“She’s going to be okay,” Nash says.
“God, I hope so,” she whispers.
We sit in silence for a few minutes until Seb appears with Cade at his side. Ashlyn drops my hand and jumps up.
“What did the doctor say?” she asks, wringing her hands together. I stand and slip my arm around her waist, squeezing gently.
Seb sighs, and Cade’s hand rests on his shoulder. “She’s had another CT. She’s no worse, but no better either. They’ve scheduled another scan for in a couple of days. We’ve just got to wait,” he says. His voice sounds pained, and I know how he feels. I’ve been here, and I wouldn’t wish the waiting on my worst enemy. I just hope to God they get a better outcome than I did.
“Can we see her?” Paisley asks.
Seb sits down heavily on one of the plastic chairs and drops his head in his hands. “Yeah. Just two at a time for now. You and Ash should go in,” Seb says, dejected.
She walks over and kneels in front of him. “This isn’t your fault, Seb. You know that, right? It was an accident.”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know anything anymore. Go and be with her. I don’t want her to be alone.”
Ash looks up at me. “Will you stay?”
“If you want me to.”
“I do,” she whispers.
“Okay.”
She gives me a small smile, and I watch her and Paisley walk off in the direction Cade and Seb came from.
“I need some air,” Seb says, standing from his seat and heading to the elevator.
“We’ll come with you,” his mom says, and she and Henry follow him.
I’m suddenly left with Cade and Nash, and despite being older than both of them, I’m apprehensive. Nash is clearly unhappy that I’m here with Ash, and I don’t know either of them well enough to make small talk, especially with everything that’s happened to Taylor.
“Does anyone want a coffee?” I ask, hoping I can put some distance between us while I wait for Ashlyn. I want to get to know her family, but I’m guessing now isn’t the time.
“I could use a water. I’m Sophie, by the way. I think we met briefly in Eden on Christmas Eve.”
“I remember. It’s good to see you again. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”
She smiles sadly. “Thanks for being here for Ash. I’m glad she’s not alone.”
“She’s not alone. She has her family,” Cade says. “What’s going on with you two anyway? Don’t you think you’re too old for her?”
Sophie stands and rolls her eyes. “Now’s not the time, Cade.” She turns to me. “Ignore him. I’ll come with you. I could do with a walk.”
Despite Sophie telling me to ignore Cade, I can’t. Now isn’t the time to discuss my and Ash’s relationship. I’m not even sure we have a relationship right now, but he and Nash need to know I’m serious about her.
“You’re right, I am older than Ash, but you should know that I care about your sister. She means a lot to me.”
“She means everything to us. She’s our baby sister,” Nash says. “We don’t want her to get hurt.”
“I’m glad she has you guys to look out for her, but I have no intention of hurting her.”
“Haven’t you already hurt her?” Cade asks, his arms crossing over his chest. I guess Seb told his brothers after overhearing Ash and me in Eden last week.
“Okay. That’s enough,” Sophie says. “Ashlyn is a grown woman, and who she dates has nothing to do with either of you. Behaving like this, all you’re going to do is push her away. With everything that’s happened in the last couple of days, don’t you think there are more important things than an age gap?”
Neither Nash nor Cade respond, and I don’t say anything either. I don’t want an argument, and definitely not here. I don’t need to be accepted. Ash wants me here and that’s all I care about right now. Acceptance can come later.
