Chapter 35
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Ashlyn
Sleep doesn’t come easily after Ben and Laney leave.
I toss and turn restlessly until daylight filters through the blinds in Ben’s room.
It’s been nearly two hours since they left, and I can’t help but wonder if they’ve made it to the hospital yet.
Ben said he’d call, but I’m not expecting to hear from him anytime soon.
He has enough to worry about with Molly and Laney.
With a sigh, I swing my legs over the side of the bed and grab my phone from the nightstand.
I scroll through my contacts until I find Wyatt’s number.
He’s probably not going to love an early call on a Sunday morning, but out of all my brothers, he’s the most likely to answer.
Nash might be working, Cade will have his hands full with Hunter, and Seb’s probably still asleep after a late shift at Eden.
I hold the phone to my ear as it rings… and rings. Just when I’m sure it’s about to go to voicemail, a sleepy voice finally answers.
“Ash?” Wyatt says, his voice rough with sleep. “You okay?”
“I’m sorry for calling so early,” I say, feeling a little guilty. “Can you come pick me up from Ben’s place in River Falls?”
There’s a pause, and then he sounds more alert. “Why? Did you two argue? Do I need to come kick his ass?”
“What? No!” I laugh softly, though there’s not much humor in it. “Nothing like that. His wife was rushed to the hospital. He and Laney drove to Phoenix and I’m stuck here without my car.”
“Damn,” he mutters. “I’m sorry. Give me ten minutes to get out the door. Text me the address.”
“Thanks, Wyatt. That’s twice you’ve rescued me this week. I owe you.”
He chuckles. “Don’t worry. I’ll collect when the time’s right.”
We end the call, and I quickly send him Ben’s address before tossing my phone back onto the bed. I jump in the shower and brush my teeth before throwing on some clothes and heading downstairs to wait.
About twenty minutes later, my phone buzzes. Wyatt’s name flashes on the screen.
“Hey,” I answer, bringing the phone to my ear.
“I’m outside,” he says.
“Be right there.”
I hang up, grab a bottle of water from the fridge, and head through the entryway. Outside, Wyatt’s car is parked in the driveway. I raise a hand in greeting as I jog toward him. Opening the passenger door, I climb in and give him a tired smile.
“Hey. Thanks for coming to get me.”
“Of course,” he says easily. “Any word yet?”
I shake my head. “Not yet.”
I settle back into the seat of Wyatt’s ridiculously expensive sports car and close my eyes for a second, suddenly drained after a night of tossing and turning.
I can’t even imagine how exhausted Ben must be.
He’d only just gotten back from Phoenix, and a few hours later, he was driving there again.
Part of me wishes he’d let me go with him, but I understand why he didn’t.
“Hey, sleepyhead. You’re home,” Wyatt’s voice cuts through my half-sleep as the car slows to a stop.
“Ugh,” I groan, dragging a hand down my face. “I didn’t mean to pass out on you.”
“It’s fine,” he says. “You needed it. Now get inside and get some sleep. You look wrecked.”
“Wow. Thanks,” I deadpan.
He laughs. “What are big brothers for?”
I smile, tired but grateful. “You’re the best, you know.”
He waves me off. “Come by for lunch later, yeah? Mom’s probably cooking up something, and you shouldn’t be by yourself today.”
“Yeah.” I nod. “I might do that. Thanks again, Wyatt.”
“Stop thanking me,” he says with a grin like it’s no big deal.
Leaning over, I press a quick kiss to his cheek. “See you later.”
He taps the steering wheel lightly. “Later, Ash.”
I manage a few restless hours of sleep, but I keep waking up, checking my phone for missed calls. There’s nothing, though, and with a heavy sigh, I remind myself of the old saying: No news is good news. God, I hope that’s true right now.
Forcing myself out of bed, I pull on a pair of sweats and make my way to the living room. I drop onto the sofa, the silence in my apartment pressing down on me so heavily it’s almost deafening.
I stare at my phone for a minute before pulling up Ivy’s number. Wyatt mentioned dinner at my parents’ place, and I could use having my friends and family around today. Maybe she’ll come with me.
She answers on the second ring, a little breathless. “Hey, Ash!”
I frown. “What are you doing? Sounds like you’re running a marathon.”
She laughs. “Almost. I’m vacuuming the stairs.”
“And that’s got you out of breath?” I tease.
“Hey! You live in an apartment,” she shoots back. “How often do you vacuum stairs?”
I grin. “I don’t.”
“Exactly. Don’t judge me,” she says playfully. “You know cardio’s not my thing.”
“Fair enough,” I reply, smiling to myself.
“What’s up? You’re interrupting my groove here.”
I exhale slowly. “Ben and Laney had to leave for Phoenix early this morning. Molly’s sick.”
“Shit,” she says, all humor gone from her voice. “What happened?”
“Some infection they couldn’t get under control at the care facility. She’s been admitted to the hospital.”
“Have you heard from Ben?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you want me to come over?”
“I’m going to my parents’ place for dinner. Want to come? I mean, I don’t want to mess with your vacuuming schedule,” I add, teasing lightly.
She huffs a laugh. “The vacuum can wait. I’m not missing out on Mama Brookes’ cooking. I’m in.”
Relief washes over me. “Perfect. I’ll pick you up in an hour. That enough time?”
“Yep. I’ll hop in the shower now. See you soon.”
“See you soon,” I say, ending the call and setting my phone down, feeling a little lighter than I had a few minutes ago.
By the time I’m meant to pick Ivy up, there’s still no word from Ben.
I stare at my phone more times than I can count, tempted to text him, just to say I’m thinking about him.
It wouldn’t be a lie. He’s all I’ve thought about all morning, and the not knowing is slowly driving me crazy.
But I hold back. He probably needs space right now, and the last thing I want is to crowd him.
Pulling up outside Ivy’s house, I tap the horn lightly. Seconds later, she comes flying out the front door and down the steps, sliding into the passenger seat beside me.
“Any news?” she asks, her tone careful.
I shake my head, reversing out of her driveway. “Nothing.”
She reaches over and gives my hand a gentle squeeze, offering silent support.
“I keep wondering if I should message him,” I say, my words rushing out. “I don’t want him to think I don’t care, but I don’t want to bother him either. I just… I don’t know what the right thing is.”
She squeezes my hand again. “Take a breath, Ash,” she says quietly. “You’re not going to bother him. You care about him, and he knows that. A simple message won’t overwhelm him. It might even help.”
I nod, pulling in a slow breath to steady myself. “You’re right,” I say, grateful for her calm. “I’ll text him when we get to my parents’ place.”
As we pull into the driveway, I spot Wyatt’s car and can’t help but smile, remembering Ivy’s comment last night about her old crush on him.
I haven’t teased her nearly enough about that, probably because I had no clue back then, but now seems like the perfect opportunity and a welcome distraction from Ben and what’s happening.
“Oh, by the way,” I say casually, putting the car into park. “Wyatt’s here.”
“Okay…” she replies slowly, her brows knitting. “I kind of figured he would be. He lives here.”
I nod, trying to keep a straight face. “Right. Just thought I’d give you a heads-up. You know, in case you need to mentally prepare yourself.”
Her head whips around, her eyes narrowing. “Prepare myself for what?” She trails off as realization dawns. With an exasperated laugh, she swats at my shoulder. “You’re such a brat. This is about what I said to Laney last night, isn’t it?”
I nod, grinning like an idiot. She groans and rolls her eyes.
“Ash, I was sixteen! It was a dumb crush.”
“Yeah,” I say, dragging out the word dramatically. “But you never told me! We could’ve been sisters if you’d married Wyatt.”
She gives me a look like I’ve completely lost it. “And that right there is exactly why I never said anything,” she says with a laugh. “You’d have made it your life’s mission to set us up. Besides, Wyatt didn’t even know I was alive back then. He still doesn’t.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Oh my God. You still like him!”
“No!” she insists, shaking her head. “I just meant he’s never looked at me that way.”
I grin even wider. “Well, he might’ve if he’d known you were into him.”
The color drains from her face. “Ash, do not tell him. I swear, I’ll kill you. That would be beyond embarrassing. I was just a kid.”
I raise my hands in surrender. “Relax. You’re my best friend. I’d never do that to you.”
She exhales in relief and slumps back in her seat. “Thank you. Now, can we please change the subject?”
I glance down at my phone sitting in the center console, my chest tightening. “Yeah… I should text Ben.”
She watches me for a second. “You okay?”
I nod, but it’s more for her benefit than mine. “Yeah. I’ll message him now.”
But when I pick up my phone, I just sit there, staring at the blank screen. My thumb hovers over it, motionless.
“Ash,” Ivy prompts gently when I’m still frozen a minute later.
I let out a shaky breath. “What if she dies, Ivy?”
Without hesitating, she reaches over and wraps her fingers around mine. “Then you’ll be there for him. For both of them.”
I shake my head faintly. “I don’t know how to do that.”
She sighs softly, squeezing my hand. “None of us do until we have to.”
I nod slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat.
Finally, I unlock my phone, find Ben’s name in my messages, and type out the words that have been stuck in my chest all morning.
Me: Hey, Ben. Just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you and Laney. I love you.
My finger lingers over the send button, my stomach in knots.
I want him to reply so badly, but at the same time, I’m scared of what he might say.
If Molly doesn’t make it… I don’t know how to handle that.
And I hate that part of me is even thinking about myself right now.
This isn’t about me. But the truth is, I’ve never lost anyone before.
I’ve never stood beside someone who has.
I have no idea what to say or how to be there for him, and that terrifies me.