I pinch his side, right above his hipbone.
“Motherfucker,” he curses as he flinches.
“Promise me,” I demand.
“Fine. Fine, I promise that you can die first. Just know that as soon as you take your last breath, I’ll take mine. I don’t want to live a minute without you either,” he tells me.
“Aww, how sweet. Who knew you were such a romantic?” I tease.
“I’m a romantic who likes his sleep and has to be up in a few hours. Are we going back to bed, or should I go start a pot of coffee?” He nuzzles his nose into my neck.
Guilt hits me straight in the heart. Shit, if he were in his room, he would be peacefully sleeping right now and not having to deal with my shit.
“Get those thoughts out of your head right now, Aspen. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be,” he growls.
“You’re right,” I murmur.
“I usually am. Now close your eyes, beautiful, and get some more sleep.”
I take a deep breath and shut my eyes. Every time he breathes in, I do. When he exhales, I do, until eventually, I fall into a peaceful sleep in the safety of his arms.
ASHER
With my eyes closed, I reach across the bed looking for Aspen, only her side is cool. Frowning, I open my eyes and see that she isn’t in bed, but must have gotten up not long ago because there is still a dent in her pillow.
The sound of the shower in the distance catches my attention.
For a moment, I contemplate joining her. No, she deserves her space. If I’m not going to join her, though, I can sure as hell get her one of her energy drinks to drink in bed with me while I enjoy my coffee.
Getting out of bed, I throw on a shirt and a pair of sweats before heading out to the kitchen area. I hear the sound of slamming cabinets as I approach. When I go to step inside, though, I freeze.
Rain is in the kitchen, looking madder than hell. Her face is red, her eyes are puffy like she’s been crying. She’s got this air of leave me the fuck alone going on.
I look over my shoulder and back down the hall.
I could leave before she even knows I’m here.
“Are you going to stand there all day with your thumb up your ass or are you going to come get whatever you want?” she snaps.
I look back over at her and see that her back is to me.
I reluctantly step inside and head to the fridge. While I grab Aspen’s energy drink and my coffee, I contemplate asking her what’s wrong. It’s none of my business, but the girl clearly needs someone to talk to.
She huffs as she slams another cabinet.
Goddammit.
Bringing my cup up to my mouth, I turn to face her, leaning against the counter.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
Her shoulders shoot up to her ears. For a moment, I don’t think she’s going to tell me shit. Then again, who could blame her? She hardly knows me.
“My dad decided to stop getting his cancer treatments,” she says quietly, making me freeze.
Images of my mom being connected to machines for hours on end as she received chemo flash through my mind.
Her losing her hair. The weight loss. The vomiting. Watching her turn into a skeleton, her skin hanging off her bones.
