On my brother, Owen.
The scars eventually fade to nothing, but the wounds remain. And seeing Ash like this opens up all those old wounds, filling me with pain. Pain for him. Pain for myself.
“Asher.” He doesn’t so much as twitch when I say his name. “Ash. Will you let me take you inside and check your injuries? Then you can take a shower and once you’ve cleaned up, I can apply some bandages if needed.”
Oh so slowly, he lifts his head, until his black-as-night eyes meet mine. He’s scared. His entire body is trembling, and his face is covered with a thin sheen of sweat. It’s colder up here, close to the lake, and maybe that’s why he’s shivering, but I don’t think so.
I think he’s terrified. And the shock of what’s happened to him is starting to wear off, leaving him a mess.
If I knew he’d go willingly, I’d probably pull him into my arms and clutch him tight. Tell him everything’s going to be okay, even though I don’t know if that’s the case. I don’t want to lie, but who knows what’s going to happen to him?
Drew and I will just have to take care of him as best we can.
“I don’t want to go to school tomorrow,” he whispers, his voice still raspy, as if it hurts to speak. “I don’t want anyone to see me.”
“You don’t have to go to school for a few days, but eventually you need to get back there. You don’t want to get behind in your classes.” I glance over my shoulder to see Drew nodding in agreement, his hands on his hips. The frustration is coming off him in waves, and I know he feels helpless.
I do too.
“Whatever. Everyone will know by tomorrow morning anyway. They’ll probably say I’m dead.” His mouth quirks into a half smile that doesn’t reveal any teeth, but then he groans in pain. “Fuck, my lips hurt.” He sends me a look. “Sorry.”
“I’ve said worse,” I reassure him, making his eyes go wide. Reaching out, I gently place my hand on his head, ruffling his hair. He ducks away from my touch, like it’s a habit, and I’m afraid this boy is going to steal a part of my heart. I thought my heart was full enough with my four children and my husband.
But I have a feeling I could end up loving this one as my own too.
Eighteen
Autumn
Mom is with Ash until past midnight. I scramble back upstairs by the time the back door opens and they all come inside the house. Mom sends Dad upstairs, and I hide in my room with the door wide open while he fetches extra clothes from Jake, who’s close in size to Ash.
Meaning Ash has to be spending the night. In our house.
I can’t believe it.
Once I hear Dad running back down the stairs, I came out of my room to find Jake’s door open. He spots me and frowns. “He’s staying here.”
“Ash?” I whisper, needing one hundred percent confirmation.
“Yeah. He’s in the guest bathroom shower now. Dad asked if I could loan him a couple sets of clothes to see him through the next few days until he can get back to his place and pick up the rest of his stuff.” Jake shakes his head. “What the hell is going on? Are they going to let him move in here?”
Jake doesn’t seem too happy about this. “Maybe? I’m guessing he has nowhere else to go.”
“Yeah, but why do they have to bring him here? So he can be our new family charity case?”
“That’s mean, Jake.”
“It’s true, and you know it. Dad likes to have projects. Now Ash can be his.” Jake punches the doorframe, curses under his breath, and then slams his bedroom door.
Well. That was interesting.
I argue with myself over going downstairs and then finally decide screw it. I live here. I can go in the kitchen and get myself a glass of water if I want. So I go running down the stairs, my steps extra heavy as a warning that I’m coming.
When I enter the kitchen I find Dad already standing there, a neutral expression on his face. “Hey princess. You’re up late.”
I grimace. “Don’t call me that.”
He raises his brows. “Sorry. How’s, hey Autumn?”
Smiling, I make my way to the refrigerator. “That’s much better.”
“I don’t know how much you heard earlier…” His voice drifts and I shut the fridge door, turning to look at him with complete innocence.
“What are you talking about?” I don’t want him to know Ava and I were spying. I want to see exactly what he’ll tell me, and if he’ll be one-hundred percent truthful.
He blows out a harsh breath before bracing his hands on the edge of the counter. “Ash was—abused today. By his mother’s boyfriend. He didn’t show up to practice and after no one could get a hold of him, I went over to his place to find him tumbling out the front door of his apartment, kicked by that asshole who beat the hell out of him. Sorry.”
I smile gently, touched he’d want to apologize to me for cursing. “It’s okay, Daddy. You’re mad.”
“I’m mad as hell,” he agrees with a ferociousness I’ve never heard from him before. “If I could, I’d go personally kick that animal’s ass myself. But I don’t want to go to jail, so there’s that.”
“We don’t want you to go to jail either.” I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. “Where’s Ash?”
“In the shower. Your mom is making up the bed in the guest room for him. I got some clothes from Jake that Ash can borrow. I think.” Dad hesitates, uneasiness appearing in his gaze. “I think he’s going to stay with us for—a while.”
“Oh.” I go still, standing on the opposite side of the kitchen island from my dad. “How long?”
“I don’t know. Does that—bother you? Having Ash here?”
“We’re not really friends.” And that isn’t necessarily a lie.
“You get along with him okay, though? Right? At least you can try to? Poor kid has been through hell today. He’s hurt.” Dad shakes his head, his expression grim. “He’s probably been through hell for some time now.”
“Should he see a doctor?”
“He refuses, but I think we’ll take him to one in the morning. Right now, we all need to go to bed and start the day fresh tomorrow. You included.” He approaches me, smiling as he reaches out and gently squeezes my shoulder. “You finish your homework?”
“Yes,” I lie. I can finish it during lunch tomorrow. Or during other classes. “I’m going to go to bed. Good night, Daddy.”
“Night, princess. Ooops, Autumn.” He chuckles and the sound does something to me. Twists my heart and makes me sad. I run to him, run into him really, my arms wrapped tight around his waist as I bury my face against his chest. His scent is familiar, comforting.
“I love you,” I tell him, my voice muffled.
He runs his hand over my hair, and I swear I hear a hitch in his voice when he says, “I love you, too.”
It’s past one in the morning and I’m walking through my house like some sort of creeper, coming to steal whatever I can find. I’m downstairs, on the opposite side of the house, the side not many people see. I rarely come over here. Mom’s office is here, along with an exercise room she and Dad use on occasion, but not really. Beck is currently requesting they turn it into a theater room, and knowing how things work out for him, he’ll probably get his wish.
The guest bedroom and bath, which is like a second master suite, is on this side of the house. I remember that when we first moved here, I wanted this room for my own so bad. I begged and pleaded, but they weren’t having it.
Now I can see why. I’d be isolated. I could slip in and out of the house easily. In fact, I still can, but I’m not wanting to leave the house.
I’m trying to seek out the newest person who’s staying here.
When I spot the guest bedroom door, I’m surprised to see it’s partially open. I figured he’d keep that door tightly closed and possibly locked. But it’s not.
And then I see a camera flash. Ash is awake. He’s most likely on Snapchat. But would he really take a selfie when he looks as bad as he does? I mean, I don’t know how bad that is, since I haven’t seen him yet, but still…