Chapter 27 Ashton
ASHTON
It’s that man who walks into the darkest chapter of your life and refuses to let you stay there alone . . . the same one who’s shown you in a million little ways he’ll always be there . . .
When you find him, don’t let go. When you find him, you’ve found the one.
—Ashton’s Secret Thoughts
“How long has she been out?” I hear Finn ask Jamie and open my eyes.
I haven’t been out. Jamie keeps hounding me to sleep, but every time I close my eyes, I see that man on the floor at my feet.
Kinda makes sleeping hard when the nightmare starts before you’re out.
“Hey there, Carmichael. I was just checking in. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been stuck in a hospital for two days, Murphy. When are you going to break me out and take me home?” I push, hoping maybe he’ll give me a different answer than Jamie has. If I thought Jameson Murphy was protective before, I’ve discovered just how many layers there are to that word now.
Jamie’s brought it to a whole other level.
Not that I’m complaining.
“I saw Kenzie earlier, and she said she spoke with your ortho. I think we may be springing you later today, but don’t tell anyone I told you.” He leans over and kisses my forehead, then smiles at Jamie and me. “Kenz said the little man is doing great.”
“She was in this morning,” I tell him and smile at Jamie. “Want to show him the ultrasound?”
Jamie grabs the image off the dresser and hands it to Finn. “Still a little smaller than Kenzie wants, but she said he’s perfect.”
“He’s waving . . . Peacocking already, just like his daddy.” Finn’s smile stretches across his face. “He’s beautiful, Ash.”
“Just like his mother,” Jamie adds.
I settle into Jamie’s arms and try closing my eyes again. It’s not sleep, but it’s rest, and I’m exhausted.
“Yeah . . . Listen, there’s somebody here to see you.”
“What?” I ask. “I didn’t think anyone other than family knew I was here. And I thought we said—”
“She knew,” Finn stops me, and Jamie takes my hand in his.
She . . . Delaney.
“Oh . . . Umm . . . I don’t know what to say,” I admit, my emotions mixed and rioting.
“You don’t have to say anything, Ashton.” Jamie’s hand runs up and down my arm, relaxing me. “It’s your call, Ace. But she’s the reason we found you.”
I’m not sure I’ve wrapped my head around any of this yet, least of all the fact that I have a sister, and she may have saved my life. “Could you let her in, Finn?”
Jamie presses his lips to mine. “I love you, and I’m right here. If you want her to leave, say the word, and I’ll escort her out.”
“I love you too, charmer.”
Finn walks back in with who I’m guessing is Delaney Rousseau behind him.
And oh my God, she looks like Evan. His light-brown hair.
His high cheekbones. The freckles on her face.
I’m looking at my brother—if he were my sister—and my heart stutters in my chest. “Hey, Jamie, you want to come get some coffee with me?”
I squeeze Jamie’s hand, still deciding whether I’m comfortable or not. “No, he doesn’t, Finnegan.”
“You can go now, Dr. Murphy. She’s not scared of me, and I didn’t come here to hurt her.
” Delaney shoos Finn away like a stray cat, and I laugh, actually laugh for the first time since leaving Sweet Temptations Saturday morning.
She waits for the door to close behind my best friend before looking at Jamie.
“You sure you don’t want to grab coffee? ”
“I’m good,” he tells her, and she shifts from foot to foot.
“You are certainly surrounded by gorgeous men,” she tells me, and I bite back another laugh.
“Wow. I mean, I just met the woman who saved my life and who, apparently, is my long-lost sister, like from some crazy soap opera, and the first thing she tells me is my fiancé and best friend are hot. I guess that’s one direction you could go.
” I smile and sit up further, careful not to move my braced leg.
“I’m a little awkward when I’m nervous,” she admits, and this time, it’s Jamie’s turn to laugh.
“Look, Ace, you’ve got that in common.”
“Maybe you should go get that coffee,” I tease, and he looks at me like he’s shocked. Yeah, charmer, that makes two of us. “I think I’m okay.”
“Really?” he asks, concern crystal clear on his handsome face. He’s barely left this room since I was brought in. His parents have kept Kyrie for us, and Jamie’s stayed by my side for the entire two days.
“There’s a guard outside my door, Jameson. She can’t exactly kidnap me.”
“Way too soon, beautiful.” He kisses my forehead and looks at Delaney. “I owe you my life.”
“You really don’t. But I’ll take a coffee if you feel like grabbing an extra.” Jamie nods and walks out of the room, and Delaney takes her time turning around. “Well . . . this isn’t awkward at all.”
“They said you saved my life.” I decide starting with the truth always works.
“Yeah well, I always wanted a sister.” She rolls her eyes and drags the pleather lounge chair over next to the bed, then tucks her feet under herself as she sits down and looks at me.
She looks at the brace on my knee and the bruise on my face and the swell of my stomach and shakes her head.
“He’s a bad man, Ashton. I make jokes when I’m nervous, but he’s a bad man.
He and your mom have been together on and off my whole life.
Even when he was with my mom. But it was only this past year that they became inseparable.
And it was only after Kyrie was born, and the fights about her paternity became a regular thing, when I started putting the pieces of the puzzle together. ”
“I never knew,” I admit quietly, still ashamed that so much of my life has been a lie and I had no clue.
“Master manipulators,” she murmurs. “Both of them. Thank God, when they got high, they got loud, or I don’t think I would have ever known.”
“Jamie said you tried to warn me,” I tell her, bits and pieces of him filling me in flash back in my mind like an old home movie. Shock and pain dulling the memories more than any pill ever could.
“I did. I called for weeks, but you never picked up. I had no idea where you lived or if you worked. When your mom talked about you . . . well, I thought you were a spoiled brat. I figured you were in some penthouse in the city. Although that house you’re in now is really nice, and your roommates are really pretty to look at. ”
“That they are.” I run my hands over my belly. “And two of the three are fair game. So do with that what you will.”
“Thanks, but they’re not the ones I’d like a relationship with.”
“Oh . . .” Ohhh . . . “Wow. I . . .”
“Ohmygod . . . Please forget I said that. It was so lame. Too lame. Why would you want to be friends with the daughter of the man who kidnapped you? I can’t believe—just ignore me.
Please. I mean, I’m glad you’re doing better.
You’re okay. And maybe if it’s okay with you, I could keep in touch with Kyrie. But you and me . . . We . . .”
“Delaney,” I say firmly. “I’d like that too.”
“Really?” She smiles, and my heart settles.
“Yes. Really. But I should warn you, chaos follows me.”
Her eyes flash with excitement. “I should probably warn you I tend to manifest violence.”
I laugh, never having heard anyone else use that phrase.
“I think we’re going to get along just fine,” I tell her, unable to stop thinking that somehow, someway, Evan is who brought us together. I know it was a series of insane events, in all actuality. But in my heart, I know it was Evan.