“He does want you here. We talked extensively after you left with Yak. He is scared his past is going to touch you. He doesn’t ever want you to be hurt, so he lashed out. He saw you in the clubhouse and thought his worst nightmare had come true. I think you should talk to him more about it, but in the end, he realized that he was trying to shelter you from the world instead of letting you live in it. He wants you here and in his life. He just didn’t know he could have that,” I tell her.
She is quiet for several minutes before she finally speaks.
“I’ll be there. Baby steps, right?” she whispers.
“Baby steps. I’ll let you get to work. Have a great day, and I can’t wait to see you later.”
“You too.”
I smile to myself as I set down my phone.
I have already repaired a sibling relationship, and I haven’t even finished my tea yet. I feel productive.
Maybe all the therapy has been good for me. It has helped me see that the world doesn’t revolve around me. That there is a whole other place outside of my perceived reality.
I didn’t realize how messed up I was from how I was raised. Looking back, I think I should have. Hindsight is always twenty-twenty after all.
As horrid as it was to go through being kidnapped, I think I came out the other side a better person.
I’m a better sister to Calloway.
I am showing up for Maggie in a way I never have before.
I have new people in my circle, which was unheard of a year ago.
Now I have Asher too. Someone I have willingly given my heart to, despite the fear he might break it.
I am a new Aspen, and I have to say I am loving it.
ASHER
Fuck, today was a shitshow.
When Panther said he wanted me at the bar, I didn’t think twice about it. I figured they needed more manual labor without complaints, something I give them.
I didn’t realize he had an ulterior motive. One that I figured out the moment I got on site.
Caterpillar was assigned here today along with Talon, Ridge, and Yak.
If I thought he hated me before, it is even worse now. All day, he tried to boss me around and bully me, but I wasn’t having it. I have been helping at the bar for weeks now. This was his first time.
So when he tried to tell me to do the wrong thing, I ignored him and did what I knew needed to be done. When he bitched to Talon about me not listening, Talon ordered him to listen to me, which only pissed him off more.
It was a full day of dealing with toddler tantrums from a grown-ass man.
If I could have shot him and gotten away with it, I think I would have.
I don’t want to bring that shit home to Aspen, but I can’t shake the bad mood. I know she knows it the moment I walk into her room too. She stands, opening her arms for me. I go into them willingly, soaking in her warmth.
“I need a shower,” I tell her, knowing I smell like ass.
She doesn’t complain. She only holds me tighter.
When she finally pulls back, she offers me a small smile.
“Go shower. I will go get you some food, then we can cuddle,” she tells me.
I nod, leaving her in the room to go down to the communal bathroom.
