“How the hell did you end up being friends with two middle-aged bums?” I asked incredulously. “You need to be more careful before you end up dead in a ditch somewhere.”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Judging people and casting stereotypes.” She reached her foot out and pointedly tapped one of my wheels.
“I’m not judging them,” I defended, but even I knew that it was in vain.
“Yeah, you are. They’re good people, Wheels.”
My mouth dropped open at her actual use of the nickname.
“Difficult circumstances. But still good people.”
“Wow,” I responded, unimpressed. Or maybe I was crazy impressed at her flagrant insensitivity. Or maybe I was just annoyed at myself for not being able to join her as she burst out laughing at my reaction.
Instead, I lectured. “That may be true, but how well do you really know them? Ash, you can’t go through life trusting everyone.”
“Well, maybe you can’t. But I can. I know there are bad people in the world. To some, I’m probably one of them.” She reached into her pocket and pulled my wallet out, tossing it onto my lap. “We all deserve friends though.” She shrugged.
“Stop stealing my fucking wallet.”
But instead of returning my attitude, her face gentled and her eyes lit. “Thanks for trying to rescue me back there.”
“Yeah,” I scoffed. “Lot of help I would have been.”
“You never know. Maybe just the trying helped the most.” She looked down at her foot, which was drawing circles in the dirt.
I was annoyed.
Embarrassed.
Frustrated.
Exhausted.
But that was erased when she lifted her head up with a shy smile I didn’t recognize at all. I’d known Ash Mabie for exactly two hours, but I was stunned into silence by the vulnerability on her creamy-white face. It shouldn’t have been there. Mainly because it ruined every other smile she would ever be able to produce. That smile belonged there permanently.
However, just as quickly as it had appeared, it disappeared.
But I’d seen it.
God, did I see it.
Her typical wide grin replaced it, and even though she was still gorgeous, nothing could top that single second where she’d showed me something truly indescribable.
She’d showed me the real Ash Mabie.
And she is beautiful.
“Sooooo . . . ?” she questioned, nodding back toward Max and Donna.
“Okay,” I huffed. “Let’s go meet your friends.”
One week later . . .
Unknown: What’s your address?
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: It’s an emergency.
Me: So I’ll repeat. Who. Is. This?
Unknown: It’s Ash. Quarry and I were out at the movies and suddenly he can’t hear anything.
Sitting straight up in bed, I tossed my book to the nightstand and shifted into my chair, which was parked beside the bed. The genetic condition Till and Quarry shared was supposed to be degenerative, but this was exactly what had happened with Till. One day, he could hear, and an hour later, it was gone.
My heart began to race at the instant replay that was unfolding in front of me.
Me: Take him to the hospital. Now!
Ash: He says no hospital. He just wants to come to your house.
Me: I don’t care what he says. Take him to a hospital.
Ash: Just let me bring him to you. He’s trying to sign stuff but I don’t know sign language.
Ash: Please Flint. I’m scared.
Me: All right, all right. Bring him here. 121 Broad Dr. Apt 113. Show it to Q. He’ll know how to get here. I’ll see you in a few.
Ash: K
I dropped my phone on the bed and then pulled a pair of shorts on over my boxers.
For several minutes, I stared blankly at my phone. I needed to call Till, but just the thought knotted my stomach. I hadn’t spoken to him in months, and Quarry going deaf was the news I had to deliver? Fuck.
I couldn’t waste any more time though. Clicking his name, I prayed for a miracle that he wouldn’t pick up and I could leave a message.
Such was my luck, he answered on the first ring.
“Flint?”
“Quarry can’t hear anything,” I rushed out, not bothering with pleasantries.
“What?” he breathed in shock.
“Yeah, Ash just called. I don’t know exactly what’s going on yet, but she’s bringing him over here. I’ll take him to the hospital.”
“Till? What’s going on?” Eliza asked in the background.
“Hey, I have to go. I’ll let you know when we leave.”
“Flint, wait!” he yelled as I severed the connection.
But I couldn’t. I just . . . couldn’t.
After snagging a T-shirt from the drawer, I made my way to unlock the front door.
While I was still battling with a useless pair of Nikes, my front door swung open and Quarry sauntered inside.
“Holy shit! You moved into Eliza’s old apartment?” He laughed. “You have serious problems, dude.” He turned to look over his shoulder. “Ash, get in here!”
“Not until you tell him not to be mad at me,” she squeaked from outside.