Page 111 of Must Have Been Love

“Listen, has Ayda had the flu?” Asher asks when we finally get Parker’s legs up so he’s laying out.

“Not yet.”

Asher lets out a breath. “Okay, I’m going to take him home to the lighthouse. Put him to bed there. As much as we all love him, he’s going to be no use to anybody tonight.”

I really like this man. I nod at him. “Okay.”

Both our phones start to beep at once. I pull mine out to see a message from Autumn.

The police have Ayda. We’re on our way to pick her up. She’s absolutely fine, though they want her to be looked over by a doctor. Hudson’s determined we’ll be back on Liberty by nightfall. – Autumn.

I look back at Asher, who no doubt got the same message. “Okay,” he says. “It definitely feels like a good plan to take Parker home. You all right to stay here?”

“I’ll be fine.” I nod. I need to see Ayda. I need to say sorry to her. For letting her be taken.

He sniffs. “What’s that burning smell?”

My eyes widen. “Oh shit, the onions.”

And I rush back into the kitchen, to the charred onions. The little black dots clinging to the pot are more proof – if I needed any – of how undomesticated I am.

I can’t cook, I can’t take care of a child, I can’t even take care of my own birth control.

Right now all I want to do is curl up in a ball and cry.

thirty-two

SKYLER

Asher and I are sitting in Hudson’s living room when we hear the car pull up. Neither of us have said a word for the last ten minutes. He’s exhausted from traveling and I’m exhausted from… I’m not sure what.

I managed to find some more onions and make the chili without burning any of the ingredients the second time around, but neither of us have wanted to eat anything.

A car door slams and we both stand. My heart starts to pound against my chest. I run to the front door right as Asher opens it and I see Hudson carrying Ayda, who’s fast asleep in his arms. Autumn runs toward Asher and hugs him tight. He whispers something in her ear and she nods.

“Hey.” Hudson nods at his brother, still holding Ayda close. At some point he must have taken off his jacket and tie. His shirt is crumpled and unbuttoned. “You didn’t have to come,” he says to Asher.

“Of course I did.” Asher gives his brother a one-armed hug to avoid crushing Ayda. “Come on in. Skyler made food.”

Hudson looks at me. I try to smile but I can’t. The guilt is killing me. He steps inside and I get a glimpse of Ayda’s face. Her right cheek is resting against his chest, her little arms around his neck. She’s wearing different clothes to the ones she had on this morning and for some reason that kicks me right in the gut.

She looks so tiny. And I lost her.

“I’m going to put her to bed,” he says.

“Good idea.” Autumn’s voice is warm. “How’s Parker?” she asks Asher.

“He’s fine,” Asher says. “He’s sleeping which is for the best.”

Hudson walks upstairs with Ayda, and Autumn strides into the kitchen. “God, that smells good.” She groans when the aroma of chili hits her. “Can I have some?”

“Of course.”

I hang around while she fills up a bowl, then scoops a spoonful into her mouth. “So,” she says, when she’s swallowed it down. “Wanna hear what happened?”

I nod. Asher snorts.

“You always did love to keep us in suspense,” he says.

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