Page 15

Bri made a small noise, and Cass’s lips twitched up in another smile before he glanced back down at the baby. And something raw and unfamiliar tugged at Ash’s heart.

“Alright, Mr. Finnley, you’re all set,” George said. Ash pulled his gaze away from Cass and Bri, and that funny feeling disappeared. “Here’s your driver’s license and credit card back. And here are your keys. Room number two eleven. The elevator’s over there to your right. Do you need help with your luggage?”

“Um . . .”

From next to him, Cass stood up, apparently having successfully extricated his pinky finger from the sleeping baby. He cleared his throat. “I can help, if you want.” He seemed poised to say more, but then he just pursed his lips and smiled again, a tight sort of uncertain smile this time. “I mean, I’ll carry your bags for you.”

“No, no, you’ve already done so much.” Ash’s cheeks heated up with embarrassment. He reached out and grabbed the key cards and his driver’s license and credit card and then shoved everything into his coat pocket. “I-I should, um . . .”

He trailed off again. Right. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t take Bri up to the room and then leave her there to come back and get the luggage. And he couldn’t carry everything. Could he?

“It’s no big deal, really,” Cass said, and when Ash glanced back up at him, the man was already bending over to pick up Ash’s duffle bag and Bri’s diaper bag. He set both on top of Ash’s suitcase and then tilted his head toward the elevators. “I’ll follow you. Thanks, Mr. Parsons!”

“Of course, Caspian! Tell your dad I said hello.”

Caspian.

“Will do, sir.”

Ash stared at Cass for an extra half second, trying to get his brain to work so he could say something intelligent, thank the man for his generosity and kindness. But a blurriness momentarily clouded his vision, reminding of the migraine that had been threatening him all morning. He blinked several times and then knelt down and picked up Bri’s car seat.

When she didn’t stir, just did that adorable half-suckle thing she always did when she was sleeping, Ash almost cried with relief. Maybe she’d finally get some decent rest, not just steal another few-minute nap. And then maybe he could rest too.

Silently, he gave Cass a small nod and turned to start toward the elevator, walking carefully to avoid jostling the car seat. Cass followed behind him a few steps, and when they stopped at the elevator a moment later, Cass reached ahead of them and pressed the up button.

The elevator doors opened almost immediately, and Ash wasn’t really surprised when Cass reached forward again and put his hand in front of the doors to keep them from closing prematurely.

“After you,” Cass said, his voice low.

Ash mumbled another thanks as he stepped onto the elevator ahead of Cass. Then he settled with his back against the wall. Cass followed.

“Second floor, yeah?” Cass asked, and when Ash gave a small nod, Cass pressed the number two button.

The elevator doors closed, and the elevator lurched as it began its ascent.

And then everything seemed to go wrong all at once as the space around him started to spin.

Ash screwed his eyes shut, fighting the sudden intense dizziness. With his free hand, he grabbed the railing along the wall of the elevator, and at the same time, his other hand tightened on the handle of Bri’s car seat.

“Dammit, what’s—what’s happening?” He seemed to be tilting sideways, or the world was, like gravity had broken and was pulling him over.

And just like earlier, Cass was right there at his side. A strong arm wrapped around Ash’s waist, and he let himself lean into Cass. But the feeling that the world was tilted and spinning only intensified.

“Hey, hey now, I’ve got you. I’ve got you,” Cass said, his tone as gentle as ever. There was a huff of warm air against the top of Ash’s head. “I thought we agreed you’d be staying on your feet from now on?”

“I-I . . .”

“You’re okay. Here, um . . .” Cass didn’t finish his sentence, but Ash felt the elevator lurch again, and then he was being guided forward. He followed blindly, his eyes still shut tight. They seemed to turn left and then left a second time, maybe. He couldn’t quite tell. A moment later, Cass stopped them, although his arm remained firmly around Ash’s midsection. “Here we are, two eleven. Do you have the key?”

“Yeah, yeah, I, uh . . . hang on.” Ash risked opening his eyes, although he immediately realized his mistake as his vision rippled and waved and sent a new sort of dizziness through him. He closed his eyes again with a groan. “I-I can’t, um . . .”

Cass’s arm tightened around him. “You’re okay, I’ve got you. Here we go . . .”

Ash wasn’t sure what happened next. Maybe Cass set down the luggage, because the next thing he knew, Cass was taking the car seat from him.

“I’ll hold Bri, and you get the key card out, okay?”

If he hadn’t been so completely incapable of . . . well, just about everything right then, he might have felt embarrassed. Instead, he felt even more gratitude. “Thank you, again,” he said, still leaning against Cass as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out one of the key cards. “I, um . . .” He started to open his eyes, but then thought better of it. “Here, you should probably do this part too. I’m sorry, I’m not . . . I don’t know what’s happening. I mean, maybe I do, but—”