Page 121 of Wilder

Asher moved quickly, stepping fully into the space between us with his arms out like a human barricade. “Gage⁠—”

“Out,” Gage snapped at me, pointing a finger toward the door. “Get out of my house.”

His tone wasn’t just protective—it was lethal. Like the very sight of me had lit a fuse to a bomb he’d been holding in since the day Asher came home to him shattered. In all honesty, it probably had.

“Gage,” Asher growled again, this time with more force. “Stop.”

“No. He doesn’t get to show up here like nothing happened. Not after what he did to you.” His eyes narrowed at me dangerously. “Did you know this is the first time he’s talked since I picked him up from the fucking airport?”

I flinched.

God, fuck, that was⁠—

So much worse than I imagined.

I hadn’t let myself picture what Asher was like after I sent him away. Hadn’t let myself linger on what that would’ve been like or the sound of the silence he must’ve sat in the entire trip back to his house. But hearing from Gage about it, knowing I had shut him down so thoroughly he couldn’t even speak to the one person who always knew how to comfort him?

That was unforgivable.

“Oh my god.” Asher shoved at his brother’s chest. “Can you lay off?”

“No!”

“You remember I’m the emotional one, right? I’m not a stunted idiot like Grey. Sue me for being in my feelings for a few days while I moped around and ate shitty food because I didn’t want to talk to you about it yet.” Asher shoved him again, this time with enough force to knock him back a few steps.

“That wasn’t moping, Asher,” Gage argued back.

“Fine. Wallowing. Whatever.”

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” I said, swallowing hard. “I just... want to talk to him. But if he wants me to go, I will. I promise I will.”

Asher’s head whipped around to look at me again, a surprising fire burning in his eyes when he met my gaze. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

The corner of my lip twitched as I fought the urge to smile.

“Oh, yes he is,” Gage spat back. “He had his chance to talk to you. Actually, he had a million chances to talk and what he did was use them all to tell you that you weren’t good enough to stay!”

Asher turned back to his brother, a long, drawn out groan leaving him. “Can you stop being a mother hen for two seconds? Please?”

“He doesn’t deserve another shot, Asher,” Gage said.

“You’re right, I don’t,” I replied, quietly.

That got both of their attention. Asher looked back at me once more, a deep frown tugging at his mouth.

“I know I don’t deserve another chance,” I continued, taking a step forward, breathing out slowly to calm my nerves. “I never will. That’s not why I’m here. I came to apologize and express what a giant idiot I’ve been this entire time. You don’t need to accept my apology, Asher. I wanted to give one to you, though, regardless of what happens afterward.”

There was a long silence.

Gage’s eyes stayed locked on me, jaw ticking as he warred with the impulse to send me flying out the front door just on principle. But then, after what felt like hours, he exhaled hard through his nose and stepped back, reluctantly lowering his arm down to his side again.

“Five minutes. That’s all I’m giving you before I throw you out the door.” He didn’t say anything else, just turned and walked stiffly down the hallway. The sound of a door clicking shut followed behind him a few seconds later, the soft noise somehow louder than the yelling that had come before it.

I looked at Asher again. “I shouldn’t have sent you away. I never actually wanted to, I just...”

His jaw clenched. “But you did.”

“I know.” My voice caught, forcing me to swallow the lump forming. “I’m not here to make excuses for that. Or to tell you it didn’t matter. Or that Sully made me do it. It was all me. I was scared. What I feel for you is... a lot. More than anything I’ve ever felt for anyone before. I panicked.”