Page 58 of The Last Time

He lets me borrow a pair of his sweatpants and a shirt, then pulls me into his arms in his bed.

We fall into easy conversation, like it always seems to happen with us.

“You think your dad leaving you the house has any significance?” he asks once we start discussing the projects to work on.

I sigh. “Honestly, I try not to think about it. Ever since he left when I was seventeen, it’s just been easier to avoid trying to understand his actions. I know it’s not the healthiest way to handle it, but I don’t really know what else to do.”

His hand runs along my arm. It’s so comforting. I feel like I could fall asleep.

“Now that he’s gone, do you forgive him?”

It feels like this question holds a lot of weight for him. Does he have forgiveness he can’t give out as well?

“I don’t know the answer to that. There’s still a lot of anger and resentment there. I guess I just don’t understand his actions. He had to know he was hurting me. Why was it so easy for him to do it? You know?”

He lets out a breath. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

I raise an eyebrow at him. “Was there anything Lauren did that needs forgiveness?”

I feel his muscles go rigid. I can feel the anger radiating from him. “I don’t really like to talk about it,” he says coldly.

“Oh, okay. We can talk about something else.”

“Sorry,” he tells me. “It’s just not something I like to rehash.”

“No, I get it.”

Luckily, we are able to move on and talk about other things for another hour before it’s time for me to go back home.

I understand that we are still just getting to know each other, and his deceased wife is a heavy topic. But I hope he can open up to me about it one day. I’m beginning to sense that maybe Layla is right. Maybe he is holding onto something bigger than just her death.

Chapter Seventeen

Asher

“Doesn’tlooklikeahuge issue to me,” Josh says as we examine the foundation of a massive house in Savannah. “Just some minor cracks in the foundation, but they don’t point to a larger issue. We can have the guys fill them in and continue on with the work.”

I walk through the basement with him, analyzing the cracks along the walls and the floor. Foundations are tricky, something you don’t want to ignore. A small problem that isn’t dealt with can become a major problem down the road.

“Yeah, I think you’re right. Go ahead and tell them to fill them in and continue on with framing.”

Josh nods his head in agreement. “You got it, boss.”

“How many times have I told you to stop calling me that? You’re my assistant in this. You manage just as much as I do.”

“You’re still the owner of the company. Which makes you my boss,” he says, as he always does, when I point this out.

“I still don’t like hearing it from you.”

He chuckles as we walk back upstairs and outside toward my car. He throws down the latch of the tailgate and hops up on the bed of my truck.

“I’m surprised to see you here today,” he admits as he grabs a cooler and pulls out a bottle of water.

“What do you mean? You always see me.”

He looks at me pointedly. “Not lately. I think something else has been distracting you, or should I say…someone?”

“If you have something to say, just say it,” I cut out sharply.

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