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“You should have called me if you couldn’t sleep.”
“I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Ally, baby, you call me the next time you have trouble sleeping. Chances are, I’m having trouble too. And even if I’m not, I’d never say no to hearing your voice.”
I wish so much I could reach through the phone and have Trent hug me right now. I miss being in his strong arms.
There’s a muffled yell on Trent’s end.
“I’ve got to go. Jaxon’s yelling for me.”
“Okay.”
“Call me tonight before you go to bed.”
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too, Ally.”
Once I’ve hung up, I drop my phone to my lap and let out a deep breath. I knew leaving Jaded Hollow and the people I care about would be hard, but I feel like I’m going crazy with missing Trent. The longest we’ve gone without seeing each other in recent years was a night here and there when he was out on a job with Nick.
Trent is one of Nick’s foremen for his construction company. Years ago, Nick would take jobs out of state, but once he and Chris got together, he stopped. Now he only takes jobs close enough for him and his crew to travel to and be back home at night. When Betty, one of the women in Jaded Hollow, went on maternity leave, Jaxon, with Nick’s permission, asked him to help out at the bar until he could find a replacement. As much as I miss Trent, I’m hoping it takes Jaxon a while before he can. The longer it does, the less time I’ll have left of my treatments.
From past experiences, I know come the weekend, I’ll be weak and dead on my feet. The weekend gives me just enough time to recover, only for the process to start over again. As soon as Trent comes to Murfreesboro, he’ll know something is wrong the minute he sees me.
* * *
When I pullinto the driveway of Ashlyn and Dillon’s house an hour later, there’s an unfamiliar blue car parked behind Ashlyn’s. I get out and approach the front porch. I startle when a voice comes from the side.
“You must be Ally.”
I hold my hand over my chest. “Wow. You scared me.”
The man sitting on one of the porch chairs chuckles and rises to his feet. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Have you ever heard the term silver fox? That’s the only way to describe the older man standing in front of me, except he doesn’t have a head full of silver, just some sprinkled on the sides. But he is good-looking. Very good-looking. From the pictures hanging on the walls inside, I know this is Ashlyn’s dad. Tall, solidly built, beautiful, kind eyes, and thick, mostly dark-brown hair, the man has to be at least in his fifties, but you wouldn’t know it.
I flush as I realize I’ve been staring, then smile, and take a step toward him. “No worries.” I hold my hand out. “And to answer your question, yes, I’m Ally. And you’re Cash, Ashlyn’s dad, right?”
He inclines his head and takes my hand.
“It’s very nice to meet you.”
“You as well.”
The door opens and Dillon comes out carrying two beer bottles by the necks in one hand. “I see you’ve already met Ashlyn’s dad.” He hands one to Cash. “Ashlyn and Lilly are in the kitchen. Lilly’s excited to meet you. Destiny’s in there talking their ears off about you right now.”
I laugh, my heart warming. “Well, I better get in there then.”
Going into the house, I immediately hear laughter. When I walk into the kitchen, Ashlyn, Destiny, and Lilly are sitting at the table. With a slim figure, long, blonde hair, and gentle eyes, like her husband, she barely looks old enough to be Ashlyn’s mom.
Lilly gets up from the table and comes over to me. I’m surprised when she doesn’t offer her hand, but instead envelopes me into her arms. I look at Ashlyn over her shoulder, my eyes wide.
Her mom pulls back, but grabs both of my hands. “I’m so glad to finally meet you. Ashlyn’s talked about you for years.”
“It’s nice to finally meet you too.”
Her eyes go soft. “Destiny was right. You are beautiful.”
