24. Ash

TWENTY-FOUR

"Brooks!" Atlas groans out loudly from his spot behind the convention table. "Man, if you don't come and sit the fuck down, I'm coming over there and tickling you. You're scaring off the people." The large, bear-like man in question looks over at us with his dark green eyes zeroing in on Atlas.

"I don't get paid to sit on my ass, Mr. Hart." Not only does he look like a bear, his voice sounds like one. Deep, irritated, and commanding. Brooks is the most intimidating man I've ever met, and that's saying something, considering my size and the three overly large men I work with. But none of us compare to the six-foot-six giant that is Brooks. Seriously, his arms might be bigger than my thighs.

"Don't call me that!" Atlas scoffs. "My name is Atlas." Brooks rolls his eyes before looking at Derek and Fox. Derek shrugs, seemingly annoyed about Brooks being here, and Fox chuckles.

"We're just a lot more laid back than I think you're used to." Brooks nods and continues to survey the crowd.

"Ms. Pierce didn't hire me to be laid back. I'm here to ensure no one tries to start anything with you." Derek lets out an annoyed laugh.

"Right, because we're incapable of taking care of ourselves."

"Well, considering that your career could end if anything happened to those pretty little hands, I'd say you could use the help," he mutters before shrugging his massive shoulders. Derek slams his notebook down and stands up as if ready to square off with the large man before deciding against it and turning to walk the other way, muttering he"d be back later.

Atlas walks over and pats Brooks on the shoulder. It's weird watching Atlas having to look up to meet someone's gaze. "Some of us aren't as receptive to having new friends. I, for one, feel much safer knowing you're guarding my body." I snicker and shake my head as Brooks looks like he's trying to decide if what he's getting paid is enough to deal with Atlas all weekend.

None of us are overly thrilled with Brooks being here, not that there"s anything wrong with the man. In other circumstances, we'd all probably get along with him rather well. I think we all just feel like we can handle ourselves. But Janie wasn't too pleased with us after last year's convention when Atlas and I tried to start a grey sweatpants competition that resulted in a little bit of a brawl among the losers, and I may have broken my hand, making it impossible to tattoo for months. So, here we are with our babysitter.

Pulling out my phone, I open my messages. I haven't heard from Sunday today, and it's bothering me to be so far away from her, especially with the Josh issue still not resolved. If anything, Brooks should be standing guard out front of her apartment.

Me: knock knock

I smile when it only takes a few seconds for her to respond.

Sunshine: knock knock

Me: How are you feeling?

Sunshine: I'm alright, just a little sore. Though, I'm feeling off today.

Me: What's wrong?

Sunshine: I dunno. They adjusted my meds yesterday, and that, plus the surgery, could be causing a seizure to come on. It's hard to tell right now.

I frown while staring at the screen. I'm in Seattle, over a thousand miles away from her and Wade, and I hate it. I've never hated anything so much. I"m more stressed about not being near them than I am being away from Indy.

Me: Anyone with you?

Me: Besides Wade?

Sunday sends me a picture of Alice Cooper sleeping on her feet.

Sunshine: I need to pee, but every time I move, she hisses.

Me: Yeah, don't let her hurt those fine ass legs, that would be a travesty.

What the fuck. I smack myself in the face. Fine ass legs? I shouldn't be commenting on her legs.

Me: So, who's with you besides Alice?

Sunshine: You jealous or something, charming?

Well, I wasn't, but now that I'm thinking about it, she could have someone over.

Sunshine: No one. Indy's having a blue day, so I sent Wade to hang out with her and help her out.

Me: So, Wade's hopping between you and Indy?

Sunshine: Sort of? More like he's staying there and I'm texting him if I need help, which I don't.

Me: I'll be home tonight.

My phone starts ringing, and I see Sunshine on the screen.

"Sunshine. You miss my voice or something?" I ask, bringing the phone to my ear.

"You will not come home. You will stay there and do your damn job."

"Sun–"

"No, Ash, I'm serious. Indy is fine. Janie will be over there to stay with her after Stevie's done at Hel's."

"And you?" I ask, walking away from the noisy table so I can hear her better.

"I'm not your responsibility," she says.

"Sunday," I groan. "Come on."

"Stop it, Ash." Her voice sounds tired.

"Stop what?" I snap in a hushed tone. "Stop giving a shit about you?"

"Ideally, yeah, that would be awesome."

"Yeah, I agree. But apparently, that isn't happening how I want it to!" I grind out while running my free hand through my hair. I could hit myself for admitting that.

I hear her let out a tired breath. "Can you please stay there? If anything happens, I promise I'll tell you, and then you can come here and say you told me so. But please, stay there."

"Why?" I growl out in frustration. Why did I have to stay here? Why can't she let me come home and care for her and Indy?

"Because if you come home to take care of me, I'm going to feel more important to you than I am! So, stop it now before you start to hurt my feelings!" she snaps out before disconnecting the call. I stare down at the screen and let out a sigh. Sunday's quickly becoming one of the most important things in my life, and I'm tired of fighting it, of lying to myself and to her. I want to go home and take care of her because she is important to me, and I hate myself for letting her believe she's not.

"Hey, Ash!" Fox calls out my name. I turn to see him standing next to a man and woman, people interested in my work, I assume. I sigh before putting on a fake smile and walking back over to the table.

Sunshine: Knock knock

I smirkas I lay in the hotel bed and stare at Sunday's message. I haven't talked to her since the phone call hours ago, minus her saying that Janie showed up to help with Indy, which was literally her sending a "Janie is with Indy" message and nothing else. My anxiety has been through the roof, thinking she was mad at me or hurt or in trouble.

Me: Knock knock

Sunshine: What's worse than raining cats and dogs?

I raise a quizzical brow and shake my head.

Me: No idea

Sunshine: Hailing Taxis

Sunshine: Get it?

I chuckle as I read her message. She's so fucking cute, it's ridiculous. I hit the video call button, and she accepts, but the video is pointed at the ceiling.

"Hello?" I say as I hear shuffling.

"Two seconds!" she calls, "I'm naked!"

Well… this is an interesting development. "Oh no! Don't get dressed on my account! You stay comfortable."

Sunday grabs the phone so I can see her unamused face. "Funny," she deadpans. I notice her wet hair and bare shoulders.

"If you were naked, why did you answer?" I waggle my brows.

"Because it will take me two seconds to get dressed if you can stop being a pervert."

"Or!" I say as I walk over to the table and prop my phone up before taking off my shirt. "We could get naked together," I smirk as I make the muscles in my chest bounce.

"Charming, are you asking me for phone sex right now?" she asks. I was joking, but is she offering?

"What if I am?" I purr as I lean over the table to look at her.

"I would become concerned for your well-being," she says as she lays down in her bed. I'm reminded of her falling asleep on my shoulder the other night. I can't remember a time when I felt so relaxed.

"Why is that?" I give her a chuckle as she shrugs.

"You're at a convention in a big city; you could have any girl on your dick in seconds. Why would you want to rub one out over the phone?" I frown at her question.

"Because I don't want some random girl on my dick."

She lets out a loud laugh, "Ha! Since when?"

I shift uncomfortably in my seat as I glance at the floor, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Charming? Hey, look at me," she says, tapping her screen. I tense my jaw for a second before looking at the screen.

"Yeah, you're right," I mutter. "I should let you go; I'll see you in a couple of days."

"Ash, wai–"

"Good night, Sunday," I say as I end the call. What am I doing? Why in the fuck am I–

"Oh, just shut up," I groan out loud. Even my inner monologue is becoming annoying. We all know you like her; you just don't have the balls to try anything. I run my hands over my face in frustration before reaching for my shirt, deciding to go to the gym and work out some of the frustration.