He blew out a steadying breath before making his way back to Willow’s room where the door was no longer wide open but not completely closed.
He rapped his knuckles softly against the wood. “Is it safe to come back in?”
“Yeah,” Willow replied. “All washed up and ready for bed.”
He nudged the door open with his shoulder and found her sitting cross-legged on the mattress tapping away on her phone. She wore a gray cotton tank top and matching shorts, and her hair was piled on top of her head in a messy knot.
“Just setting my alarm so I don’t miss Jenna at the farmers market,” she told him with a soft laugh. Then she plugged her phone into its charging cable and set it on the nightstand.
Her hair was wet around the frame of her face, and her makeup-free skin still damp. The sight of her like this—beautiful and so comfortable in her own skin—made it hard for him to breathe.
“Your water and aspirin,” he told her, handing her the tumbler and opening his palm to reveal the two white pills.
“Thank you,” she replied, her voice a breathy whisper this time, and for half a second Ash let himself wonder if he had even a fraction of the ability to disarm her like she did him.
She grabbed both pills, popped them into her mouth at the same time, and downed them with three large gulps from her straw. Then she froze.
“What?” he asked. “Was there a bug in the cup or something? I swear it was empty when I filled it.”
Willow squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head. “No bug,” she told him. “But unless the floor and ceiling just switched places, I think I’m a little tipsier than I thought.”
Ash swore under his breath.
“Open your eyes, Willow,” he gently commanded. “Please.”
She did as he asked.
“Give me your hands, and focus on me.” He held out his hands.
She instinctively swung her legs over the side of the bed as she placed her hands in his.
“Now put your feet on the floor, but keep your eyes on me. Always on me, okay?”
Willow nodded and slid to the edge of the bed, her gaze never straying from his. When her feet hit the floor, she blew out a shaky breath.
“Better?” he asked with a slight grin.
She nodded. “How did you know to do that?”
He huffed out a laugh. “When you party a little too hard a little too often, people like to give you advice on how not to choke on your own vomit while you sleep.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“I know,” Ash added. “Gross.”
This earned him a laugh. “But you’re not drunk now,” she informed him. “I barely saw you take a sip tonight.”
He shrugged. “Well, I’ve turned over a new leaf.”
Willow nodded again.
“If you’re okay…” he continued, “then I should let you get to sleep. Just make sure you finish the water before lights out.”
He loosened his grip on her hands, but she responded by tightening hers.
“Stay,” she blurted out. “I mean…just to make sure I don’t spin out again.”
Ash clenched his teeth and told himself this meant nothing. It was the wine and only the wine.
