Page 106 of Asher

I laid on the ground, trying to keep from breathing as much smoke as possible, but it didn’t help. I passed out. Luckily, Grayson and Braeden found me and got me out of the room before the burns could get worse.

Before I died.

Every time I closed my eyes to sleep, I saw the flames. I heard Nix’s screams. It killed me and I’ve been sleeping like shit. Something I hoped would change once I was cuddled in Asher’s arms.

Once he was holding me.

“I miss being in your arms,” I said, and Asher’s eyes softened. Carefully, he helped me slip off the old t-shirt I had worn to bed and slid the tank top down over my head. I stood to pull on some yoga pants that I stole from Ry.

While all my furniture was fortunately in a storage locker, all of our clothes, personal belongings and Asher’s furniture were lost. He got to go back the next day to see if anything was salvageable, but it wasn’t. It was a total loss, which will be covered under his homeowner’s insurance, but it didn’t help our current predicament. We were both wearing other people’s clothes and had staying with Mason and Rylie.

“Where’s Nix?”

“Helping Rylie with Knox.”

I slipped on a pair of sandals and walked up the stairs. I gave Knox a kiss on the head and hugged Nix when we reached the top. “Ready to go, bug?” I asked.

She smiled at me. “Can I ride with Knox. Please?”

I looked at Asher, letting him make the decision. “We can bring her over.” Rylie offered.

“Sure. But I want hugs first.” Asher held his arms out. She jumped up, wrapping her little arms around his neck before hugging my legs tightly.

“Love you, bug,” I said, running my good hand through her hair.

She looked up at me with the biggest brown eyes. “Love you, Mom.”

“What about me?”

“Love you, Dad.”

“Love you, more.” Asher placed his hand on my lower back leading us out to the car.

“Up you go,” he said helping me into the passenger side, his hand gripping my thigh as he kissed me softly. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He let go of my leg and opened the glove box. “I believe this is yours.” He held my engagement ring out to me. They had taken it off me in the ambulance and hadn’t given it back.

“Thank fuck. I’ve felt naked without.” Carefully, I snatched it out of his hand with my bandaged one and slid it on my finger where it belonged.

“How about you get naked with it on?” He nipped below my ear, and I rolled my eyes.

“I thought you weren’t going there with me?”

“I’m not.” He shot me a smirk. “But seeing you in nothing but that ring is one of my favorite sights.”

“You’re terrible.”

“And you’re never taking it off again.” His finger tapped repeatedly against my leg, voice serious.

Goosebumps covered my arm at the thought of ever taking it off again. “I didn’t want to take it off to begin with.”

“I know.” He shut the door and round the hood of the truck. Pulling himself up in the driver’s seat, he took a deep breath. His grip tightening on the steering wheel. “I’ve never been so scared, Haley. They handed that to me when I got to the hospital. I almost collapsed thinking something happened to you on the way. Like you had taken in too much smoke. Or your heart gave out.”

My heart broke for him once more, knowing why he was worried. “Ash. I’m fine. I promise.” I laced our fingers together. We hadn’t really talked about everything that happened. Asher had been more worried about helping me recover.

“I know. But it still killed me all the same. And knowing you went through all of this to save my girl?” He shook his head, his voice still in disbelief. “I don’t think you know how much more I love you for it.”

“I know. And I promise I won’t ever take it off again.” I held my hand up, flashing my ring in his direction.

“Okay.” He nodded and pulled down the street to my house that was being renovated.

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