Page 91 of Don't Let Me Go (Don't Let Me 2)

“Hey, big brother.” I give him a tentative smile. “Everything okay? I swear I wasn’t snooping, but––”

“Keep an eye on her. It’s getting cold. I’m gonna get a blanket.” He heads toward the house without another word, and I rock back on my heels, turning to Ash.

With a pathetic smile, she gives me a wave from beneath the massive maple tree.

I step closer, unsure what to say. Whatever I just walked in on? It looks messy. And I already have enough on my plate.

“Hey,” I offer weakly.

“Hey.” She sniffs and wipes under her nose with the back of her hand. “Where’s Theo?”

“He’s…around,” I mutter, taking another sip of my drink.

Ash nods but doesn’t say anything else, too distracted by whatever I’ve walked in on to ask me for details.

Clearly, something’s on her mind. I’ve never been good at girl talk, but my instincts are telling me it’s exactly what she needs.

Where the hell’s Mia when I need her?

I glance at the house and scan the patio, but she isn’t anywhere in sight.

Here goes nothing.

“Everything okay?” I ask carefully.

Rubbing her hands up and down her bare arms, Ash mutters, “I think so?”

“You think?”

She rolls her watery eyes and folds her arms, looking oh, so small and oh, so fragile. “I love your brother, Blake.”

“Well, duh,” I tease. “He kind of loves you too.”

“I know.” She licks her lips and lets out a sigh. “But it’s hard to know if it’s enough. If I’m enough.”

My lips pull into a frown. The idea of Ash and Colt not working out feels like a sucker punch to the chest. “Ash, what are you saying?”

She shakes her head. “We’re fine. It’s just…he’s getting all these offers, and I’m seeing how overwhelming it can be to date a famous person. Not that he’s crazy famous yet, but the writing’s on the wall, ya know? He’s the real deal. And the future ahead of him? It’s insane. And awesome. And…kind of terrifying.” She sniffles and lets out a heavy breath. “He invited me to go with him. To wherever he wants to go, since almost every team in the NHL is chomping at the bit to get him to sign with them, but…”

“But what?” I ask.

“I don’t know. Is it too soon? We haven’t even been dating for a year. But the idea of a long-distance relationship? Of him leaving without me?” She bites her bottom lip, fresh tears flooding her watery eyes. “It feels terrible, Blake. Unimaginable. It feels like I’m ripping off a limb or something, which I know is ridiculous, but I can’t help it.”

My attention shifts to the house, an image of Theo coming to mind as her words wash over me. When he left for college, I was a mess. And that was before we kissed. Before we slept together. Before I felt an ounce of the connection we’ve shared since transferring to LAU. The idea of being in a full-blown relationship with the bastard, of being in love with him and knowing he loves me while also knowing there’s potentially an expiration date on said relationship? Yeah. It would suck big-time. I can only imagine what Ashlyn’s going through. How she’s feeling. How she’s processing everything.

“He doesn’t want to leave you, though,” I remind her, hoping the positive words will be enough to shake her out of the sad little bubble she’s found herself in.

“I know,” she clarifies. “He’s amazing like that.”

“He is,” I agree. Colt’s head over heels for her. He has been since they first met.

“But these are big decisions, Blake,” she whispers. “Massive ones. Decisions that can and will affect the rest of our lives. It’s…scary, isn’t it?” Pushing her hair away from her face, she shakes her head again. “I mean, I know it’s quick. And it is. But I love him. Seriously, Blake. I love the shit of your brother.”

“I know you do.”

“I do,” she repeats. “I really do. It’s just…overwhelming. And I hate how I’ve been acting like a crazy person lately.”

“It’s a tough decision. Anyone would act crazy if they were in your shoes.” I offer my drink to her and point out, “But it does sound like you need a drink.”

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