16. Asher

CHAPTER 16

ASHER

I’m being ridiculous,and I know I am, but that doesn’t stop me from sitting on the chair in the corner of my bedroom and watching Madelyn to make sure she’s breathing.

I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in all my life. I heard her screaming all the way from my office, and instantly, I took off running through the house. As I passed the kitchen, I don’t know how, but I saw her fanny pack sitting on the counter, and I grabbed it on the way out the door. Thank God I did.

I keep replaying the events of the day in my head, and I don’t know what I would do if something had happened to her. I could have lost her, and I just now found her.

My stomach clenches as I continue to watch her sleep. I know she said the last time this happened, she slept for three hours, and the closer we get to the three-hour mark, the more nervous I get.

When she starts to stretch her arms over her head, I finally let out a sigh of relief.

She throws off the covers, and I’m over to her in an instant. “You okay? What do you need?”

She blinks through her drowsiness. “I uh… have you been sitting there this whole time?”

I nod, watching her closely. She has some color back in her cheeks. I’ve already inspected the bee sting on her arm, and even though it’s red, the swelling is very minimal.

“How long did I sleep?”

I don’t have to look at my phone or a clock. “Two hours and thirty-five minutes.”

Her eyes widen, and she starts to get up. I help her, and she holds her hands up. “I just need to use the bathroom.”

I walk with my arm around her waist. “I can carry you.”

She keeps going. “I can walk.”

Once we’re in the bathroom, she stops next to the commode. “Uh, can I get some privacy?”

“What if—”

She puts her hands at my waist and laughs. “I am not peeing in front of you, Asher. I’m fine.”

I ram my hand through my hair. “Okay, fine.” I start to back out of the door. “I’m going to leave the door cracked. Just holler if you need me. I’ll be in the bedroom.”

She’s nodding, and I take a deep breath as I mostly close the door behind me.

Only a few minutes go by, and I hear her swear through the door. I call through the crack, “What is it? Want me to come in?”

“No!” she hollers. “I mean, I’m fine. Just give me a minute.”

There’s more noises coming from the bathroom, and I start to get worried. When she comes out, she heads straight for her clothes and picks them up. “I’m going back to my room.”

“Wait, hold up. What’s happening?”

She shrugs and won’t look me in the eye. “Nothing. I just want to go back to my room.”

I put my hand on her chin and draw it up so she has to look at me. “Don’t lie to me, Maddie. What’s going on?”

Her face turns a deep shade of red. “I started my period… I just need to go—”

I let out the breath I was holding and take the clothes she just picked up. “Shit, is that all? You scared me.”

She puts a hand on her hip. “Yeah, well, the thought of a woman bleeding scares the hell out of most men.”

I shake my head. What the hell kind of men has she put up with in the past? “Okay, so I’m going to go grab some supplies from your room. Some clothes and things and I’ll be right back. Do you want to shower?”

She tries to take her clothes out of my arms. “It will just be easier if I go back to my room.”

I should let her go, but I move to stand in front of her. “I’m not holding you here like you’re some kind of prisoner, but I’d like for you to stay.”

She stares at me like I have three heads. “Did you hear me? I started my period… I can’t… you know.”

I toss her clothes back on the chair and then reach for her, cupping her face in my hands. “First of all, I’m a little offended that you think I only want you around for sex. Second of all, honey, if you hadn’t almost died today, I would have you, and blood wouldn’t stop me.” I blow out a big breath and try to hold in my frustration and not take it out on her. “After today, I just want to take care of you. I want you close and in my bed so I can hold you… just so I know you’re okay.”

She starts to cry, and I curse myself. “Maddie, baby, please don’t cry.”

She waves me off. “It’s fine. I’m fine. I’m just emotional. Stupid hormones.”

I hold her to my chest. “You have every right to be emotional after the day you had.”

I stroke my hands up and down her back. “Come on.”

She sniffs and pulls back. “Where are we going?”

I tilt my head. “You said it would be easier if you went downstairs. I’m going to go down with you.”

She is staring a hole into my chest. “And then what?”

I loop my arms around her waist and lean back so I can see her face. “And then what? Well, I’m going to sit in there while you shower. Help you get dressed and then I’m going to lie down with you in bed.”

“You’re going to stay with me?”

Damn, she just doesn’t get it. “Yeah, I’m staying with you. I may order some food to be delivered so I don’t have to leave your side. We can do whatever you want. Read, watch TV, I don’t care. I just want to be with you.”

She searches my face, and there’s so much emotion filling her blue-green eyes. She leans her head into my chest and wraps her arms around my waist. “That sounds perfect.”

Resting my chin on her head, I tell her, “I can carry you.”

She laughs at that. “I can walk.”

This time when she’s about to walk away, she grabs my hand, and I walk with her through the house. “I’m sorry you’re missing work… I’m sorry I’m missing work.”

I just hold her tighter against my side.

When we get to her room, I help her into the bathroom, and then she kicks me out, telling me she’s got this.

I pace around her room for a few minutes before I kick my butt into action. I order some food on an app on my phone. I’m not sure what Maddie will want, so I order a bit of everything. It’s not like Beau won’t eat whatever is left over. I grab a T-shirt and panties from her drawer, and I’m holding them when Maddie opens the bathroom door. She reaches for the clothes, and I give them to her. “Need my help?”

She laughs. “I think I got it.”

She disappears into the bathroom, and I sit down on the edge of the bed. When she comes back out, fully covered, I hold my hands out to her. She comes easily, and I position her on my lap. “I ordered food, and it should be here soon.”

She leans her head against my chest. “I should probably warn you, Asher.”

I brush my hand through her soft strands. “Warn me about what?”

I can feel her lips on my neck as she talks. “You keep treating me like this and I’m not ever going to want to leave.”

My arms go around her a little tighter. I wait for panic to set in. It doesn’t. I wait for feelings of overwhelm, regret, fear, anything, but it never comes. The only thing I feel is hope and a warmth that settles in my chest. I clear my throat, hoping to hide my emotions. “Let’s get you back in bed.”

She gets up and moves to the side of the bed and starts pulling back covers. As she gets in, I pull them up over her. “What are you going to do?”

“Once the food gets here, I’m stripping down to my PJs and climbing into that bed next to you.”

She bites her lip. “You wear PJs?”

“Har har. Funny. I thought that sounded better than saying I’m going to get stripped down to my underwear.”

Her eyes light up. “I like you in your underwear.”

I lean over her and position my hand on each side of the headboard next to her head. “Yeah, well, I like you…”

She reaches up and cups my cheek. “I like you too, Asher Wild.”

Because I can’t hold back, I lean in to kiss her. I mean for it to be a simple kiss, but it turns into so much more. It’s full of emotion, what ifs, and silent promises. I have to force myself to pull away. It takes everything in me not to tell her what is weighing heavy on my heart because there’s no way she’s ready to hear that I’m falling in love with her.