“I’m sorry.” I looked away, embarrassed.
“What? Don’t be sorry. I get it. You forget I spent years pining over that woman. It fucking sucks.” He laughed. “We had shit for a mom. Then Eliza showed up one day, doing everything for you boys that a real mother should. It’s not hard to figure out how those lines got crossed for you. It never really bothered me until you moved out. Then it killed me because there is nothing in this world that I wouldn’t sacrifice for you . . . except her.”
“I never—” I started, but he kept talking over me.
“I knew you’d eventually get over it when you met someone. So I let it go. Probably for too long.”
“I’m over it,” I rushed out.
“Why? Eliza not good enough for you anymore?” He quirked a teasing eyebrow.
“Ash—” I started, and I swear to God he interrupted me again.
“But she’s only sixteen?”
“Yeah, but—”
Interrupted. Again.
“In a month?” He glared at me, unimpressed.
“I guess—”
Inter-fucking-rupted.
“You love her?” he asked again.
I was so frustrated by his constant disruptions that the word escaped my mouth without a conscious thought. “Yes!”
Yes?
No.
No?
Maybe?
Fuck.
Yes.
A world of hurt faded away with such a simple admission. I didn’t understand how, in such a short time, that crazy girl had sauntered in and twisted my life into something unrecognizable—but on the other hand, that was probably exactly how. With Ash, it didn’t matter that I was being smothered by gravity. I was more focused on her than I was on how impossible it felt to breathe. Air in my lungs wasn’t a priority when she was laughing beside me.
God, I’m such a dumbass.
Till watched me intently. “What was that? I didn’t hear you. Can you repeat that for me?”
“I said yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes. I love her!”
His signature one-sided grin popped up. “Then I’m gonna find her.”
“That easy, huh?” I asked sarcastically as the reality of my feelings continued to settle in my chest.
“No, it’s gonna be expensive as shit, but I owe you for saving Eliza.”
“You don’t—”
He cut me off.
Again.
Son of a bitch!
“Yes I do. And if you love her, then she’s family. You know how I feel about my family.”
God, did I know how Till felt about his family. Just the fact that he was standing there after the hell I’d put him through over the last few months spoke wonders.
“I’m sorry.” I paused, waiting for his response.
When it appeared that he had no plans to interrupt me, I opened my mouth to continue my apology, but my asshole brother, who I equally wanted to punch and hug, got there first.
“We’ll call Leo. Get a referral for a good PI firm.” He smiled again, proving that he was, in fact, fucking with me.
His words were reassuring, and the levity of his attempted joke helped soothe my nerves.
Momentarily.
“What if . . . we can’t find her? Or what if . . . we do find her and I can’t fix this? I said some really shitty stuff.”
“We’ll deal with that when we get her somewhere safe. Besides, I have big plans to hold you down and shave that shit off your face. Not a woman in the world will be able to resist you. Well . . . except my wife.” He winked and punched me on the shoulder.
He was such a dick. It was easily one of the worst days of my life, and Till was cracking jokes at my expense.
I loved him for it.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“Thank me when she’s home.” He held my gaze for several beats in an unspoken promise.
A promise he more than kept.
FOR THE FIRST WEEK AFTER Ash had disappeared, I spent every waking moment driving around the city looking for her. Even Max and Donna got in on the action, toting a picture of her around and showing it to anyone they could find. I knew she wasn’t in the city anymore, but it was either keep busy looking for her or allow my head to implode while sitting at home and worrying about where the hell she was.