“Does your dad have any whisky?” I asked Felicity. “I could really use whisky right about now.”
“Asher, that isn’t going to help.” She frowned. “But I have some homemade cookies.”
My stomach rumbled. “The ones with the chocolate chips?”
“Come on, let’s see what I can find.”
Jase came over and slung his arm around my shoulder. “Everything is going to be okay, Ash,” he said as if he truly believed the words.
I only wished I could believe them too.
“Where have you been?” I growled at my father as he entered Mom’s room. It felt more familiar than our house lately, but then I had spent every waking minute here. Until the nurses began insisting I left to shower and eat and do all the things I needed to do to take care of myself. But I didn’t care about myself.
I cared about the woman sleeping in the bed. Except, she wasn’t sleeping, not really.
Dad fussed with his tie and I knew exactly where he’d been. “Work,” I snapped. “You’ve been working.”
“Watch your tone, Son,” he said. “Business doesn’t just stop because…” His eyes flicked to Mom, the blood draining from his face. “How is she?”
Surprised at his reluctance to argue with me, I replied, “The same. The doctors said they’re thinking of waking her soon but it’s still too early to know what sustained damage there is.”
“You spoke with the doctors?” It was his turn to look surprised.
“Well they couldn’t speak with you since you weren’t here.”
“Asher, please.” He walked around the bed and leaned down to press a kiss to Mom’s head. It was funny, watching him treat her as something fragile and precious. Dropping into the chair opposite me, he clutched Mom’s hand in his. “It’s this place… I can’t…”
“I know.” But whereas Dad chose to run, I chose to stay.
I would always stay.
It’s what made us so different.
“How do you do it? Sit here, day in, day out, watching her as if she might wake up at any second, knowing she won’t?”
“She gave up everything for me,” I bit out. “It’s the least I can do for her.”
“Son, I want you to know—”
The door creaked open and both our heads snapped up to see who was entering.
“Mya,” her name fell from my lips in a whoosh of air.
“You.” Dad shot out of his chair. “You have no right to be here,” he yelled.
Mya’s eyes went wide, darting between us. “I- I should go. This was a mistake.”
“You’re damn right it was; you’ve caused enough pain already,” my father seethed at her, spittle flying from his mouth. But he didn’t approach her. Thank fuck, he didn’t approach her. I couldn’t bear the thought of him laying one hand on her.
Inhaling a shaky breath, I moved around the bed, putting myself between him and Mya. “Give me a minute, Dad,” I said, keeping my eyes locked on her. She slipped out of the room, and I followed, ignoring Dad’s grumbles of disapproval.
Mya didn’t wait. She kept walking, hurrying down the hall.
“Wait.” I grasped her arm, pulling her around. “What are you doing here?”
“I came…” Her voice wavered, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. “For you, Asher. You won’t return my calls or texts. I haven’t seen you in days. I just needed to know you were okay.”
“You can’t be here,” I said, still stunned she was even here after the way I’d dismissed her before. I’d ignored her for the best part of two weeks. Yet, she was here. Standing in front of me, silently begging me to let her in.