I tried to ignore the things that were spoken as I pulled out the tray of cookies, setting them on the counter so they could cool.
“Hey, little one. Are you behaving?” The voice was deep, but calm and warm all at once.
“Yep. Can you believe that Kods don't know about how we live? He needs a daddy, Daddy. We gotta help him.”
“Sorry,” Asher pointed behind him as he stopped in front of me. “He wasn’t meant to barge in, but I’m assuming that’s what he did.” Then, his eyes lit up at the number of treats that were on the island. “How are you doing?”
I shrugged. I was here. I’d be better off not having so many others in my space.
Asher waited until Noah was dragged down the hallway, his...uhdaddymuttering something about having a talk about limits that weren’t spoken about in someone else’s house.
“I should have come over with him,” Asher tilted his chin in the direction Noah went. “I didn’t think he’d do anything to cause chaos. But that is his middle name.”
My lips twitched as I dropped my eyes from him.
“Cookies, huh? I can see that for you.”
“You’ll have to try one. They are the best type of cookies I’ve ever had.” My breath got lodged in my throat at that voice.
“It’s a lot of cookies for one person,” Asher went on, pressing his side up against mine. Then, quieter for only I could hear, “Remember those colors.”
What the heck was with the freakin colors?
I rolled my eyes, which no one could see, as I fiddled with the cookies on the sheet. My hands needed to stay busy. These four people needed to get out of my house. And I just…wanted to curl into the ball somewhere.
“Hey, Koda.” Jasper was there, on the other side of the counter. He dipped his head to catch my gaze, which I quickly turned andpretended I had other things I needed to do. “Got it. I’ll…yeah.”
My heart hurt, but like I had been doing for so long, I ignored that too. Instead, I got a cup of water, takinga big drink before setting it back down and turning to face Asher once more.
“Really, how are you doing?” Asher leaned against the island, facing me.
I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself. I mentally calculated how long I had to wait until the cookies were cooled enough before adding frosting to the top.
“You look as good as your neighbor,” he stated, like it wasn’t entirely a surprise about that fact.
Of course I’d be tired. I was up earlier than normal. And I was up late last night reading.
“Can I give you a hug?”
I sniffed, giving out a single nod.
It’d been so long since I had a nice warm hug. Dawn’s hugs were nice, but it wasn’t the arms I wanted wrapped around me.
Shoot.
Now the tears had to start as Asher wrapped me in a gentle hug.
I didn’t want to cry. Not when the reason was so close, feet away.
“It’ll work out. Sooner if you two would just talk.”
I didn’t want to talk. I was already hurting, and nothing was going to change it.
Asher pulled back, cupping my shoulders with each hand. “We are tough, but sometimes, even the toughest of the bunch need a helping hand.”
“I have cookies.” I didn’t need another hand for that. The treats could take all my thoughts and energy.
Asher shook his head, slightly amused at my reply.
