Page 101 of Asher

“Okay.”

“I had a lot going on in my life and I went a little crazy. I’m sorry.”

I huffed out a short laugh. Understatement of the year. While the apology was nice, it didn’t explain what the hell she was thinking. I stood for a moment waiting for her to continue. When she didn’t, I turned to walk back inside. “Well, thank you for apologizing.”

“Wait. Haley.”Her voice wobbled. I stopped and faced her. “I can’t get pregnant.”

My body jerked to a stop.Not what I was expecting.“I’m so sorry to hear that.”

“I found out about four years ago that it would be hard. But I didn’t think it would be impossible.” Her shoulder dropped even further, if possible, her hands trembling at her side, and I felt bad for her. My stomach knotted just looking at her. “My Boyfriend and I had been trying. For two years we’ve been trying. We’ve done all the treatments aside from IVF. Which is stupid expensive. I suggested adoption. I thought if we were going to spend the money we should adopt.” she laughed humorlessly. “He broke up with me. He said he wanted kids of his own and he wouldn’t even talk about it. I moved here to get away from him.”

“What a douche,” I said, and she chuckled. Honestly, even though she tried to steal my man, she deserved better than that guy. He hadn’t even proposed to her yet before trying to get her pregnant? Not that there was anything wrong with it. I just feel like there was something sketchy afoot.

“Yeah, well. I kinda went off the deep end.” She twisted her lips, rubbing the back of her neck. “When I saw Asher for the first time, I just thought that it would be the perfect solution, you know? I figured he hadn’t dated since Carrie. I was family.Herfamily. I couldn’t have my own kids, so being with someone who already had a kid and didn’t want anymore made sense.”

I didn’t want to point out the fact that Asher actually did want more. That would basically be rubbing salt in the wound, so I went a different direction. “You know there are guys out there that don’t want kids.”

Stella nodded sadly. “But I do.”

“There are also guys out there who are willing to adopt, or do an egg donor. I don’t know what your specifics are, but there are options.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I know that. I do. I just…” she sighed, defeated. “I just couldn’t see past the pain.”

“I understand that.”

“You do?”

“Of course. I think anyone would’ve had a hard time with that.”

Her lips curled up slightly. “I don’t think everyone would’ve tried to steal another woman’s man. I promise that is not me. Not really.”

“Maybe, I can get to know the real you?” I suggested, my gut twisted as I thought about letting her in. Part of me thought it was a terrible, terrible decision, because what if this was another trick? A way for her to get closer to Asher.

To infiltrate our lives.

A tear streamed down her cheek, and she looked relieved. Truly relieved. “I would love that. I also want to apologize about what I said to you. Just because you aren’t Carrie doesn’t mean that you don’t love Phoenix like your own. You are her mother, Haley. Even if you haven’t figured that out yet.”

I opened my mouth to respond when a loud explosion sounded, rocking us. My eye shot wide open as I spun toward the house. Flames and smoke erupted from the back where the kitchen was. My stomach lurched as I watched our house burn. I looked up to the window above the garage where Nix’s room was located. “Phoenix!” I screamed and started sprinting toward the front door.

“Haley! Wait!” Stella gripped my arm pulling me back. “It could be unstable.”

“I don’t give a fuck. Nix is in there.” I pulled my phone from back pocket and shoved it in her chest. “Call 911.” She fumbled with the phone as I ran toward the flames.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ASHER

I stoodin the middle of the locker room surrounded by footballs, pads, helmets and other random equipment, my hands fisted on my hips while I surveyed the chaos. Coach Coleman slapped my shoulder with the clipboard. “Well. I think this is a good start.”

I snorted. “We didn’t even get through the football and baseball equipment.” I didn’t point out that we still had basketball, wrestling, golf and that was just our half. We hadn’t even touched the women’s sports yet. Normally, the softball coach, Coach Grady, would handle those but she was out on maternity leave, so we got volun-told to handle those as well.

“Eh. We can come back tomorrow.” I dropped my chin to my chest. “You can even bring Nix and Haley to help,” he suggested.

“You bringing Lynn?”

“And Rylie and Mason if I have any say.”

“Deal,” I said, stepping over a random helmet. “We can start by putting this back tomorrow.”

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