26. Ash

TWENTY-SIX

Ashiver runs through me, causing me to look up from my tablet, where I'm working on a design for a client, to see my best friend's green eyes staring intently at me. "Atlas, I love you, brother, but I'm going to poke you in the eye if you don't knock off whatever this is."

"You look different," Atlas states, still staring. "I can't figure out what it is." I give him a noncommittal shrug as I go back to my sketch.

"Dunno. These are new clothes." I gesture to my blue jeans and a hooded sweatshirt that are a little too warm, but the massive hickey and literal bite mark on my neck would definitely raise some questions. Fuck, last night was so good. Like, best I'll ever have, and that's saying something because car sex is more fun in theory. Not with Sunday, though. That girl folded into a pretzel and gripped my knees to fuck me, and I swear my soul left my fucking body.

I jump as I see the mass of red curls. "H-hey, Mama J." I smile nervously, suddenly feeling like I'm in trouble. Her deep blue eyes narrow, and her lips purse.

"What's up, Ash?" she asks, and I know she knows exactly what's up. I'm a dead man.

"Nothing? Hey, did you know you have this one freckle on your lip there?" I hear a drawer slam shut, and I look up to see Fox glaring at me.

"Continue that thought, fucker," he warns. "And you'll never have sex again."

I hold my hands up in surrender. "She came at me!" I state and go to point at Janie when I notice she"s now behind me. "What are you doing?"

"Oh my god!" she gasps as she pulls down my hoodie neckline. "Atlas, he's been bitten."

Atlas drops his paper towel roll. "And you weren't going to tell us?" he breathes out, his voice going hoarse. "You were going to let the infection spread? I have a wife, man… a wife with a baby on the way." He shakes his head before looking up at the ceiling. "Just close your eyes and think of your happy place. I'll make this quick."

I flip him off and go to get up, but Atlas tackles me to the ground. "Get off of me, you hippo!" I grunt while he fights me to see the bite.

"Shhh! Just look at the flowers!" he coos while gripping my hoodie and ripping it over my head. He cheers in triumph as he holds it up like a trophy.

"Holy fuck!" His eyes go wide. "A zombie really did bite you!" I shove him away while hopping off the floor.

"Thanks, big mouth," I mutter to Janie, who has her shit-eating grin on.

"So, who is she?" Atlas chuckles while tossing me my hoodie. "I thought you didn't do biting." I shrug uncomfortably.

"I don't usually; it was just kind of a qui—" I stop when my eyes land on my sister walking slowly out of the back. Her face is deep red with a flush and tear-stained. I can see the wet spot on her pants, and she looks like she's losing her ability to stand upright. She's relapsing.

"Indy, okay," I say as I grab my bag. "This is enough. You need to go to the hospital." I'm about to help her when her legs give out, and she falls. I watch as Derek, who had been grabbing some ink, drops the bottle. He reaches out and catches her, pulling her to his chest.

"Are you alright?" he breathes out, his hand touching the side of her neck. Indy shakes her head as she tries to inhale.

"Pink day," she cries, and Derek looks at me in confusion. I know what that means. She needs the hospital. I walk over and lift my sister up, carrying her out of Hel's and to my car.

"I'm sorry, Ash," she sobs, and I try to keep myself calm. Is this because she's always out working now? In the heat more? In public more? I feel so helpless, and it's weird because all I want right now is Sunday to be here to tell me it'll be okay. For her to explain the plans and to calm me down.

"It's alright," I say as I get her in the car. "Let's just get you some help."

Sunshine: knock knock

I stareat the unanswered text she sent me three hours ago. I want to text her, call her, and have her make me feel better. But that's not her job. She has a job and a kid. She doesn't need to be trying to heal some part of me.

I stare at my sleeping sister and let out a tired breath as I stand. I need an energy drink or something if I'm going to be up all night. Leaning over the bed, I kiss the top of Indy's head before walking out of the room and down to the gift shop.

"Ash!" I freeze when I hear her voice. Turning, I see Sunday jogging up to me. She's beautiful in her brown, baggy, off-the-shoulder sweater and dark red leggings.

"Sunday? What are you doing–oof!" She collides into me, wrapping her arms around my neck and embracing me.

"Is Indy okay?" she asks after a second before pulling out of the hug too soon.

"She will be. How did you know I was… Oh, Janie?" I roll my eyes as she nods. "Well, she's asleep and probably will be for most of the night, so I don't think you'll be able to talk to her."

"I didn't come to talk to Indy." Sunday's voice is so soft and sweet. "I came to check on you. You didn't respond to my text, and I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Why?" I laugh but stop when I see the almost hurt look on her face. "Fuck, that was a dick move. Sorry."

She waves her hand. "It's fine, I just…" She lets out an exaggerated breath. "Boy, this is awkward again."

"No, no, no," I say as I pull her in for another hug. "Not awkward. Thank you. I really needed this. It means a lot to me that you got a ride all the way from the apartment to come see me."

"Well, not the apartments. I was just a few blocks away, actually." I frown and look down at her.

"What are you doing around this area this late?"

She shrugs nonchalantly. "Job interview."

"Job interview? I thought you were remodeling the dance studio."

She nods while scratching her head. "I am, but that's expensive, and so is living at the apartments. So, I went to an interview at Spades." I can feel it when my face falls.

"The strip club?" Her flinch tells me I might've said that too loudly.

"Yeah, I kind of have experience with it." She laughs, but I'm finding zero humor in my girl dancing on stage in front of strange men.

My girl?

When the fuck did I cross that bridge? "I, uhhh…" I cough to clear my throat. "What about Wade? Where will he be? Have you thought about that?"

Annoyance creeps into her face. "Well, I assumed I'd put the boy in the corner booth to play with his video games while his mama gives lap dances for twenties. That is what strippers with kids do, right? Bring them up in the sinner lifestyle."

"Wait, what? No. Sunday, stop." I grab her by her upper arm to stop her from leaving.

"Sorry, this is just a lot, and it's been a long day. I'm fried and saying all the wrong things. I just meant, do you need someone to watch him? Or do you need some–"

"That's your one," she warns. "You can only offer me money one time. After that, I won't talk to you again."

"Why?"

"I'm not a charity case. I don't want pity, and I'm perfectly capable of working. I don't really want to go back to that job either. There's nothing wrong with it, but it does drain you." She laughs shortly. "And I feel drained enough. But the money will help get me the contractor work needed for the studio without me having to scrape by." I perk up.

"Contractor work?"

"Yeah, the place needs remodeling, and like I said, that's really expensive. Why are you smirking?"

I laugh lightly. "Sunshine, it"s only expensive if you have to hire a crew." She raises a brow.

"Well, I sure as shit can't do it."

"No, but I can. And so can the guys. Fox, Derek, and I all have carpentry backgrounds. Who do you think built the piercing studio in Hel's? Remodeled Fox and Janie's place as well as Atlas and Ren's. I mean, I love Atlas, but the man is dangerous with a power tool." She laughs lightly as she shifts from one foot to the other. "Look, if you want to work at Spades, that's your choice, and I'll support you. I won't like it, and I'll be taking you and picking you up every night, but I won't fight you as much as I have the urge to quite literally snarl and bare my teeth at every man who looks at you. But if you're only doing this because you need some help that the guys and I can give, then why not let us?"

"I'm still hung up on the whole snarling and teeth-baring thing." She scratches her head, and I groan.

"Yeah, I don't know what's happening there, to be completely honest. I haven't really allowed myself to delve into it." She laughs while patting my chest.

"Well, don't delve too deeply. I wouldn't want you to strain yourself." She goes to pull her hand back, but I grab her small wrist and hold her there.

"I like you." The words leave my mouth before I even have time to register what I'm saying. Sunday looks straight up at me and nods slightly.

"I know."

Really?

"Did you just Han Solo my ass?" She lets out a laugh so pure and beautiful that my knees go weak before pushing up on her tiptoes and kissing my cheek.

"I like you, too," she murmurs before grabbing my hand. "Now, let's go get you some caffeine, you look like shit."

"Wow, you are quite the panty dropper there, sunshine," I joke, and I watch as she looks at me playfully.

"Charming, do you want me to drop your panties?" I laugh at her familiar question. "Because I aim to please."