Page 118 of An Adventure For Aster

She turned in her chair to look at him. She could see the fear in his eyes. It might be the first time she’d seen any kind of emotion that way.

Before, she’d seen the love and caring, but never this.

Never worry or almost tears.

It broke her heart a little.

And reminded her that none of this was there with Colton. Ever.

It told her without words that what she and Aster had was real.

But that didn’t mean they didn’t have some things to work out.

“No,” she said. “I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is we have to be open with each other. We have to be honest. I don’t want to worry again that something is going to happen and I didn’t see it coming.”

“Never,” he said. “I’ve been honest with you. I might not have complained about the pain in my arm. I wasn’t lying when I told you it was scar tissue. You heard your brother. That is true. I even told my doctor about it and that was their answer. I’m not sure what more you want from me other than I didn’t want to come off like a wimp who couldn’t handle pain. That isn’t the case. I can and could handle it.”

“I don’t think there is anyone on the face of this earth that would call you a wimp,” she said.

“Probably not,” he said.

She reached her hand for his. “This needs to be an open space for us. I know you were mad I didn’t tell you when Colton showed up and I explained why. I was probably wrong not saying it then.”

“I thought you were,” he said, smirking.

“And I think you’re wrong not calling me today. So we’ll call it even.”

“I can handle that,” he said.

“Good,” she said. “We both learned from it and I can let it go. I promise. I might need a few days or weeks, but knowing it’s nothing major and you can make an appointment with an orthopedist to get it out if you choose, that is good enough for me.”

“I’ll make the appointment,” he said. “I promise. I’m not stupid enough to let it stay there and maybe cause more damage. I’ll see if I can get an appointment with Theo. All things considered, he’s probably the best person to do it and keep everyone in the loop. I’m not sure Daisy would let me live it down if I didn’t call him.”

“Probably not,” she said. “But that is your choice. Is there anything else going on I need to know about? I just want you to know I’m all in and want to feel like you are too.”

“Tucker called me right before everything happened,” he said. “The two guys got twenty years and they gave up the name of who hired them for the reduced sentence. That person was arrested. It will be another long trial, but for the most part, it could be over. I talked to Carrington. She’s relieved to start getting back to a somewhat normal life.”

Raine knew that Aster talked to the teen a few times a week. Even if it was a text.

She’d found the whole situation sweet and healing for them both.

“That’s great news,” she said.

“They are coming to visit this summer. I want you to meet them both.”

“I’d love to,” she said.

“One more thing you should know,” he said. “They gave me a large sum of money after I was released from the hospital. They felt horrible that my military career was over and grateful I saved Carrington.”

“Wow,” she said. “That’s great.”

“You’re fine you didn’t know?”

She shrugged. “It’s not my business. I mean what if I told you I had fifty thousand in debt right now? How would you feel about that?”

Raine held back the giggle when his eyes got wide. “Student loans or like credit card debt?”

She burst out laughing. “Neither. I’m just saying, those are things I would have done before you. And if I had it, I wouldn’t expect anyone to help me get out of that hole just like what you’ve got or earned before me isn’t mine to claim or want.”

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