Page 97 of Leave Me Broken

“It’s cold, shut the door,” Janelle complains when Ash pulls it open because he keeps me pressed to his body instead of letting me sit and close the door.

He grins against my lips. “I love you. Text me when you get to Janelle’s.”

“You have my location now,” I remind him in case he forgot.

“Still, text me.”

I promise and he kisses me another time before I fall into the seat. He waves until we are out of sight and then I sigh and glance at my best friend. She’s not crying anymore, but the remnants that she was are still there and a reminder of what a fucking shitty night this has been.

“I am never going to a party again,” I tell her.

“Agreed.”

30

Ash

“What are you doing here?”

“Lovely to see you too, Jason.” I sidestep him in the small trailer. The narrow space causes our shoulders to brush.

He spins and grips my arm in a threatening way. “You don’t think my family is going through enough without you perving after my baby sister?” His voice is low but I look around for anyone that might overhear anyway. Everyone else seems to be in the living room so I think we are safe.

“Your sister loves me.”

“She’s seventeen. She doesn’t know what she loves,” he bites back.

I planned to come here, check in with Paul, and grab Payson before we head to the station to meet Jethro. She didn’t ask me to come but she will need someone, and I want to be that someone. I didn’t expect to see Jason but his mum’s funeral is Sunday so I shouldn’t be surprised. Or surprised that he hates me. Any good older brother would. Unfortunately for him, his hatred isn’t sending me anywhere.

“Do not underestimate her because of her age. Payson is smart and perfectly capable of choosing who to spend her time with. Lucky for me, that person is me.”

His hand tightens. He growls under his breath, “you’re grooming her.”

Jason says these things as if I am not aware. I am fully aware of the dynamics between Payson and me. She wanted on my team; she would have done anything. She was in love with a version of me she made up in her head when she was young. To Jason, and probably to most, I took advantage of all that. What they don’t know is I planned to make Payson Murphy mine before I knew any of it.

“Well, good afternoon, Coach,” a raspy masculine voice rings from behind me.

Jason scowls and drops his hand, and I turn to greet Paul. He looks worse than the last time I saw him, and I’m not sure if it’s his cancer or the fact his daughter was murdered by her husband. I’m not even sure he knows that part yet. Payson seemed so sure and based on what she’s told me about Fred and what he promised her, I believe she’s probably right. If she is, then Payson needs someone watching her, and Paul needs to be aware.

I will discuss that with her today.

“Afternoon, Paul. How are you today?”

He offers me a sincere look but doesn’t answer. “What brings you by?”

I hold up the pie in my hands. “This, it’s store bought, but you don’t want me baking.” I chuckle. He smiles and grabs the apple pie from my hands.

Americans seem obsessed with sweet pies, and apple pie is actually very good. I follow him down the hall, and Jason follows behind me mumbling something about kiss-ass. He’s not wrong, but it’s not a crime to want Payson’s granddad to like me. I plan on marrying her one day—hopefully soon, she will be more inclined to accept, knowing her granddad likes me. “Also to pick up Payson.”

Paul scans the kitchen for a spot to place the pie and really, there’s not one. There is various food containers scattered about the little counter space and table. He stacks it on top of a larger container. I glance around the small room but don’t see anyone else. I’m not sure where Payson could be, bathroom or her room, I suppose. I checked her location and it said she was home. “Ah, yes.”

“I’m going with Payson,” Jason says.

He’s like an annoying housefly that won’t stop buzzing in your ear. “It’s a good thing my truck can seat three, then, yes?”

“Amanda is here too.” Buzz buzz.

I had forgotten they were together and that she would most likely be here. I can feel Paul watching our one-sided, hostile conversation and it stops me from tossing Jason around like a doll. “Payson still has my car, it can fit five. Will you be joining as well?”

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