Page 10 of Forever Home

I’d made a promise to myself when coming here to not let anything or anyone distract me from getting shit done. From closing out this wholeordeal and heading back to New York as soon as possible. But now, after seeing her…

I hadn’t thought that seeing her would affect me in any way. Shit. She had been the young annoying sister type when we were growing up. But now… I don’t even know what to think.

Other than how fucking amazing she looks. Long brown hair, gorgeous hazel eyes, and curves to fucking die for. I could barely keep my eyes off her in that house. It didn’t matter who was talking to me or what they were talking about, my eyes constantly drifted back to Madison.

The girl has always been a fucking spitfire, but suddenly that fire about her brought out a carnal need inside of me to…

Taking one last look at Mrs. Kendall’s home, and the treehouse that can barely be seen from the road, I consider what Madi asked of me. She wants me to wait until we can all talk. Until we can all sit down and decide what the best course of action is.

For a moment, I’d been considering just telling Asher I’ll go with whatever he decided just to get out of town. But on the other hand, my suggestion about turning this place into something else also would allow me to stay around longer. Not that I really want to.

And I didn’t miss the way Madi seemed almost shocked that I had.

Taking a deep breath, I contemplate my next move. I’d landed this morning and went straight to the will reading so I hadn’t even checked into the hotel yet. It isn’t fancy by any means, but it’s nice for the standards around this place. And honestly, checking in and relaxing for a while sounds better than anything.

Putting the car into drive, I make my way across town towards the hotel. My mind rattled with the entire situation that unfolded at Mrs. Kendall’s. To think that she left everything she had to us completely blew my mind.

And more-so-over, half of us seem to want to restore it and keep it alive.

By the time I pull up to the hotel, I’m ready to relax.

“Jaxson Rivers, checking in,” I tell the thin man behind the reception counter. His beady brown eyes meet mine with a questionable gaze as he looks down towards his computer and begins typing out what I can only assume is my name.

“Yes… I have you here for one night?”

One. Just the sound of that pulls at my mind.

I cringe at his words with a heavy sigh. “I might have to extend that.”

Gazing around the hotel, I spot Asher walking through the front door with a large rolling suitcase behind him. His eyes meet mine for a quick moment, a smile spreading across his face as he walks towards me.Shit. This isn’t what I had in mind.

“You’re staying here, too, I take it,” Ash says walking up to me, a grin on his face as he stops and places his left hand into his pocket.

“Not like there’s a lot of choices in Willowcreek.”

Ash laughs. “You got that right. Still, it’s nice being back.”

“Here you go, sir,” the clerk calls out, pulling me back to the present. “You’re all set.”

“Thanks.”

Taking the key cards, I step aside and allow Ash to check in. He talks to the man with a smile on his face that takes me back to when we were younger. Everyone always seemed to think Asher was a player. A ladies man who got whatever he wanted. But it wasn’t true.

No one knew him the way Knox and I did. And everything that happened between him and Sam hurt us all. He loved her, more than anything, and the breakup really did a number on him.

So to see him with a smile pleases me.

“Hey, why don’t we put our things away and meet up at the lobby bar?” Ash suggests, waiting for his own room key assignment. I’d wanted to get some rest, but honestly, the idea of catching up with him after all these years does sound better.

“Great idea. But I have to swing by my parent’s house first. It honestly shouldn’t take long, give me an hour or so?”

“Yeah, no problem,” he replies with a nod. “Have fun.”

Unlikely.

It doesn’t take long to put my things in my room and head back down to the bar. I’d been hesitant about taking time off from my restaurants to come here, but now after seeing everyone, I’m glad I came.

Over the past few years, I’ve pushed myself to open multiple restaurants. Taking the time to travel the world, experience new things from skydiving in Africa to snowboarding in the Alps and even zipliningthrough South America. My life is a constant swing of work and excitement. Anything to get my adrenaline going. So coming back here, it’s a change.

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