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Ashton nods. “I need a minute.” He pulls my hand as we exit the wine bar.
“Ash, what the hell?” I shake my head as he leans back on the wall at the side of the wine bar. “I can’t believe this. What did they say?”
“It’s all pretty hazy. When Genevieve, his assistant, couldn’t reach me, she called my Mom, knowing I was out here. She told her the news. He’s barely hanging on. It’s bad, Mads, really bad.”
Tears spring to my eyes. I know from what he’s said that he doesn’t have a great relationship with his father, but there’s no way anyone would wish this on anyone.
“Ash, I’m so sorry. Let’s get your things from the bungalow, and we can look at flights on the way. I’ll call Tess. I can come with you if you want me to?”
He squeezes my hand and pulls me into him. “You’d do that?”
“Of course, I would. I want to be there for you.”
My mind is reeling. What if his dad dies before we even get there?
I know they’ve had a difficult time with each other, and from what Ashton has told me, their relationship is rocky most of the time, but he needs to be there. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.
“Should we call the hospital?”
“Yeah, I have missed calls from Seattle General. I was too shocked just now to do anything.”
“Do you want me to call them?” I ask.
Ashton shakes his head. “I’ll do it,” he says.
“Okay, I’ll just say goodbye to the girls.” I turn, but they’re already walking towards me, with Cindy and Tyler behind them.
“Ashton, is there anything you want us to do?” Wren asks, looking beside herself.
He looks up at her gratefully but shakes his head. “I just need to get home.”
Elle puts her arm around my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Call us. Let us know what’s going on,” she says to me before looking at Ashton. “I hope your Dad’s going to be alright.”
“I hope so, too,” he says.
“We should go,” Tyler says, fishing his keys from his pockets.
Ashton shakes his head. “On second thoughts, Mads and I can go,” he says, glancing at me. “We can leave your car at the airport?”
I nod. “Yeah, of course.”
“You sure? We could all fly back together?” Tyler suggests.
“Don’t change your flight because of me. I can keep you updated when I get back,” Ashton says.
Tyler and Cindy look at each other. I don’t think either of them knows what to do.
“We’ll be fine,” I say. “I’m going to go with Ashton.”
Cindy pulls me into a hug, and then gives Ashton one. We all say our goodbyes as Tyler gives him a big man-to-man bear hug. “Text me when you land,” he says.
“I will.”
I know he’s out of sorts and not thinking straight. The shock must be immeasurable.
He calls the hospital for an update when we reach the car, but the hospital isn’t saying very much. Just that he’s in critical condition, fighting for his life.
He’s still alive, then. So that’s a good thing. There’s hope.
