Why is this so fucking hard to ask? “Did you have a happy childhood?”
“I did, yes.” Aspen nods. Her eyes turn soft, and her lips curl up in a smile like she recalls the past with great contentment. “I guess I grew up pretty normally. My parents seemed normal. I had no idea my dad was into anything illegal until I was older. They kept me out of that part of their life.”
“That’s not a bad thing.”
“It was just a shock. I always had a better relationship with my dad. I don’t know who decided to adopt me, but looking back on it now, I think he wanted me more than she did. Especially when I got older, I noticed how she distanced herself from me. I never understood why.”
“You still haven’t heard anything from her, have you?”
“No, the last time I talked to her was months ago. Do you think something happened to her?”
“I don’t know, Aspen. It’s just as likely that she is hiding. I’ll ask Nic to look for her if that’s what you want.”
“Thank you for offering. Xander made the same offer. I just don’t know if I’m ready for that yet.”
“I understand. If you ever change your mind, you know where I am.”
“I do. Speaking of where people are… where is Delilah? I haven’t seen her anywhere.”
At the mention of her name, my mood goes from bad to worse. I don’t want to lie to Aspen, but how the fuck am I going to tell her I have Delilah locked up in my apartment.
“She has been spending most of the time in her room. I check in with her a few times a day.”
“Oh… that’s nice of you. Where is her room? I haven’t seen her in the dorms or the cafeteria.”
“She is staying away from the dorms for now. I’ve been making sure she has food and everything she needs. In a few days, she’ll be ready to start classes and move into the dorm.” Just not sure if I’m going to be ready.
Of course, Aspen is not satisfied with my answer. Getting up from her seat, she props her hands on her hips and gives me a stern look. “Where is she? You didn’t make her stay in that room I was in before, did you?”
“No.” I glance past her at Quinton, who is offering no help at all. “She is in my apartment. My guest room, to be exact.”
Aspen’s eyes turn into slits, scanning my face like she is analyzing it. “Is she really?”
“Yes, she is. I’m not lying. I figured it would be best to keep an eye on her. She is somewhat of a risk, after all. I know you think she is innocent, but the fact remains, she is related to the Valentines. Quinton killed her entire family, then kidnapped and held her captive. Who is to say she isn’t going to try to hurt you?”
Aspen wants to argue, but when she opens her mouth, not a single word comes out. She knows I’m right. There is hardly anything we know about Delilah’s past.
“As long as she is not hurt.”
“No one is hurting her. I swear. She is perfectly fine and ready to start classes in a few days.”
“I believe you.” Aspen sinks back down to the bench. “I don’t know why I’m so worried about her.”
“That is also in your blood.” This time, talking about Charlotte feels more natural. It feels like something I should share with Aspen.
“Is it bad that right now I’m more interested in finding things out about the woman who gave birth to me but not the woman who actually raised me?”
“Not at all. It’s natural to want to know where you came from and why things played out in the past the way they did.”
Aspen wrings her hands nervously in her lap. “Do you remember the last time you saw her?”
I suck in a deep breath, sifting through my mind for the last memory of Charlotte. It’s all hazy, not only because it was close to twenty years ago, but I was also extremely high that day.
“I think somebody knocked at the door,” one of the guys tells me. I don’t even know his name. I let him in because he brought the good shit, and I want more of it.
“Someone go open the fucking door,” I slur, not even caring if it’s the cops or the neighbors.
One of the other guys, Tommy, I think, gets up from the couch and unlocks the door. He steps aside and reveals a woman standing in front of my door. I have to squint my eyes to see her clearly. Her long blond hair is down today, she is wearing a sunflower dress that fits her body perfectly, and she’s clutching onto her purse like she is worried someone is about to snatch It.