Chapter 9 #2
Running her hands through her wet hair, Erika’s frustration flickers across her brow.
“God, that probably doesn’t make sense to anyone.
” She exhales slowly. “But if it was Dad, then he was right. Huck doesn’t pay for anything.
I can’t keep pretending that doesn’t matter.
I’d rather be alone than be stuck with someone who can’t even do his own laundry. He’s a manchild.”
He’s a useless piece of shit is what he is. I put my house on it that he wasn’t just sexting girls, I guarantee he’s physically met up with a few, and on more than one occasion.
I’m so proud that Erika finally woke up, or she would have been stuck with that soul-sucking leech of a man for the rest of her life.
Erika’s determination to make things right is unwavering when she tells her mom, “I’ll repay every cent you contributed toward the wedding.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Judy counters firmly.
She hooks her arm into Erika’s as she guides her daughter down the last step.
“You were adamant that you would pay for most of it yourself. Now stop talking nonsense, and I think we could all use a cup of coffee.” She turns to me, pointing in the direction of the kitchen, as if asking me to turn on the kettle.
“On it.” I walk toward my kitchen. “Make yourselves comfortable in the living room.”
“I’ll help you.” Lily follows me.
When I look back over my shoulder, I see Ash being pulled along by Lily, who’s scowling at him, nudging his ribs, and then pointing at me.
“Everything okay?” I ask, confused that they wouldn’t want some private time with Erika to learn more about how she’s handling today’s fallout.
“Everything’s fine.” Lily flashes a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
I narrow my focus. “I know that smile. You’re up to something.” Lily and Ash have been married for over twenty years, and I’ve spent enough time around Lily to tell when she’s lying.
“We’re good. Everything’s fine. Great, actually. Perfect.” She sounds breezy, but her words are tight as she enters my kitchen and toes off her high heels before pulling five mugs out of the cabinet.
Lily helped me reorganize my kitchen after the last cookout I hosted. When she told me that all my cupboards were filled in the wrong order and nothing flowed well, she offered to rearrange it, and now she knows her way around my home better than I do.
“So.” Ash pulls out one of my barstools and sits on it.
Lily stops what she’s doing and leans on the kitchen island I spend too many nights eating alone around.
Ash and Lily look at each other before she encourages Ash to speak. “Tell him, Ash, or I will.” She tilts her head toward me and taps her fingers on the marble surface.
“Tell me what?” I ask, my brows furrowing as I have no idea what’s going on with them, but they both look like a pair of conspirators. I don’t like it. “Is one of you sick?” I ask. Fuck, please don’t let that be true. I couldn’t live without either of them.
“Of course not.” Lily dismisses my genuine concern.
Thank fuck for that. “Are you pregnant again then?”
“Oh, hell, no. Three is more than enough. My vagina is only just recovering from having Blaze.”
“Feels fine to me.” Ash grins, winking at her deviously.
I shake my head and fake gag. “I do not need to hear about my friend’s wife’s vagina.”
Lily bursts out laughing. “Sorry.” There is not a hint of sincerity in her tone.
“What’s up then? Did something happen?” I ask quickly. If they don’t tell me in the next thirty seconds, I might have a fucking heart attack. The suspense is killing me.
“Something did happen.” Ash scratches his beard, the black lily tattoos on his fingers sharply contrasting with the crisp white cuffs of his shirt.
While Ash might think I’m soft-hearted, he’s the true sentimental fool between us.
Although he resembles a bear, his old hockey nickname, underneath that tough exterior, he’s all heart.
Proof? The lilies inked across his skin, each representing a year he and Lily have been married.
Ash finally responds, “My sister ran out on her fiancé and made one of the biggest and best decisions of her life today. That happened.”
“That’s not new news,” I counter. “So, what is it?”
He exhales sharply, appearing uneasy as he rubs at the back of his neck.
I’ve never seen him look so uptight.
“Ash, spit it out,” Lily pushes.
“Okay,” he pauses for a beat as if he’s trying to work out what he wants to tell me. “I think Erika should go on her honeymoon.”
Is that it? “I agree.” It would help her clear her head. I’m gutted that I won’t get to see her for a few weeks, but she needs space and time to heal emotionally.
“With you,” Ash adds, delivering it like a comedian’s punchline, only it’s not funny.
A billion confusing thoughts race through my mind, and all that escapes my mouth is, “What?” Then, “Why?”
Without hesitation, he replies, “Because I think now is the time that you tell my sister that you have feelings for her and have had them… for years.”
What the fuck?