My oldest brother trusts his three younger brothers. Probably more than he should have, at least when we were teenagers. But he’ll do anything for us. Including skipping college for himself so he could turn pro and pay for the rest of us to go to school. He had to grow up too soon, but he’s the best man I know.
I go home and take care of Louie’s food and litter box. She meows as I sit down on the couch and invite her to join me.
I pet her as I go through texts from Max, Coach, and Arch. All about tonight’s game—last-minute ideas and tips regarding our opponent. I answer all the texts and try to relax, but I’m more focused on my conversation with Ashley than anything else.
Something about her story bugs me.
It’s the inconsistency of what she said versus who she is.
Ashley never forgot to turn off the space heater before we left her townhouse. Not one fucking time.
So the idea of her suddenly doing something so out of the norm for her—it doesn’t add up.
I need to talk to someone who was there the night of the fire. Someone who has access to what was found in the aftermath of the wreckage.
I hate seeing Ashley suffer. It killed me this morning when her eyes filled with so much damn pain. The fact that she blames herself? It slays me.
She’s always given me everything of herself. And I don’t think I’ve repaid the favor nearly enough. Maybe I can help her now.
Yes, Ashley has always pushed all my buttons but only in the best way. She’s challenged me to keep my heart open. To feel my pain. I’ve shut down a lot in my life, but she never gave up on me.
And back when I was seventeen, she saved my soul.
It was three months after she had to help her mama bury her stepfather and move into a run-down apartment on the wrong side of New Orleans.
And here I was, standing in her bedroom in the middle of the night with my hands and jeans stained red from dad’s blood. She gazed up at me with wide eyes. From her bedside table lamp, I could see the violet flecks in them, and I read the worry in her expression.
I opened my mouth, and all I could say was, “My dad was murdered.”
Ashley gasped, but before she could ask any questions, I said in a dark tone, “And if it takes me until I die, I’ll find that fucker and make him pay.”
Ashley’s face had gone pale at my news, but the color came back into her cheeks then. “You’ll make sure he’s found. And I’ll help you.”
I just stared at her, my broken heart filled with love for this girl. She had no clue what had happened, but she didn’t ask me any questions. Instead, she took my hand and turned for the bathroom.
“But first,” she said, “let’s get you cleaned up.”
An hour later, we were lying in her bed. Neither of us said anything for a few minutes.
“Karma,” she said abruptly.
“What do you mean?”
“Karma is on your side. It will help catch the killer and bring justice to your family.”
I lay on my back and stared into the dark room.
“Ash.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t know if I believe anymore.”
She was quiet.
“In God.”
“I knew what you meant.”
