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Asher follows them. He gives me a look, a question swimming in his eyes.
“She’s outside,” I tell him before he can ask. “She’s not feeling well, so I suggested she leave with the twins.”
“Who’s outside?” Madison questions, her big hazel eyes gleaming.
“Juliette,” I reply, making her smile wider. “Are you ready to leave?”
My daughter pouts. “I want to spend some more time with Elin and Lana.”
“You’ll see them tomorrow. I’m sure Asher will drive you to the hotel so you can hang out with them before they have to leave.”
Asher immediately takes over, looking at his little sister. “He’s right, Mads. We’ll see the girls tomorrow, but you’ve got to get home. It’s past your bedtime.”
Madison sighs before turning to look at her brother, who’s suspiciously quiet.
“You okay, Mase?” I ask.
He nods. “Yeah, Dad. Just a little tired.”
I throw Madison a triumphant look and she sighs before walking over to say goodbye to her cousins and her aunt. Mason does too, leaving Asher and I alone.
“Is everything okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, everything’s fine. Are you going to leave, too?”
I really hope he says no.
“Nah, I’ll stay for a bit. Help you out with the party.”
I give him a grateful smile as relief floods my chest.
“Thanks, man,” I tell him, slapping his shoulder. “Have you seen Declan?”
Asher shrugs. “Last I saw him, he was trying to flirt with one of mom’s former coworkers.”
A deep sigh leaves my chest. I really need to talk to my best friend right now.
“Alright, let’s go.”
We go outside with the twins and Juliette. Asher pulls her aside to talk to her about something just before they enter the car, and my jaw grinds as I watch them talk. I damn near lose it when he places a kiss on her cheek. Juliette throws me an uneasy glance. She walks away from Asher and enters the car.
“I’ll see you later, Juliette,” I tell her gruffly before shutting the car door.
Then I turn to my stepson.
“She said you used to date,” I begin. “What happened between the two of you?”
Asher shrugs. “I made a mistake. I hurt her deeply and now I’m here to fix it.”
“And?” I hedge.
“And what?”
“Do you still love her?” I ask, forcing the words out of my lips.
Asher ponders my words for a moment before replying. “Ummm… I don’t know. Maybe. Juliette was and is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It would be stupid of me not to try to see if there’s still something there.”
It takes everything I’ve got in me not to tell him she’s mine and he has no choice but to let her go. But Asher’s family. I really care about him and I wouldn’t want him to get hurt. I’ve also never heard him talk about anyone or anything as passionately as he’s talking about Juliette right now.
