Chapter 31
31
ASHER
When Blair distracted Summer, I glanced in the direction she’d been staring. She’d seemed on edge for some reason. When I realized who she’d been looking at, my heart ached.
Robert Warner.
The man who’d lost his wife in a car accident. He was gazing out over the tarn, looking as lost as a little boy. Poor guy. I could still remember the sound of his cries and screams when he’d realized the love of his life was dead.
It broke my heart.
We’d lost too many patients during my years as a paramedic, and seeing their grieving relatives always tore me up inside. I couldn’t help feeling like I should have done more.
On the few occasions when I managed not to go down that rabbit hole, I instead found myself wondering who would cry for me if my dangerous job or hobbies ever caught up with me.
My parents and sisters, for sure. My friends too. But if I was dating someone—like Summer—they’d be the one whose life was most turned upside down.
I watched as Robert sighed, and his shoulders slumped. His picnic blanket was empty except for a single bag. It seemed as though he’d come here alone. The back of my throat tightened. In the past, he must have come with Susan. Now, he’d never have her at his side again.
If something did happen to me, was I willing to leave someone in his shoes?
I forced my attention away from him and dug around in my backpack instead, pulling out a couple bottles of water, a bag of sandwiches, a bar of chocolate, and two muffins from Taste of Destiny. Chocolate for me, and blueberry cinnamon for Summer.
“That looks good.”
I glanced up and only just managed not to pull a face. Frannie stood over me, and beside her, wearing a cat-with-the-cream expression, was Ashley Moore.
“Want some chocolate?” I offered Frannie, who’d always had a sweet tooth despite going through health food fad diets at least once a year.
She bit her lip. “I shouldn’t.”
I tore open the wrapping, broke off a piece and offered it to her. “Go on.”
She took it. “Oh, fine. You got me. Thanks.” She bit into it and smiled. “So good. So, Ash, you didn’t tell me that Ashley is back in town.”
“I didn’t think to mention it,” I replied, and she looked at me as though I’d mooned her.
“But perhaps the old flame could be rekindled,” she said, nibbling the edge of her piece of chocolate.
“What do you say?” Ashley winked. “Want to see if the embers can be brought back to life?”
Apparently, I wasn’t going to be getting away from her easily. “Ashley…”
“Perhaps we could meet up tomorrow to talk more privately?” she suggested. “After your hike with Liam is done, of course.”
“I don’t—”
“Unless you’re already seeing someone else?” she said, shooting a meaningful look at Summer, who was talking to Blair.
My heart skipped. I narrowed my eyes. How the hell had she guessed what was going on between us? And would she mention anything in front of both our families? I didn’t like to think so, but Ashley had always been unpredictable.
“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. “Tomorrow. But it isn’t a date.”
“Don’t be rude,” Frannie chastened, her dark eyebrows drawing together.
Ashley just laughed and touched her arm. “Don’t worry, Frannie. Asher likes to tease, but I know not to take it seriously.”
Maybe you should , I tried to communicate with my eyes, but she either didn’t pick up on the unspoken message or she willfully ignored it.
“What’s been going on with you lately?” I asked Frannie, purposefully diverting the conversation. “We didn’t get a chance to talk much earlier.”
She shrugged. “Same as usual. I’ve just been taking care of Marcy and trying to snatch sleep where I can.” She shook her head. “I’m obviously not getting enough of it though, because I keep misplacing things this week, and I could have sworn I heard Dean outside while I was making breakfast this morning, but when I checked, he was still in bed.”
My gut twisted. I knew how hard it was to function when you weren’t sleeping well. “If you ever need me to babysit for a night or two, just let me know. I’m happy to watch Marcy so you guys can have some time to yourselves and get a good night’s sleep.”
Frannie smiled tiredly. “Thanks, Ash. I don’t think we’re quite ready to be away from her yet, but maybe I’ll take you up on that in a month or two.”
“Whenever you need is fine with me.”
A guitar strummed behind us, and I sat back and turned away from Frannie and Ashley. Blair had brought out his guitar, which he’d lugged all the way up here—although God only knew why—and his fingers deftly played the strings, striking up a lighthearted tune.
I offered Summer a sandwich, but she shook her head, and began to sing instead. I closed my eyes, letting her voice wrap around me, but then forced them open again. Much as I loved reveling in the sensuality of her singing, I wanted to watch her too.
Her lips curved upward, and she radiated a type of carefree joy that I didn’t often see from her. She sang an upbeat Six60 song about roots and family, and when she reached the chorus, the other Braddocks joined in.
She swayed with the music and grinned at Blair, who smiled back, his shaggy hair flopping over his forehead. For once, I wasn’t eaten up by jealousy because of their interaction. Somehow, in my gut, I knew that Summer was mine. I had nothing to worry about when it came to him.
“She’s very talented,” Ashley murmured, loud enough for only Frannie and I to hear.
Frannie tapped her foot to the beat. “She always has been.”
Ashley sent me another knowing look, and then stalked away, back to whichever group she’d arrived with.
Summer and Blair finished their song to enthusiastic applause. Summer gave a little bow and Blair called for requests. Someone yelled out the name of another Six60 song, and he started to play.
I shook my head, amused. He must have done some research between now and last time he’d visited. He hadn’t known any of the iconic kiwi band’s songs then. I passed around the chocolate and sandwiches, making sure to keep some aside for Summer, along with her muffin.
After a few songs, Summer stopped singing and gratefully accepted a sandwich. She ate while Blair played, and before long, we were one of the last groups remaining by the lake.
When Blair packed away his guitar, I decided I’d better do the same with my gear and began to wrap the food and pack it away. The others followed suit. Toby had left earlier with a group of guys his age, and Nate was dozing on the blanket with Tess sitting cross-legged beside him, reading.
Liam nudged Nate’s shoulder to wake him and he blinked sleepily and sat up.
“Time to go?” he asked.
“Pretty much,” Liam replied.
Groggily, he sat up and stretched, then got to his feet and stepped off the blanket. I shook off the loose tussock and mud from the blanket and folded it away. Once my bag was packed, I slipped my arms through the straps and waited for Max and Dean to lead the group down the hill.
I waited to take up the rear, where I knew Summer would be, so she didn’t strain her sore ankle. Hopefully she hadn’t overdone it today. By unspoken agreement, we paused until the rest of the group was far enough ahead that we could speak in private before we trailed after them.
“What was that about with Ashley?” Summer asked.
I grimaced. “She wants to meet up tomorrow.”
She pursed her lips and gave me the evil eye. “And you said…?”
“I agreed.”
“Ash—”
“Wait,” I interrupted. “I agreed because she seems suspicious of you and me, and I didn’t want her to say anything about it. I made sure she knows that tomorrow isn’t a date.”
She scowled. “I don’t like it.”
Honestly, neither did I.
“I promise, everything is over between her and me,” I told her, brushing the back of my hand against hers as we walked.Ashley didn’t really want me. She’d made it clear when we broke up that I wasn’t giving her the time and attention she needed. She’d just temporarily forgotten that.
Summer huffed. “It’d better be.”