Page 78 of Even if It Hurts

“Briggs doesn’t like country music,” Cameron said as I left the kitchen, as if in warning.

“I’m aware,” I said as my head subtly moved to the song. “I’ll turn it off when he gets back.”

Cameron shifted in a way that showed how much he didn’t like the idea of putting Asher in a position to make him uncomfortable.

“I know why,” I gently assured him and watched as outright shock stole across his features. “I won’t purposefully do that to him.”

“He told you,” he said in stunned confirmation.

I hummed in acknowledgment and gestured to him with my glass. “And if you’re here, I have a feeling he’ll warn you when he’s coming up so you won’t be surprised by his sudden arrival, which means you can tell me to turn it off. Now”—I swung the glass toward the large couch—“I want nothing more than to sit on that couch. So, you can either join me, or we can yell at each other from across the apartment.”

Amusement and something close to respect replaced his earlier shock as he dipped his head in thanks. “I was told to stay here.”

“Yelling it is.”

“He’s also on his way back.”

“O-oh,” I stammered as I awkwardly sank to the couch, being careful not to spill my drink when the news threw me off and had an eagerness building inside me and tangling with my nerves.

I’d been waiting for this before I’d ever gotten here this afternoon. For when Asher would return...for when we wouldtalk.

But after the draining day with Kaia, I felt wholly unprepared for it. My brain was fried, I had no doubt I looked as exhausted as I felt, and I wasn’t sure I remembered how to pick a blueberry, let alone any of the things I’d wanted to talk to Asher about.

“Do you know how long until he’s back?” I asked after I was curled up under one of the replacement blankets and had taken a long sip of my drink.

“Why do you sound worried?” Cameron asked instead of responding, sounding more amused than curious.

“I’m not, I’m just...not ready,” I finished on a whisper. I needed the caffeine to kick in and for my thoughts to not be so disordered and hazy. I wanted to let this music calm and soothe me for just a little while before I faced what was sure to be more shocking—and maybe even heartbreaking—revelations.

“You should probably turn off the music,” Cameron hinted, finally giving me my answer.

Or I can be ready now.

I scrambled to pull my phone out of my pocket and turned off the music as I took another large gulp and prayed for the espresso to hit fast.

But within seconds of silence falling over the apartment, that familiardingsounded, and my heart kicked into overdrive tono credit of the drink in my hand. Excitement and anticipation coursed through my veins, nearly drowning out my nerves at the whisper of his deep, rough voice trying to reach me from his hushed conversation. And once his dark eyes locked on me as he stole across the space, I wondered what exactly I’d been trying to accomplish earlier.

I was still exhausted, but seeing him then, I felt more at peace than I could’ve achieved on my own. My mind was still a jumbled mess, but it had nothing to do with the hours of enduring baby screams and everything to do with the chaos he’d always created inside me. And even though I had no idea what to expect from this enigma of a man, I was more prepared to learn his shocking truths than I’d ever been.

“You finally used the machine,” he said as he stopped beside me, only eyeing the drink in my hand for a moment before his stare drifted back to mine.

“Only because liquor is frowned upon when you’re working.”

The corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. “I don’t have any anyway.”

Just as I started filing that bit of information away for another time, I remembered that tonight was about getting everything out in the open. “Is there a reason for that?”

“My mom.”

A hum rolled up my throat. “I should’ve known.”

Asher was already shaking his head before I finished speaking. “I wouldn’t have expected you to. Peyton drinks, as you know.”

“But you were the oldest, so it was all different for you,” I said in understanding.

His head bobbed subtly. “Felt that way.” He reached out, the tips of his fingers gently grazing the line of my jaw for the second time that day before he left me sitting there as if he hadn’t just shaken me with a simple touch and a few open words.

And it was all I could do to try to fight my smile or hide the fact that my stomach was filled with dozens of fluttering wings when I lowered my head to find Cameron still in place, smirking at me.

---