Page 84 of Restrictions

“Ash . . .” The warning is from Lola.

Nora clears her throat, waving her hands. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“You’re allowed to ask him about this summer, Mom.” That comesfrom Linc, his voice a low growl as if he’s been holding back too, just waiting for Asher to say something.

Sawyer was definitely right about the two brothers. It’s been a tense day, and I haven’t seen them alone together once. Asher’s head swivels straight ahead to look at his brother. “You really want to go back to the lake, Linc?”

Penelope shifts uncomfortably in her seat, and for the first time today she doesn’t look happy—not at all.

“Don’t.” Linc’s eyes haven’t left Asher’s.

But Asher turns his fiery eyes on Penelope. “You want to? Really?”

Penelope looks at him directly, but I can tell she wants to do anything but that. “The lake will always be hard to go to, but if that’s what Nora wants.” She shrugs.

Asher scoffs and throws his cloth napkin from his lap to the table. “Right.”

“You said you could do this.” Lola is clearly upset, and Nora looks on the verge of tears.

This was a bad idea. I should have listened.

Asher looks at his sister calmly. “I didn’t do anything.”

Her eyes plead with him, but she doesn’t say anything. Nora does. “I’m sorry. I know you don’t want to go back there. It was just an idea. We haven’t been back since?—”

“I don’t care what you guys do.” Asher interrupts her, and I can see Lincoln ready himself, placing his napkin on the table also. Asher meets Lincoln’s angry gaze with a rageful one of his own as he stands from his chair. “I’m not going back there. And I’m not pretending like we’reallhere. We aren’t all here.”

“Sit down, you little shit.” Lincoln’s growl is low and eerie as he looks over at Asher.

Asher doesn’t back down. His shoulders only stiffen as he glares in Lincoln’s direction. “You don’t get to tell me what to do. You and your little ‘P’ have it so great here...” I barely recognize Asher, his eyes have almost blackened with a sickening rage. “Without him.”

I hear a shocked cry catch in Penelope’s throat, and Nora wipes tears from her face as she looks at her youngest. “Asher, I promise you...” Her voice is uneasy.

“Don’t,” he snaps, and I see Lincoln’s body close to rising, butAsher retreats, spinning on one foot. It’s clear he can’t stay in this room any longer.

“Mommy? What’s wrong with Asher?”

I hear Lincoln growl and see Penelope place a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m going to go check on him.” I try to ignore all the suspicious eyes on me as I place my napkin on the table and stand up, cupping Baz’s little chin affectionately. “Please be good, okay?”

“Okay, Mommy,” he singsongs as he pops another piece of turkey into his mouth, and I turn to Nora.

“Please excuse me. I’ll be right back.”

She watches me with surprise but a kind smile as she nods. “We’ll watch our little guy, no problem.”

I thank her and then, faster than I should with all of them watching me, I exit the dining room, searching for Asher. I turn right, trying to navigate through the massive house, totally unsure of where I'm going. But somehow, I find him.

He’s in the utility room with the door open, looking so incredibly lost as he places his palms flat on the white counter. The room is large with a washer and dryer, a sink, and white counter tops with shelves and cubbies, pristinely clean like the rest of the house.

I stand in the doorway, watching him. The corded muscles of his arms are flexed tight, and the vein in his neck is protruding through his skin. “Asher,” I breathe, unsure what to say to him.

My own heart aching because it knows his is.

“They don’t even fucking care that he’s gone.”

There’s no use arguing with him. I know logically that’s not true. They’re all grieving in their own ways, but I understand why Asher is upset even if it may not be fair. “I’m sorry I talked you into this.”

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