Page 28 of Where the Stars Heal

“I think you do,” he says gently, “but you don’t know how to stop. Whatever demons you’re fighting inside your head, Halle,” he pauses and reaches over to me, pulling my hand from the chain. He links his small finger with mine and brings them between us, letting our joined hands sway with the motion of the swings, “you don’t have to fight them alone.”

The sincerity in his tone speaks volumes to me, and I’m caught in a storm of emotions. I want him to break down my walls, to reach the real me. I want someone to understand me and my pain so badly. But I don’t know this Asher. He’s been Mr. Angry this whole time, with untrusting looks and mean words. I’ve felt the intensity of him not wanting me here. This softer side of him is unfamiliar and confusing.

“I’ve been fighting them alone ever since Hunter left me, Asher. I don’t know how to do it any other way.”

“Small steps, that’s how,” he replies, squeezing my finger with his own in a reassuring way.

Silence falls over us again, and this time, it’s more comforting. My nerves have settled into a low hum, and my mind finds the peace of the quiet night.

“So…” I start, glancing over at him with a slow smile tugging at my face, “no more Mr. Angry?”

He chuckles softly, the sound warming something inside me, and I smile fully at him now.

“No promises, sweetheart, but I can try for you.” He winks at me and drops my hand.

My eyebrows pull into a frown, the space between us feeling too wide with the sudden loss of his touch, but before I can overthink it, he pushes off on his feet and starts to swing higher. I watch as his strength pulls him into the air, and he whoops loudly.

I catch myself giggling. Watching him, he looks ridiculously too big to be swinging like that.

“Come on, sweetheart, I bet you can’t swing as high as me,” he calls out playfully.

He clearly isn’t aware of how many nights I’ve spent alone in a park or how stubborn I can be. Pushing off with a burst of energy, I use all my strength to catch up to where he is. The wind whips through my hair, and a feeling of freedom washes over me.

“Is that all you got?” I tease as I reach higher.

I catch a glimpse of his wide smile as he shakes his head slightly, clearly amused by my competitiveness.

“You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?” he calls out.

Giggling, I drop my legs to slow the swing, the rush of adrenaline settling as my feet hit the sand again, and I look over to see Asher doing the same.

“Did you just giggle?” he asks in disbelief. “You really are full of surprises.”

His feet scrape along the sand as we both come to a stop, grinning at one another. Wow, he has one of those smiles that stretches wide across his face, and his eyes smile with him. They crease at the side and dance with mischief.

Moving to stand, I step forward, but my legs slightly wobble from all the swinging. I hear Asher’s low chuckle from behind me, and I turn, poking my tongue out at him.

I should get back. I never told Hunter where I was going, and if I’m out here any longer, he’ll start looking for me. I glance up at the sky one last time, letting out a deep sigh.

“It’s getting late,” I say softly.

I don’t want this moment to end, but I know we can’t stay here in this bubble forever.

Asher pushes off from the swing without saying a word and nudges me forward gently.

My nerves kick back in as we walk down the street side by side. The safety of the park and our quiet little escape seems so far away now, and I’m not sure how to act. Do I put my hands in my pockets? Do I link our fingers together again? Or just let them hang by their sides. Shit, why is walking all of a sudden hard?

Reaching Hunter’s house, we make our way up the few steps to the porch, and I stare at the awful sight of the red door as Asher moves to lean on the railing.

“Asher, can you tell me why the door’s red?”

His eyes hold amusement, glancing to the door and back to me. “That would be a story for your brother to tell.”

I roll my eyes at him and move to open it. Pausing, I look behind me, noticing Asher hasn’t made a move to follow me in.

“You coming?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Nah, I’ll head back home and let Madi have the spare room tonight.” He jumps back down the steps and pulls his keys from his back pocket.

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