Page 10 of Asher

“Good.” I held her tight whispering into her bright red hair that smelled like the sugar cookies she was baking. “How is the third bun doing?” I rested my hands on her small baby bump. At thirty-eight, both she and Braden weren’t expecting to have any more kids, but a little drunken sex lit that plan up like a dumpster fire.

Holly beamed. “She’s good.”

“A girl?” I asked, surprised. So far, I’d been the only Rivers girl born into the family.

Luckily, both Braden and Connor married up.

“Braden didn’t tell you?”

“Nope. But I’m so happy for you.” I squeezed her hand.

“Thanks.” The timer on the oven went off. Holly opened the stove, pulled the cookie sheet out, and laid it on top. Shutting the oven door, she turned, head cocked, to the side. “Not that I’m not completely happy to see you because it has been too long, but what are you doing here?”

“Braden didn’t tell you I was stopping over?” I asked, hopping up on the kitchen counter next to the bowl of dough. I averted her mom-stare and focused on the plate of fresh cookies that were already cool. Grabbing one, I popped it into my mouth.

She cocked a brow, not believing me for a moment. “No.”

“Well, that’s probably because I didn’t tell him. I just needed a little girl time.”

“And you chose me?” She asked, not bothering to hide her surprise. My gut clenched. It shouldn’t be a surprise that I would come to her.

I needed to make a better effort to come around more.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

Holly glanced up from the new cookies that she was rolling out with a knowing look. “Probably because you and Rylie have been attached at the hip from the time you could walk. You usually go to her.”

“Yeah.” I shrugged, breaking off another piece of my cookie. “She’s got her hands for with Knox.”

“How is he?” she asked, cutting out another circle cookie.

I smiled. “The perfect baby.”

“Well, he has to be better than those two were. Those little crotch goblins never slept. I’m praying this one is better.” She rubbed her stomach lovingly.

“Your track record isn’t doing so hot.” I joked.

She swatted my leg with the back of her hand. “I know. Now stop avoiding. Why are you here?”

“I need some advice.”

Her brown brow popped up. “That you couldn’t go to Ry for? You know I love you, and I will give you all the advice in the world, but I feel like there is something that you aren’t saying.”

I sighed. “It’s about a guy.”

“Interesting. What’s this guy’s name?”

“I’d rather not say.” I looked down at the hot pink nails I had done this morning.

Holly huffed, brushing a piece of hair out of her face, a smudge of flour left in its place. “So, Asher?”

My jaw dropped. “How did you know that?”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “You’ve had a thing for that boy for years. Even before you two became friends. That’s why you couldn’t to go Rylie? Because he’s her brother-in-law. You know she would always take your side, right?”

“I know, but I don’t feel like I should make her take sides, you know? How is it fair for me to put her in a situation where she has to keep something from Mason? And she would have to. Because if Mason knows, then Asher is going to know. And if Asher knows, I’m going to lose him and If I lose him, I’m going to lose Nix. And I can’t fucking lose any of them, Holly. I just can’t.” Everything spewed out in one long-winded breath. It was my biggest fear that I hadn’t spoken out loud because I didn’t want to lose any of them. If I couldn’t be around Ash, I couldn’t be around Mason and Rylie because he was always there. At every group event.

And I would lose Nix, who I loved like she was my own daughter.

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