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“I had no idea that our losses were connected, Kennedy.”
“Yeah, well, I should have been more honest with you when you first told me about your mom. I was selfish.”
“No, not selfish. Not entirely anyway.” She bumps my shoulder, bringing a smile to my face. “So, you and Asher, hey?” We laugh, but then she grows serious.
“What’s up?” I ask, but I have a pretty good idea what she’s thinking.
“Guess you’re not coming back home then?”
I sigh, turning to face her. “No, I’m not. But you could stay here for a while. Silverbell is a pretty great place, and you never know, you might find something to keep you here.” I wink, but she’s already shaking her head.
“It’s a nice idea, and I’ll stay for a few days, but I have some things I need to work through back home. I’ll come visit though, and you make sure to come see me too.”
“I will. I promise.”
After that our chat turns to lighter topics, and it’s almost midnight by the time Charlie and I come up for air. I think the only reason we stop talking at all is because my mom arrives.
Mom tells her that she’s welcome to stay at hers, and when I go to explain that I’ll be staying with Ash, she waves me off and says, “Don’t you think I know that, Kennedy?”
Mom and Charlie leave not long after that, but I go back to Ash’s room, even though he’ll probably be asleep.
On my way back to Ash’s room, I check my phone one last time. I’ve still not heard a thing from Drake, and I’m starting to worry. A message pops up from Drake, one I missed because it’s been on silent all night.
Kennedy, I’m glad you, Asher and Stu are all okay. I got the file and have sent it to my contact at the FBI, along with some extra things I discovered with the help of your friend, Jackson. He’s making his way back to you as we speak. I have some things I need to tie up but will see you soon.
So that’s where Jackson disappeared to. I wonder what else they managed to dig up on Titan Industries. I make a note to ask Ash, but not tonight.
I sneak back into the room and slip into the chair to try and get a little sleep.
“Get your ass over here and in this bed, Kennedy Scott.”
“Ssshh, it’s late and people are trying to sleep. Which is what you should be doing.” I tiptoe over to the bed, and he opens the sheet for me to slip in with him.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“Yes. Charlie and I chatted, and while she’s happy to have some closure, I know she still feels guilty about what happened. It’s going to take her a long time to deal with everything, losing her mom as well as having already lost her brother.”
“Maybe she should stick around for a bit.”
“She’s going to stay for a few days at Mom’s.”
“That’s good.”
A comfortable silence settles over us then.
“Ash…” I start, then hesitate unsure of how or what I even what to say.
“I’m okay, Kenz, honestly. Today brought back some painful memories, and at one point it felt like history was going to repeat itself, but, as strange as it sounds, I felt like Nolan was there.” He shakes his head, and I raise mine to look at him, his beautiful profile clear in the moonlight.
“It’s not strange at all. I think it’s quite possible Nolan is watching over you. You were his best friend, Ash, and he would have done absolutely anything for you.”
He nods, his stubble bristling against my hair, as he whispers, “I love you, Kennedy Scott.”
“Back at you, Asher King,”
Epilogue
Six weeks later
