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“Hello?”
“Is that Dex?” Willa yelled.
“You’re watching the game, huh?”
“Of course I am!” Ashley hated, absolutely hated, the way her heart was galloping outside her chest. “I happen to know one of the idiots who’s putting himself in harm’s way while chasing a plastic disc.”
“It’s vulcanized rubber, actually, and I’m okay. Blacked out for a couple of seconds so they won’t let me go back in, but it’s just a growing goose egg and a killer headache.”
It still sounded awful. “Will someone watch over you?”
“I feel like someone already is.” His voice was low and husky. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I was surprised to see your text.”
“Why? Lots of people are going to be worried about you. I bet Tara texted.” Whyever did she say that?
“She did, but yours came in first. You win, good girl.”
There she went again, lapping up his praise. “It’s not a contest for your affections.”
“You’d win every time, Ash.”
She struggled to return her breathing to normal. Finally she said, “Could you say a word to Willa? She’s hovering like a mad ghost here.”
“Sure. Put my favorite lepidopterist on. That’s a big word I learned a couple of days ago and I’ve been dying to use it.”
Chuckling, she passed the phone to her daughter.
“Dex? That New Yawk idiot should have got a major penalty for that!”
Dex’s laugh echoed across the miles. Ashley couldn’t help her smile as she watched her daughter chatting away to Dex, who was probably dying to end the call because headache and all.
Her sister murmured, “He makes you happy.”
“What? No, nothing so dramatic. He’s just a nice guy and he’s kind to Willa, which is a big deal to me. That’s it.”
“Sure it is.” She pressed her hand over Ashley’s. “I don’t want to see either of you hurt. It’s not because I hate love or anything.”
“I know.” Since her divorce, Maeve had major trust issues but Ashley still saw her as the amazing older sister who was there for her after their parents died. Who took her and Willa in following the Greg debacle.
To her daughter, she said, “Hey, let Dex go. He needs his rest.”
“Okay. Bye, Dex! See you when you come back to Chicago.”
Ashley took the phone again and stepped outside the room.
“How’s the head?”
“Not too bad. Seems better when I’m talking to you and Willa. That reminds me—are you guys free on Friday night?”
“For a hockey game?”
“Actually, no. It would be a surprise, and it would be an overnight thing for both of you. But close by.”
“Hmm. Building blanket forts in your apartment?” Now, that sounded awfully appealing.
“Not completely off base. It’s more of a surprise for Willa. I think she’d really like it.”
“But you don’t want to tell me? I’m sorry, Dex, but I need to know because it’s my kid.”
