I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I wouldn’t change a damn thing.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-NINE
ASPEN
Ifeel like a teen again, but in a totally different way. Asher makes me feel giddy every time he looks at me. It’s like butterflies swarm my stomach every time he turns his attention on me.
Giggling, I grab his hand and pull him away from his own party and down the hall. We will go back, but right now, I need him. I want to show him how much it means to me that he wants to make me his old lady.
I never thought my life would be as full as it is right now. I have Asher filling my heart with so much love, it feels like it will burst. I have my brother welcoming me with open arms. All the walls from before dropped. My best friend and old friends, who have become more like sisters to me, are here by my side.
I cannot imagine my life being any better.
If I could take a snapshot of my life, I would want to do it right now. I always want to remember how I feel in this moment. I feel like my life is complete. Like the world has taken all the struggles I have dealt with my entire life and decided enough was enough.
It is my time to be happy.
“If you don’t hurry, I am going to fuck you in the hall,” Asher growls into my ear.
“Ooh, you are starting to sound more and more like a wolf. I think Calloway got your name right.”
As we turn the corner to the hall where all the brothers’ rooms are, we hear yelling. I slow down, recognizing Rain’s voice. I put my finger to my lips as I inch closer.
“You don’t understand how I feel. I know you want to help, but I don’t need it. It is my job to take care of my dad. He is going to die. I know that. I want to be the one to spend every last minute I can with him. Stop taking that from me,” she yells.
“I’m not trying to take anything from you. He doesn’t want you to see him like this. He doesn’t want you changing his shitty diapers or struggling to bathe him. He wants you to remember him as the man he used to be,” Ridge tells her.
“He lost that right when he decided to stop chemo. I am going to lose him, Ridge. He will be gone.” She sucks in a breath, her voice coming out strangled.
It hurts my heart hearing her like this. I don’t want her to suffer, and I know there is nothing anyone can do about it.
“Rain, he loves you.”
“Well, I wish he loved me enough to fight.”
“We should go,” I whisper to Asher, pushing him back away from the corner.
I hear Rain curse. “You can come in. You don’t have to hide. I’m done here anyway.”
I wince, turning the corner. “Sorry. We weren’t trying to eavesdrop.”
“It’s fine. Ridge needs to learn to mind his business. Congratulations, Asher. Or maybe I should call you Wolf. I’m going to head out. I don’t want Dad being home alone for too long.”
She brushes past us, but I turn and call out her name.
“Rain.”
She turns and looks at me.
“I’m here if you need me. Anytime,” I tell her.
“I know. I need to do this for myself. I wish everyone would understand that.”
She takes off, leaving Ridge behind, standing in his doorway. He looks so lost.
He doesn’t say a word as he steps inside and slams his door.
