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He took her hand. “Finn was my best friend, that’s true, but I think…” His lips brushed her cheek. “I think you’re my best friend now.”
She ran her fingers over where his lips had been, her eyes filling with tears. “I am?”
“You’re who I want to tell everything to, Blythe. You’re the one I want to share everything with. I just love you so damn much it hurts.”
She pulled him into a hug, her heart filled with so much joy it felt as if it were going to explode. She’d never felt that way. She’d never loved someone so deeply. “I love you, too, Asher. So much.”
When they pulled apart, Asher tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “Good, because there’s something I have to tell you.”
“What’s that?”
He took a deep breath, looking out across the sky before his gaze fell back to her. “I lied to you.”
“Lied? About what?”
“I do know where Finn was. I’m not supposed to, but I do.”
“We don’t have to talk about him,” she assured him, running a hand over his bicep.
“I know that. I just…I want you to know the truth about him. About why he left. Why he disappeared for ten years. You deserve to know how dangerous he is.”
“Dangerous?” she asked, swallowing. She blinked her eyes rapidly. “What do you mean ‘dangerous’?”
He closed his eyes as if bracing himself for a blow. “I wasn’t supposed to know. My dad hired a lawyer for him, and I overheard them talking one day. My dad assured me it was nothing to worry about. He said he was going to get it taken care of, but after a few months went by and I still hadn’t heard from Finn, I asked my dad again. He said Finn had gone away to clear his head. He said he needed space. But…I Googled him. I found out the truth.”
“I don’t understand. What are you saying?”
“He’s saying I was in prison,” the voice came from her right. She looked toward it, surprised to see Finn approaching them from inside. His lips were pressed into a thin line. “And he’s telling you the truth. Like I should have all along.”
Chapter Twenty
They all stood frozen, looking back and forth at each other, waiting for someone to make a move.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have interrupted,” Finn said softly. “Your dad wanted his jacket.” He pointed to the blazer draped over the railing as he strolled across the deck and grabbed it.
“Wait, Finn—” Asher called, as his friend disappeared into the house. He looked back at Blythe with a sad expression. “I have to go talk to him.”
“Go,” Blythe said, encouraging him with her words, though what she really meant was ‘Stay. Tell me everything.’ She watched as Asher did as he was told, going after Finn with haste. Her throat was dry as she swallowed the lump that filled it. What was she doing here? What was the plan? How could she possibly last another night in the cabin just feet away from Finn while lying next to Asher? She wasn’t sure she could survive it.
After a few moments, Asher returned, his head hanging down.
“How did it go?” she asked with a grimace. The look on his face told her it hadn’t gone well.
He looked up, running a hand over his hair. “I don’t know what to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“He says he’s not mad, but of course, he is. I’m a horrible best friend.”
She approached him carefully, soothing him with her voice. “Hey, you arenothorrible. You didn’t know. None of us knew. And, Ash, it doesn’t matter. Finn doesn’t have a claim over me.” It was partially true, at least. “You did nothing wrong.”
“But I shouldn’t have told you about him going to prison. That wasn’t my place and, selfishly, I did it just to make sure you’d choose me.” He stared at her with sorrow-filled eyes. “I don’t want to be that person.”
She pulled him into a hug. “I already chose you, Ash.”
“He looks at you like…” He paused, looking down and then back up at her.
“Like what?” she asked, lowering her gaze.
