Page 80 of Wish You Were Mine

But Asher seemed as stunned as the rest of us.

“No,” he said. “I have no idea why someone would write that on a rock and throw it through my window.”

Patton slipped the rock into a plastic bag and sealed it. “We’ll check this for prints back at the station. You don’t recognize the handwriting?”

“No. But then, I don’t know that I’d recognize anyone’s writing, other than maybe Maia’s and my parents’.”

“Fair enough.” Patton stood and pocketed the bag with the rock inside. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t clean up in here now. Boss?”

Nate nodded. “That’s fine. We should board up the window while we’re here.”

He rubbed his upper arms, and it was only then that I noticed he was wearing a thin sweater rather than a jacket. He must have been at home with Grace and Finn when we called and come immediately.

“Ash, if there’s somewhere else you can sleep tonight, you should do that,” he said. “Just in case whoever did this comes back.”

“You can stay at my place,” I offered immediately, then added, “I have a spare bed,” when Nate looked at me strangely.

I expected Asher to agree. It was the sensible thing to do. I was already here so he could just go home with me, but he shook his head.

“I’ll go to Frannie’s,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can use their sofa.”

He was choosing to worry his sister rather than come with me. Why did that hurt so much?

I tried to shake it off. Asher hadn’t noticed my discomfort, and he was already leaving the room. I turned to Nate. If ever there was a time to share my concerns with him, this was it.

“I’m worried someone is targeting Asher,” I whispered, glancing at Patton, who made a show of not listening.

Nate put his hand on his hip and cocked his head. “Why?”

I explained how his cat had mysteriously been outside the morning after my birthday rather than in the house where she should have been and had fallen ill from pesticide poisoning soon after.

Asher returned with a brush and shovel just as I finished speaking. His lips pressed together in a firm line, and he studied my face for a moment.

“You’re seeing things that aren’t there because of what happened with Grace and Kennedy,” he said finally. “I had a shitty day, and I’ve had a run of bad luck and poor decision-making, that’s all. Work has been crazy lately, and it’s getting to me.”

I turned to Nate. “What do you think?”

Frustratingly, his expression gave nothing away. “It’s too soon to tell. It’s worth looking into just for peace of mind though, and Asher, if anything else happens, I want to know about it.”

Asher narrowed his eyes at me, but then nodded. “Sure.”

Gratitude swelled within me. My cynical brother hadn’t completely dismissed my concerns. Even if Asher still didn’t believe me, that was better than nothing. Nate had the resources to start investigating if he thought it was necessary.

Asher knelt and swept up the glass fragments. Nate disappeared out the back door and returned with a large piece of plywood and Patton’s partner, who was carrying a hammer and a container of nails.

Together, the three cops boarded the window, taking directions from Asher to ensure nothing was damaged. When they were done, they left, with Nate reminding Asher not to stay here tonight.

As soon as they were out of earshot, I asked Asher, “Why wouldn’t you come to my place?”

37

ASHER

Uh-oh. Based on the stubborn slant of Summer’s chin and the pout of her lips, I was going to have to be very careful about how I answered this question. A chill skittered over my skin. It was cold inside, although thankfully there was no longer a breeze blowing through the place.

“I’d love to go with you,” I said, monitoring her expression carefully for any indication that I might be upsetting her further. “But I don’t think it’s wise for us to spend a night together until we’ve labeled whatever is happening between us and told our friends and family about it.”

The lines around her mouth softened. “I understand that, but there’s a spare bed. Or the sofa, if you’re really worried.”

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