Seein’ y’all together…it’s more than a favor, and you know it. Everyone can see it, so why can’t you?”
“It’s not more than that,” he said firmly. “Besides, we had an agreement. She’d stay just till I was named permanent guardian. And now that I am, she’s free to go.”
“You ever think about tellin’ her you might like her to stay?”
“Why the hell would I do something like that? You and I both know Havenbrook isn’t where she belongs. She’s never belonged here. And I’m sure as hell not gonna hold her back from a life she wants to live, just because I’m selfish enough to want her to stay.”
Nash expelled a heavy sigh. “Just talk to her, all right? I’ve known you two apart, and I love you both, but there’s something special about you two together.”
Not special enough to make her throw everything away for a life in a town she’d always been too big for.
“Are y’all havin’ aNashermeetin’ without me?” Nat asked, dropping into the chair on the other side of Asher.
Nash snorted. “We haven’t done that since you threatened to rip our balls off in fifth grade if we ever thought about doin’ it again. You’ve always been a mouthy thing, haven’t you?”
“You probably want me to say I’m sorry, but I’m not. Where would you two fools be without me?”
Nowhere Asher wanted to be, that was for damn sure. He just didn’t see another option.
“Probably have spent the past twenty years with a hell of a lot fewer bruises,” Nash said.
Asher cracked a grin. “Fewer trips in the back of cop cars, too.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” she asked before pushing to stand. “It’s gettin’ late, so we should probably head out. I’ll go grab Owen. Rory’s hoggin’ him inside.”
“Sounds good.”
He watched her walk away, his gaze never straying from her. She turned and said something to Gran, a smile lighting up her face, and his heart soared and broke at once. He didn’t know what the hell to do. Only that watching her leave was going to be the hardest thing he ever did.
“Sure,” Nash said. “Nothing there. Right.”
“Fuck off, would you?” Asher downed the last of his beer and set the bottle on the table with a clink. “I can’t deal with your bullshit right now. I just got the kids…I still need to go through Aubrey and Nathan’s things. June’s in therapy. And now that this is all final, Nat and I need to figure out how the fuck we’re gonna tell her family. You know, the ones who are thrilled to have all their girls back home.”
Nash slapped a hand on Asher’s back, harder than necessary. “I’m there if you need help sortin’ through your sister’s things. And any time you want an ear as y’all are doin’ the therapy thing, you let me know. As far as the Havens? Well…if you’d get your stubborn head out of your ornery ass and tell Nat how you’re feelin’, maybe you wouldn’t have to tell them anything at all.”
“Asher,” Gran called. “Be a sweetheart and grab me my reading glasses from the kitchen island? June wants me to read her this book before y’all leave.”
“You got it.” He stood, grabbing his empty bottle to toss in the recycling bin.
“Just think about it,” Nash said.
Yeah, like Asher hadn’t spent the past month thinking about it. Hadn’t spent the past week trying to figure out a solution. Hadn’t written a fucking song about it.
He strode toward the French doors that led into the house, his emotions a jumble inside. Today had been so bittersweet—the celebration of no longer having to worry about his niece and nephew being taken away mingling with the one thing he’d known was coming.
Gran’s reading glasses were just where she said, sitting next to the baby monitor on the counter which crackled with Owen’s happy baby babbles, along with Rory’s and Nat’s voices.
“Y’all’ve been lookin’ awfully cozy together,” Rory said. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you sneakin’ off to the dressin’ room at the wedding. Never thought I’d say this, but the family life suits you.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“And I don’t know what to tell you. I saw what I saw. So, what’re y’all gonna do now?”
“Probably head back home.”
“You know I don’t just mean tonight. I’m talkin’ about you callin’ that placehome.”
There was a pause where Asher held his breath, waiting for her response, knowing he shouldn’t be listening but unable to help himself. Maybe Nash was right and he should just ask her. Tell her how he was feeling and see if she might be feeling the same.
