Chapter 81 Kashton #3
I must have fallen asleep in my husband’s arms. When I wake up, I’m in the room alone.
I look around to see some clothes neatly folded on a chair by the window.
A pair of oversized sweatpants and a T-shirt.
They’re Kashton’s. I slowly get out of the hospital bed and begin to dress myself.
It takes me longer than usual, but I want to be in his room.
Alone. Just the two of us, hiding away from this world that seems to be against us.
They don’t know how stubborn and determined I am, but I’ll continue to show them.
Exiting the room, I see Charlotte sitting in a chair with her head in her hand. Ashtyn sits across from her, staring at an invisible speck on her yoga pants. Her head snaps up when she hears me approach.
She jumps to her feet, which makes Charlotte lift her head. Her blue eyes look between Ashtyn and mine.
Charlotte gets to her feet much slower. “Ash—”
“Stay out of this, Charlotte,” Ashtyn interrupts her.
I square my shoulders, ready to fight this bitch. I don’t care if it puts me back in the hospital or not. Some things are worth it. “Problem?” I arch a brow.
Ashtyn snorts. She has to lean her head back to glare up at me because I’m taller than her. “You pretended to be dead and then showed up like nothing happened.”
I don’t argue that because I really have no clue what the fuck happened. How Kashton thought I was dead or where the fuck I was with Adam. I’ve got time that is missing, memories nonexistent. I can’t argue something I know nothing about.
“Ashtyn,” Charlotte starts again. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”
“An explanation as to why she fucked over Kashton while she hid out with my brother?” Ashtyn’s eyes drop to my bare feet, and she looks me up and down with disgust.
Ah, now her attitude makes sense. She thought her brother was dead, and then he returned with me. Maybe she thinks I’ve been shacked up fucking Adam. That’s something she’s done before with another man, so why wouldn’t I?
I step into Ashtyn, and Charlotte looks worried.
Her eyes dart around the room as if she’s trying to decide whether to run and get help or not.
“You shot your husband, leaving him for dead. I was willing to die for mine. So keep your judgmental bullshit to yourself. We are not the same, and you have no clue what you’re fucking talking about. ”
She gasps, and Charlotte’s wide-eyed gaze drops to the floor.
Ashtyn spins around to storm off but comes to a stop and turns to face me. Her dark hair slapping her in the face. “Know what, Eve? For once you’re right.” She gives me a chilling smile. “I ran to save my unborn child. You killed yours. We’re not the same.”
“Ashtyn,” Saint barks at her.
I look over my shoulder to see her husband standing behind us. His eyes meet mine with sympathy, and I glance back at his wife.
The smile remains on her face, and she lowers her hands to her growing belly. “At least I can still have children.”
“ASHTYN,” Saint shouts, making Charlotte flinch.
Ashtyn huffs, then turns and walks through the double doors, not bothering to look back when Saint rushes after her.
A silence falls over the room, and I hate how right she was. I made a decision that cost Kashton a future where he could be a father. It’s my biggest regret. I was supposed to have died with my child, but instead, I failed us both. A parent is supposed to protect their children. Not hurt them.
Would my mother have killed me if she had the chance? I hope that her answer would have been yes. No one should be forced to be a parent. Especially a child themselves.
“She didn’t mean it.” Charlotte breaks the silence. “She’s just—”
“Where are they?” I interrupt her. I’ve never needed someone to fight my battles for me. I’m not about to start now.
There’s a reason she was sitting out here with Ashtyn. And I don’t know where Saint came from, but the rest of them aren’t far away.
“In the room.” She nods to the door next to where I was. “They had just gone in there to talk before you came out.”
I waddle my sore ass over to it and don’t even bother knocking before I shove it open. Everyone in the room turns to look at me.
Devin is wrapping Adam’s upper arm, and if I cared, I’d ask what happened. I don’t.
“Eve. You shouldn’t be out of bed.” Haidyn is the one who speaks, meeting my stare. Then he looks at Kashton as if he expects his brother to back him up.
“How do you feel, angel?” my husband asks, walking over to me. He places his hands gently on my face and tilts my head back so I can look up at him.
“Fine,” I say, because good would be a lie, and I don’t want to admit to any man in this room that I’m anything other than okay. There are pain meds in my system, because I’m kinda foggy, but I’m also hurting everywhere.
He leans down and kisses my forehead, and I whisper, “Will you take me to your room?”
Pulling back, his eyes search my face for a long second before he takes my hand and starts to walk me out of the room.
“Kash—”
“It can fucking wait,” he interrupts my brother, not bothering to look back. Letting the door shut behind him, he speaks. “I’m going to pick you up. Let me know if I hurt you.”