Page 71 of Holding Her Heart

“Huh. You planning to change your hair colour?”

Eden’s forehead creased. “What?”

“The only person I have my attention on is you. And you’re not blonde, so…”

Eden blushed, lowering her eyes as a smile spread on her mouth. “You know what I mean.”

“Actually, I don’t.” Aster leaned in closer, inhaling Eden’s scent. Her mouth brushed Eden’s ear inconspicuously. “You know, I’d give anything to kiss you right now. And I’m talking, a kidney…whatever. I’d give it up to kiss your lips.”

Eden turned her head away, smiling shyly. “Stop.”

“It’s not my fault the woman I’m infatuated with is fucking gorgeous.” Aster lowered her voice. Painfully low. “Blair seems to think we won’t last this holiday keeping our hands to ourselves.”

Eden turned suddenly, her bottom lip between her teeth. “My best friend knows me too well.”

Oh fuck! Aster was in trouble. Big, big trouble.

Her phone started to ring in her back pocket, Lily’s name on the screen as she removed it. “Hey, Lil’s.”

“Aster, I’m sorry for calling, but it’s Dad.”

“W-what’s Dad?” Aster’s heart sank. The look of panic Eden was giving her didn’t help either. “Lily?”

“Paramedics are here. His breathing is bad. They’re taking him in.”

Aster swallowed. “Okay, well I can be there in an hour. I need to get home from the airport.”

She hated the thought of Eden being surrounded by hundreds of other women, but Aster would never forgive herself if she got on that plane and something happened to her dad. There would be plenty of holidays in future, but her dad wouldn’t always be here.

“No, you don’t need to do that. Go and enjoy your holiday. I was calling to let you know.”

“No, I’m coming home.”

The disappointment in Eden’s eyes didn’t go unnoticed, but Aster had to do what her heart told her. And that was to go home and meet her sister at the hospital. She…couldn’t leave the country.

“Dad’s going to go insane if you don’t get on that plane with your friends.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t enjoy myself when I know he’s lying in a hospital bed, Lily. And I’d hope you wouldn’t expect me to.”

“N-no. I know. Maybe you can get a flight out in a day or two. Once we know what’s going on…”

Aster ran a hand down her face. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ll see you at the hospital as soon as I can get there, okay?”

“Okay. I’m sorry for calling.” Lily ended the call, leaving Aster staring down at her phone.

Eden stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on Aster’s wrist. “Everything okay?”

“I have to go home. T-to the hospital. It’s Dad.”

Eden lowered her hand, a sad smile on her mouth. “I’m so sorry.”

“I can’t get on that flight not knowing, Eden.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Eden said, pulling Aster into a hug. “What can I do to help?”

“Go to Spain and have an amazing time for both of us. And, you know, try not to fall in love with someone while you’re there.”

Eden cocked her head. “You think I’d do that?”

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