Page 106 of For Your Consideration

With those parting words, he left me sitting with my thoughts.

28

Asher

It had been almost twenty-four hours since I’d walked out of Sutton’s apartment, letting her mull over everything I’d said. And now I felt like I was going crazy. I’d gone to work today but had been basically useless, doing nothing but stare at my computer, so I went home early.

Which was also a mistake.

Because I had moved around to various rooms, trying to keep myself busy. I had tried to work out but I wasn’t paying enough attention and landed a punch funny, tweaking my shoulder. I couldn’t get a single fucking piece of my puzzle and it wasn’t helping me zone out like it normally did so I abandoned that. Then I’d cleaned Sophie’s room but that just made me miss her as much as I was missing her mum.

I was now sitting in my living room with the TV on trying to focus on the game. What game? No fucking clue, just whatever was on.

My head was in an apartment on the other side of the city.

The weather seemed to be in agreement with my turbulent thoughts. Instead of a warm summer night, there was a storm raging outside. The rain was slamming against my windows and the sky lit up every few minutes with wild lightning.

Looking down at my phone, I resisted the urge to reach out and check on Sutton. She hadn’t replied to the group chat since I left her place and I hadn’t reached out directly. She needed time to figure out what she wanted and I promised to give her that.

Turns out it was really fucking hard.

I let out a sigh and stood up once again to go look at the yard, watching water pool on my patio. The yard didn’t have a play set for when Sophie was older yet. That was at least one decision I’d made today.

Before I could move again, a loud rapid knocking sounded at my door followed by the doorbell ringing twice in quick succession. I ran to the door and pulled it open.

Standing on my doorstep with her hand raised in the air was Sutton.

I catalogued her quickly, my eyes soaking her up like I’d been starved of her for weeks instead of just a day.

She was in a T-shirt and jeans. Her shirt was plastered to her from the rain. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was down and stuck to her face and neck as more water dripped through her eyelashes and down her face.

Even dripping wet, I’d never seen a woman more beautiful than her.

“Hi,” she whispered as she dropped her hand.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I looked her over, trying to find anything amiss.

“I’m fine, Ash, I—”

“Is Sophie okay? Is she in the car?” I went to step around her to go into the rain but Sutton put her hand on my chest to stop me.

“I left her with Iris.”

I looked down at her, trying not to get my hopes up as to why she was here.

“I’m scared, Asher, but I want to try.”

My eyes locked on hers as I grabbed her elbow and dragged her inside. My heart was beating hard and as much as I wanted to talk about what she had just said, I had more pressing matters to deal with.

“What the fuck did you go out in the storm for?” I grumbled as I shut the door. “They’re reporting flooding on the roads.” I took a step away from her, heading toward the laundry room.

She grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”

“To get you a towel and then a sweater so you don’t get hypothermia,” I grunted when she stepped in front of me, blocking my path.

“I need to get this out.” She rested her hand on my chest. “I’m sorry for pushing you away. You’ve become my best friend but that doesn’t mean it’s all I want.” She looked up at me. “I’m sorry for hiding, because that’s what I was doing. I’ve felt alone my entire life. Even when I was with my ex. Letting you in, it’s not easy for me. Trusting how I feel with you isn’t easy for me. Because at least alone, no one can hurt me. But even with all of that, I want to try…” She bit her lip anxiously. “Unless you don’t—”

I couldn’t give her another second.