“I ran from what my heart wanted for too long. I missed out on a lot of good things because of that. I almost lost Noah because I was too stupid to see what was right in front of me.”
“He doesn’t like me like that.” I huffed, pulling a blanket from the back of the couch and laying it over my lap. “I’m being stupid.”
“You’re human. If Jasper doesn’t want that, he’ll tell you. He won’t hide from what he knows is right to do.”
“He is hiding.” Well, so was I.
“No. He’s waiting you out. Sometimes, you have to make the first move. You’ve been through so much, Koda. Just like I have. A smart man will wait us out until we know for sure what we want, where there is no doubt. Jasper is smart, and knows you. He knows you need space, and he knows you’ll go to him when you figure out what to do. You both need to talk some stuff out, but until then, he’ll keep his distance.”
Dawn came through the house, pausing with wide eyes as she saw me talking on the phone. Or well, with the phone to my ear.
Yeah, I was just as surprised as her.
“I don’t want him to.” I muttered before I could stop the words.
“He’s good for you,” Asher went on. “But he’s stuck in his ways. As most men like him are.”
“Is that Jasper?”
I shook my head. “Friend?”
“Not to be rude, but you don’t have anyone you’ve ever talked to on there. Except for Noah and he doesn’t call.”
“That your aunt?”
Even though he couldn’t see me, I nodded. Then answered, “Yeah.”
“Put me on speaker, Kods.”
Doing so, I was stuck on the nickname.
Was it normal to be called so many different names, good ones, by people that I cared for?
“I’m Asher.”
“I’m Noah!”
“Sush. Or go. Something.”
Dawn smiled, taking a seat beside me on the couch as Noah tried to take over the phone.
“Not sure what’s going on here,” Dawn spoke, but nicely even in confusion. “And I’m thrilled my nephew has someone to talk to, I’m not sure who you are, Asher. Noah, well, I think everyone may know him by now.”
“Hi again!”
“Noah. I swear. Hold on.” There was a brief pause before Asher came back. “Sorry about that. Sometimes, his little side comes out and he forgets about rules.”
That made no sense to me at all, but Dawn must have understood a bit. Or was good at pretending to know what it meant.
“That’s alright. I’m happy to meet you, I guess.”
“We’ll have to meet each other in person soon. I’m not sure how much you know about me.”
“Not much, I’m afraid. Koda isn’t exactly the sharing type.”
“Yeah.” Asher cleared his throat. “Don’t blame him. We were together for a bit before we were saved. Anyways,” he took a deep breath, and Dawn shot me a look. One that meant I’d have to explain some stuff later. “We ran into each other a few weeks ago, but someone hasn’t reached out to me. So, I stole Noah’s phone to call and here we are.”
“I see. But how did you get Koda to talk on the phone and not just text?”
