Page 67 of Love in the Storm

“I overheard you telling Kendra that you’re being evicted.”

“Yep. That about covers it.” No sense in denying it. He heard it himself. Her entire body warmed as the panic set in.

Asa fidgeted before continuing. “I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it.”

“It’s fine. Kendra has offered to let me stay with her until I can find a place.”

He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. Was he as nervous as her? “Well, I was talking to mymom last night, and she has a spare bedroom. She said she’d like for you to stay with her until you find something.”

Lyric stared. Everything stopped. Her lungs quit working. What did he say?

“Mom is nice. She helps me out with Jacob, and she works at the antique store in town.”

Lyric’s lips parted, but she couldn’t push any words out–only a breath.

“She said she’d love to have you,” Asa said.

“But she doesn’t even know me.”

“She knows enough. She’s heard me talk about you. She said Kendra has said good things about you before.”

“I—I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s not imposing. My mom willingly offered.”

Lyric held up a hand, still stunned enough to fumble her words. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Positive.”

“I can’t afford much, but I’ll give her whatever I can until I pay off what I owe.”

Asa shook his head. “No, Mom doesn’t want money.”

“I have to pay her.”

“She has an extra bedroom, and she lives alone. You living there wouldn’t put her out one bit.”

“But nothing is free.” That was one thing she’d learned in life. Payment wasn’t something you could get around.

“Help her out a little bit around the house and she’d be more than happy. Mom is simple. She loves her family, and she likes helping others. She’s not going to take your money.”

“But–”

“Save up to afford your own place.”

She’d been dreaming about talking to Asa again all week, but none of the imaginary conversations she’d thought up had gone like this. They’d all ended horribly with her walking off with her imaginary puppy dog tail between her legs.

“Why are you doing this for me?”

Asa took her hand and threaded his fingers with hers. “Because I care about you, and I believe in you. If you’re going through a hard time, I don’t want you to go through it alone.” He looked up at the ceiling. “And because I care about you.”

Lyric chuckled. “You said that already.”

“Good. Just making it clear.”

The tightness in her chest was different from the heartbreak of the last few days. This was a healing ache, sewing the ripped pieces back together.

“I care about you too,” she whispered.

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