Chapter 2 #3
Asa was a mashup of his siblings. He moved in silence and rarely showed his emotions to anyone, like Tristan.
Similar to Duke, he had a dry sense of humor.
Like Dex, he was the calm in every room.
He was brutally honest like Blake and Dallas, but he could be sweet like Bliss.
And he reminded me of Paityn every time he did something thoughtful like fly to Cali after my surgery and show up on my doorstep with organic fruit, veggies, and lean proteins.
We talked about our families often. He once shared that he had to mute the sibling group chat because sometimes they were too much for him.
Not that he didn’t love them. On the contrary, he adored them and would do anything for them.
But he’d shared with me that he realized early on that he needed to maintain a close but healthy distance from the larger group for his sanity.
Which was part of the reason he didn’t go to college right away, and instead, chose to travel.
Getting to know him on a different level only made me want to learn more about him.
I’d spent the last few years figuring out what made him tick, what made him Asa.
And I recognized the turmoil swirling in his beautiful brown eyes before he rushed to the hospital.
So I knew whatever happened with Gemma wasn’t good.
I checked my phone. No new notifications. From him. No missed calls. From him. Admittedly, I was torn between inserting myself into his private life and following my first mind and going to the hospital.
My mind was so cluttered that I didn’t even hear the bathroom door open. I screamed bloody murder when I opened my eyes and saw Paityn standing in front of the tub.
I planted a hand on my heaving chest. “Tyn, what the hell?”
My best friend folded her arms over her chest. “Sis, why is Zara calling me at three in the morning asking me to do a wellness check?”
I grabbed a towel and pulled myself up. Wrapping the thick terrycloth around me, I grumbled, “Why did I give you a key?”
“Because I’m your person.”
Paityn Young was my day-one bestfran, my sis. If I was gay, she would probably be my baby mama because she was beautiful. Inside and out. In a motherly, bad-ass boss way.
“My person should knock.” I slipped on my trusty muumuu and walked into my room.
“Zara said you turned your location off.”
Sure did. Because I didn’t want her to see me posted at Asa’s place. “And Zara needs to chill the fuck out. She has two whole kids and she’s tracking my location.”
“She was worried,” Tyn pressed. “What were you doing?”
Your brother. Clearing my throat, I said, “Nothing. I went to a work function.”
“Didn’t you quit your job?”
Tyn had the fortunate position in my life of being the one I told mostly everything to.
Zara was my baby sister and I loved her with everything in me.
But Tyn? She was a vault. She kept secrets like The Vatican.
Probably because she was sensible; she rarely let her emotions get the best of her.
And she had a poker face out of this world.
I wasn’t the only one who thought that. Her siblings didn’t play about her because she served that same purpose for them.
“So,” I said with a shrug. “Networking is a thing.”
“Okay, I don’t know why you’re so defensive, but it’s giving you’re fucking someone.”
I gasped. Paityn hated the F word. Hated it. And she’d thrown it out there like it was an everyday thing. “You cussed,” I said incredulously.
“I have grown to appreciate certain words at certain times.”
I planted a hand on my hip. “What makes you think I’m having sex?”
“Rissa, I’m a sex therapist. I’ve seen and heard everything. And I know a freshly fucked woman when I see her. Who is he?”
Shit. I gulped. “Nobody,” I lied.
“I mean, what’s the problem? You should know I’m the last person to judge you if you’re engaging in a healthy sexual entanglement with a well-adjusted partner.”
“I know that.”
“So . . . Who’s blowing your back out?”
I scratched my head. “I can’t talk about it.” Because I’m fucking your baby brother.
“Is it someone I know?”
My resolve was fading faster than a first impression. Tyn was reasonable. She wouldn’t be mad if I confessed. But . . . “I want to tell you, but—”
She grinned. “I knew it. There is someone. And you like him.”
I shrugged. “A little bit.”
“And it’s someone I know.”
“Maybe.”
“Spill.”
The name was on the tip of my tongue, but if I said it, there might be smoke in the city. “You have to promise not to ask any questions.”
“You know that’s not me.”
I nodded. “Okay, it’s . . .”
Paityn’s phone rang, effectively saving the day. She frowned. “What’s up, Asa?”
My gaze flashed to her, and before I could stop myself, I asked, “Is he okay?”
Paityn eyed me, a frown on her face. Then, the first tear fell. And I knew.
“Baby Boy, I’m so sorry. Where are you?” She wiped her cheek, but the tears were falling unchecked. “I’m coming to you.”
My throat closed as dread and sadness expanded in my chest.
“Okay,”—she nodded rapidly—“okay. I’ll see you in a bit.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“Gemma?” Her chin trembled. “She’s dead.”