Page 87 of Loud Unspoken Memories

“Totaled.” Asher scrubs both hands across his jaw. “Fuck. It’s a good thing you were there. I can’t even imagine what would have happened if you hadn’t been. Poor Charlie would have lost two parents within a week.” Guilt crosses his face. “Ah, shit. I didn’t mean to bring up any bad memories.”

“So she told you.”

He nods sadly. “I’m really sorry, man.”

“I’m sorry for your losses as well. Marti’s too.”

“Did she tell you about Alex?”

“Yes.”

“I’m not surprised. My sister isn’t one to keep things bottled up.”

“As she tells it, she has you to thank for that.”

His eyes widen. “Really?”

“My son’s birthday was last week. She made me celebrate it.” I shake my head, still unable to believe how that went down. “She said you’re the one who started that tradition.”

“I guess I was. I hope she wasn’t too pushy.”

“Oh, she was.” We both laugh. “But it was a push I was desperately in need of.”

“So, you think Bex will be okay here?”

I pull a few things from my backpack. Bex’s water and food bowls. A baggie of kibble. A chew toy. “I imagine so.”

“Good. Because I can’t wait to hear how you ended up with a dog during a blizzard.”

~ ~ ~

Two hours later, Asher stares in disbelief, still processing the information I just dumped on him. Marti’s brushes with death. Abe. Losing power. Marti climbing the tower to save me. And though I omitted other…details… I’m sure he can put two and two together.

“Just… holy crap,” he says, downing his third beer to my one. “That’s a lot of fucking shit to unpack.”

“It was a hell of a time.”

“Alright, listen.” He sets down his beer and gives me a stern look. “I’m her big brother, so I gotta ask, what are your intentions here?”

A hundred answers go through my head. But I settle on the one that has another finger wagging in my head. “I just wanted to get her here safely. After all she went through, she didn’t need any more hassles. I figured after that, you could take it from there.”

“I couldtake it from there?What exactly does that mean?”

“Exactly what you think it does.”

“That you had your fun with my sister and now you’re done with her?”

I hoist a shoulder. “I’m not sure what you want me to say, man. No promises were made. We both knew the score.”

“The score?”He pushes away his half-eaten cheeseburger. “As in you were fuck buddies to pass the time, and now you’re dumping her?”

“I’m not dumping anyone. She was never mine to dump.” I lean back in my chair, my eyes meeting the table. “I don’texpect you to understand. Being with her, with anyone, is not something I’m capable of. And she knows it.”

“Are you sure about that?”

I nod. “Yeah. I am.”

He huffs in irritation, confirming to me that’s where Marti picked up the same habit. “Doesn’t mean she won’t be nursing a broken heart.”

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