“Anyway, she got hooked on some hardcore drugs after Asher dumped her ass. Her father cut her off both physically and financially. She’s been living off her seriously thick trust fund for the last eight years.”
The specifics on just how she was able to get to me still make my skin crawl.
“She had it planned for months. Or as soon as she noticed how serious Asher was with me. Then, when my stomach started growing, apparently that’s when she snapped. They called it a psychotic break—or something like that. To her, I was the other woman who had moved in on her man.” I could laugh at Emmy’s shocked expression. We all knew that it was bad—we just didn’t realize it was this bad. “She rented the apartment just a door down from ours. She would sit and watch our every move. The day that she knocked Joe unconscious and attacked me in our home was of the most terrifying experiences of my life, but I’ve vowed to put it behind me. It’s time for Asher and me to start moving forward and focusing on all the positive things in our lives. I just wanted to know what her motivation was. Now that I do, I can move on.”
“You’re one crazy-strong woman, Chelcie,” Emmy says, and I see so much respect in her eyes.
“I couldn’t have done it without you, Em. You saved my life that day. Mine and Zac’s.”
She blushes an adorable blush that covers her face and neck.
“I’m just glad I had decided to stop by. I had been sitting on your baby gift for a few days—ever since I had gotten back in town—and with everything going on, I had forgotten to bring it to you.” She shakes her head, and I reach out, hugging her tight.
When I think about just how much her showing up was a huge tip of fate, how close I came to death that day, I still get sick.
Just another reason for me to put it to rest and move on.
“Go on in and get comfortable. Asher has the food out on the grill now, so it shouldn’t be long.”
She moves past me, and I don’t miss the look of pure fire she shoots at Maddox when she slips through to the kitchen, where I hear Asher greet her with a loud yell. He’s decided that Emmy is his honorary sister. I think it’s adorable. He gets almost fatherly with his protection over Emmy.
Which should be hilarious to watch if Maddox ever decides to make a move on her.
“Don’t ask me about it, girl,” he growls when I move my eyes from where Emmy disappeared to take him in.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I sweetly respond, batting my eyelashes in mock innocence.
“Sure you don’t. How are you? And I mean how are you really. None of that sugarcoated shit you’ve been handing out.”
“Is there anything that doesn’t get past you?” I evade.
“I’m waiting.” His tone leaves no room for argument.
I sigh. “I’m really good. I don’t let what that woman did to me keep me from getting sleep at night. Do I have nightmares occasionally? You bet I do. Any normal person who went through that would. But, Maddox…if there’s one thing I’ve learned this past year, it’s that life is way too short to sit back and dwell on things I have no control of. I’m alive, I’ve got a wedding to plan with a man who worships me with love, and our son will be here in just over a month. We all have bad days. The only thing that matters is whether you focus on those days and not the ones that are full of magic.”
I reach out and cup his rugged cheek. His whiskers tickle my palm, and I laugh.
“One day, Maddox Locke, when you decide to let go of that pain inside you, you’re going to understand what I mean. You have so much love to give in you.”
And for just a second, he lets all those walls he’s built around him down. It’s a fortress of protection so heavy that I’m not even sure many people have seen the real him. I gasp when I see the unadulterated pain that swims in those coal-like eyes.
“Yeah, sweetheart. Maybe you’re right.”
We turn and walk into the house. Everyone is laughing and talking above each other. There is so much love in this house right now that I can’t stop the huge smile from forming.
***
(Asher)
Damn, she is beautiful. I can feel my cock tighten in my pants when I see that huge smile curve her lips. Her face is so open in this moment, the love and happiness clear to anyone who looks at her.
“You want me to wipe your drool there, Ash?” I vaguely hear Axel harass.
“Maybe we should get him a bib,” Greg booms with laughter.
“Leave him alone.”
I move my eyes off my gorgeous woman and whip my head sharply to Maddox. He just storms past me and out to the back deck.
“What the hell was that about?” Beck asks.
“No clue.”
I know things have been tough since Maddox got home. With whatever happened between him and Emmy while they were gone hanging around them in thick waves of tension, it’s only a matter of time before one of them explodes.
“Hey, baby,” Chelcie breathes, sidling up to my side and curling her arms around me. “Did you invite Sway and Davey? They haven’t gotten here yet, so I wasn’t sure if we should hold dinner for them.”