“I’m fine.” I reach deeper into the sink and undo the plug, watching as the water slowly drains out. “Just still a little tired, I guess.”
Mom rubs my back soothingly, and I lean into her a little bit, needing the reassurance. I appreciate that she’s not making a big deal over what she said earlier, about me being grumpy because Ash isn’t around. I figured she’d start questioning me, but she hasn’t really said much of anything. “You don’t think she’ll pull something on him, do you? Like call the cops?”
“Who? Ash’s mother? She’s a terrible human, but I don’t think she’s that terrible,” Mom says. “Plus, I’m sure she has her own secrets to hide.”
Curiosity fills me. “What do you mean by that?”
“That’s not my story to tell.”
Ooh, I hate it when she says stuff like that.
“I’ve noticed you two have gotten closer,” Mom continues.
Uh oh, I thought too soon. Here come the comments and questions.
My cheeks grow warm and I hate how I blush so easily. I give all my feelings away, I swear. “We—have.”
Mom slips her arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “I’m surprised it took you two this long.”
“Why would you say that?” I duck away from her arm and grab a damp rag, then start wiping the counter.
“You two were awfully cozy during homecoming week your sophomore year. I thought for sure something would happen then, but it didn’t.” Mom smiles. “And by the way, Ava already cleaned the kitchen counters.”
“Oh.” I toss the rag back into the sink and cross my arms, feeling dumb. I also feel like I’m about to burst with my feelings for Ash. I can’t tell her everything since I don’t want to freak her out with all the sex stuff, but I can share a few things. “I really like him.”
“I think he really likes you too.” She tilts her head, studying me. “I just hope he treats you with respect.”
“He does,” I tell her, standing up straighter. “He’s a little rough around the edges, but that doesn’t bother me.”
“I’m the one who used to be a little rough around the edges,” Mom says with a faint smile. “He reminds me of myself when I was that age. With the terrible parents and the bleak outlook on life. The devil-may-care attitude and the self-destructive behavior. He could graduate, get out of here and do something with his life if he continues to focus and made the right choices.”
He so could. Not that I want him to leave me, but I plan on leaving this town too. Maybe we could go somewhere together. A college not too far away, but just far enough, where he could play football and I could watch him and we could eventually move in together…
Whoops. I’m moving way too fast.
“Just—Autumn.” I turn to look at her, noting the serious tone of her voice, her equally serious expression. “Be careful with Ash. I know you’re a smart girl and you’ve always made good choices, but…I know how young love is. Don’t do anything reckless.”
Too late, I want to tell her, but I don’t. Instead, I smile and go to her, wrapping her up in a big hug. “I’m always careful, Mom,” I say, but deep down, I know that’s a lie.
When it comes to Ash, I am reckless. And if I don’t watch it…
I might get burned.
I’m in my room sorting my laundry, my least favorite chore in the entire world, when I finally hear my dad, Jake and Ash enter the house through the kitchen. I practically run out of my room and sprint down the stairs, slowing down as I approach the living room where all three of them are, along with Mom.
“…so it went all right?” Mom asks.
“As well as can be expected,” Ash answers, annoyance bleeding into his voice. “She wants me to come home. She wanted to take me back with her from the restaurant, but I told her I had to think about it first.”
“Oh dear.” Mom sounds like a total…mom right now. “Do you want to go home?”
I stand just on the other side of the wall, waiting for his answer.
“I don’t know. If I go back there, it’ll be the same old shit, you know? Sorry, I don’t mean to keep cursing,” Ash says. “But I know she won’t change. Once we lost my dad, it’s like I lost her too.”
His words make me so sad. He may have his mother physically, but she’s not really there for him. I can’t imagine dealing with something like that.
“Stop apologizing. We all curse in this house. Sometimes even Beck,” Mom says wryly, which is the truth. When Beck was younger, he was a total parrot, mimicking all of us, usually only the bad words. “If you don’t want to go back and live with your mom yet, you don’t have to.”
“I told him the same thing,” Dad chimes in.
“I’m going up to my room,” Jake says, sounding totally bored. He exits the living room, stopping short when he notices me lurking, and sends me a quizzical look. “What are you doing?”
“Sshh.” I rest my finger over my lip, but too late. Everyone heard Jake call me out.
Ash leans around the edge of the doorway to see both Jake and me standing there. “Callahan, whatcha doing? Why you lurking around out here like a stalker?”
The amusement in his voice, the smile on his face and the sparkle in his gaze fills me with infinite relief. It seems like forever since I saw him last, even if it’s only been around twenty-four hours, and I wish I could run up to him and grab him like I want to.
But I don’t. Instead I smile at him in return and duck my head, a little embarrassed I got caught spying. “I thought you might want to talk to my parents alone. I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“I think we’re done.” He leaves the living room without saying another word to either of my parents and comes toward me. His dark gaze is all for me, and I tilt my head back as he draws even closer. Probably too close, especially if Dad’s watching. “Let’s go outside and talk,” Ash says, his voice low. Intimate. “I’ll tell you everything that happened.”
I send him a look, trying to communicate with my eyes that maybe that’s not a good idea, but he’s not getting it. Of course he’s not. He’s too focused on me, and while I appreciate that, we have to watch what we’re doing. I don’t want to make my mom worry, or my dad suspicious.
“Come on,” Ash says when I still haven’t spoken and I follow after him, going through the kitchen, pleasantly surprised when he opens the back door for me.
All I know is I was an antsy mess while he was gone, and I’m so glad to have him back. To know he’s safe and in my house. With me.
I don’t know if I ever want him to leave.
Twenty-Seven
Drew
“Why are they going outside together?” I watch my baby girl, my firstborn, follow after Asher Davis, toward the pool. They disappear from view for only a moment only to reappear, and I watch in disbelief as Ash settles himself on a lounge chair and pats the spot in between his now spread legs, a shit-eating grin on his face.