by cpsmi
As soon as I’m told I can leave, Tyler demands a wheelchair for me, even though my legs are fine. He then carries me from the wheelchair to the Andovers’s car. Millie and Felicity drove down here to pick us up because Tyler left his truck at home so he could ride with me in the ambulance. Both women cluck approvingly at the over-the-top way he tends to me—first with the whole carrying me from door to door, then with the way he settled me into the car like a nervous mother hen.
“There’s dinner at home for you. Felicity and I whipped up a lasagna,” Millie says as she pulls away from the curb.
“We left it at Ashley’s,” Felicity says. “Figured, maybe…”
“It was a good call,” Tyler says.
I am hoping that I won’t have a problem going back to his house, but I guess only time will tell. Charlotte’s Cove crime rates are very different than Los Angeles, so it’s not like I don’t feel safe here. Still, I can’t deny that what happened with Rita was traumatic.
“Has the vet called with an update on Boo?” Millie asks.
Tyler nods. “They gave her some activated charcoal and ran an IV. They want to keep her overnight for observation but they tell me she’s going to be just fine. We’ll spoil her like crazy once she gets home.”
I can’t even explain how happy I am that Boo is okay. I could see the worry on Tyler’s face while he waited for news on her condition. Honestly, I was more worried about Boo than I was about myself once I knew I didn’t need surgery or a trillion stitches.
The drive home from the hospital doesn’t take long. Tyler carries me into the house and sets me up on the couch. Once I’m in place with a strict “don’t move” issued, he heads into the kitchen to dish out the lasagna. When he sits down next to me and starts fork feeding me, I almost die. He really is the best.
“I can feed myself,” I tell him softly.
He shrugs. “Maybe you can, but you’re not going to. I’m your man, it’s my job to take care of you.”
Sometimes you have to choose your battles. Instead of arguing, I let him feed me.
Two hours later, after he’s bathed me, dried my hair, and dressed me for the night, he settles me into bed before stripping down to his boxers. Because of my arm we’re on different sides of the bed. Turning onto his side, he stares down at me.
“I’ve been a cop for a decade,” he says. “Today was the first time I was ever terrified on the job. If something had happened to you…”
Lifting my good arm, I cup his cheek. “I’m okay. We’re okay.”
He thinks about that for a minute before he nods. “We’re okay now, yeah. Doesn’t change what went down earlier. Driving home from the marina, I cursed every mile that separated us. I knew how I felt for a while, but I didn’t want to rush it. Now, I know I went too slow. I love you, Ashley. So fuckin’ much.”
I’ve known that I was in love with him for weeks, and I’ve felt confident that those feelings were returned but hearing him say it makes everything perfect. I know I will never forget hearing him say the three sweetest and most beautiful words I’ve ever heard for the first time. “I love you too,” I answer, my voice rock steady.
That earns me a smile and a quick kiss. “That’s the best damn thing I’ve heard all day,” he says. “You’re stuck with me now.”
I smile dreamily. “I wouldn’t want it any other way,” I tell him.
As tough as today was, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’re going to be okay. Together, we’ll get through anything that comes our way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
____________________________________
ASHLEY
“BABE, I NEED you to wake up.”
Opening my eyes, I squint as I look to my right and see Tyler standing over my bed. He’s shirtless but wearing a pair of faded jeans. His damp hair tells me that he’s recently showered.
“Hi honey,” I murmur, my voice raspy.
“I’ve got good news.”
I smile sleepily. “Can we pick Boo up?”
“I talked to the vet and I’m going to go get her this afternoon. That’s not the big news, though. I just got off the phone with your cousin. He and his girl landed at Sea-Tac about twenty minutes ago and they’ll be heading here as soon as they get their luggage.”
His words wake me all the way up. I sit up quickly but then groan when I feel a sting of pain in my arm.
Tyler hisses out an alarmed sound as he steps forward and sets his hand down on my shoulder. “Fuck, babe, please be careful.”
“Sorry, I got excited and forgot for a second. It’s just that I can’t believe Rob’s coming! He never said a word.”
Tyler winces. “About that. This visit wasn’t pre-planned,” he says.
My stomach drops as the implication of his words hits me. “Oh shit,” I mutter. “Millie called Rob and told him what happened to me didn’t she?”
“She did,” he confirms, “but to be fair, a shitload of other people also called to tell him.”
“Did he sound okay?”
The look on Tyler’s face tells me the answer to that question is a solid no.
“He’s holding his shit together,” he hedges.
“Really?” I press.
“As much as he can, yeah. He’s clearly freaked. And I can’t fuckin’ blame him.”
“Crap, crap, crap. Not only is he going to be in full worrywart mode, he’s going to be upset that I didn’t call him last night.”
“I think he’ll be okay once he sees you,” Tyler assures me.
Maybe, but I doubt it. I know Rob—he’ll already be thinking he could’ve prevented what happened with Rita if he were here. Just like Tyler was yesterday, he’s wrong. Sometimes people do bad things and there’s nothing any one person can do to stop something once it’s already in motion.
When Rita cornered me in Tyler’s kitchen last night I realized her biggest issue isn’t that she’s a bitch. It’s that she’s completely devoid of normal emotion and I don’t believe there’s a fix for that.
“Will you help me get dressed and ready so I don’t look like crap when he gets here?”
Tyler chokes out a laugh. “I’ll help you but babe, you gotta know that you don’t look like crap.”
“Sureee,” I drawl.
“Trust me,” he says, his voice low. “I had a hard time keeping my hands off you when I woke up this morning. Laid in bed and stared at you for a good five minutes before I had to head to the shower to take care of myself.”
Just like that all thoughts about how I look fade away. The thought of him naked, wet, and jerking off in my shower just spiked my temperature. “Why didn’t you wake me up?” I pout.
Tyler gives me a horrified look. “You got fuckin’ stabbed yesterday and you’ve got stitches.”
Seeing his point, I nod. “Thank God I’m a quick healer because I’m not sure how many days I’ll be able to keep my hands off you.”
“Sweet, funny, beautiful, and so sexy I can barely keep up. How’d I get so lucky?”
I giggle as he holds out his hand to help me up from the bed. “It wasn’t luck—it was that mysterious matchmaking club.”
Tyler’s rumble of laughter is music to my ears. “That they decided to help get us together is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“The luckiest?” I ask.
“Absofuckinglutely,” he answers.
_______________
AS SOON AS Tyler opens the front door to let Rob and Karen into the house, I get choked up. They are the only part of my life in Los Angeles that I have truly missed and I’m overjoyed that they’re here. Texting, talking on the phone, and FaceTime chats aren’t the same as seeing them every day. Keeping my sore arm at my side, I extend the good one to hug first Rob and then Karen before I make quick introductions between them and Tyler. Once that’s done, Rob turns his full attention to me. The expression on his face and the tired smudges beneath his eyes tell me that he’s been freaking out.
“Why didn’t
you call me last night?” he asks, his tone stern.
“I swear I planned to call you as soon as I got up this morning,” I hasten to assure him. “I should’ve known Millie would get ahold of you before that.”
“If she hadn’t called me, hearing about the situation from you this morning would’ve gone over like a lead balloon. We’re family,” he stresses. “You should’ve called.”
My chin wobbles as I nod. That means everything to me, and it’s on me that I made a bad call about notifying him. When Tyler steps forward like he’s about to try to diffuse the situation, I put my hand up to stop him. Rob has a right to be salty that I didn’t call.
“I should’ve called. I’m sorry that I didn’t. I see now that not wanting to worry you was no excuse to delay the inevitable.”
He stares into my eyes for a few seconds. I can tell that he’s satisfied that his point was made and understood when he nods.
“Nothing like this better fucking happen again but if it does, you call me. Hell, if you get a hangnail, you call me. I want to know, Ash.”
I raise my good hand. “I promise.”
Lifting his chin, he gives me a pointed look. “You shouldn’t be up and walking around,” he says, his voice gruff.
I grimace as I look over at Tyler who’s giving me a told you so look. He wanted me to lie on the couch propped up on pillows but I think that’s silly. I’m standing in my house—it’s not like I’m about to do a 5k.
“I’m okay,” I argue. “Everything is fine.”
He frowns at me as he shakes his head. “No, it’s not. Coming here was supposed to make you safer, but Jesus… you got fucking stabbed, Ash.”
“Trust me, I know. I was there,” I joke.
He winces like my saying that is painful, and I feel like a total idiot for trying to make light of things. If the situation were reversed, I’d be freaking out. Instead of making bad jokes, I need to reassure everyone that I am really, truly okay.
“What happened, happened,” I say, addressing Rob, Tyler, and Karen. “Given the choice, I obviously wouldn’t want to repeat it, but the reality is that life doesn’t have a reset button.
“When the store was held up back in LA it was a wake-up call about how things can happen in the blink of an eye. That experience caused me to take stock and make changes because it was time. I don’t feel the same way about what happened with Rita yesterday. The bottom line is that some people are no good. She was a rotten apple when we were kids and that only got worse as she got older. What she did doesn’t change how I feel about living here. This is my home now.”
After assessing me carefully for a few seconds, Rob lets out a long exhale.
“You’ve always belonged here,” he says. “I can tell it’s been good for you to be living here full-time. God knows the Cove is safer than LA can ever hope to be.”
“That’s true,” I agree, “which is why I’d love it if you’d move here. Don’t ever think that I’m not as worried about you and Karen as you two are about me.”
He lets out a bark of laughter and shakes his head. “I should’ve known you’d start angling for us to pick up and move.”
I shrug unapologetically. “All I’m saying is stop being so stubborn and think about it. After the last robbery, Uncle Charlie would’ve been the first one to tell you to pick up sticks and get the hell out of dodge. LA isn’t getting better—it’s getting worse.”
Rob exhales slowly. “Karen and I talked about that on the plane ride. I’m not saying it’s a definite that we’re going to move here… but I am saying it’s a possibility.”
Over Rob’s shoulder, Karen winks at me and then silently mouths ‘definitely’.
“I’m going to be all over you about this until you do it. Just give in now,” I tell Rob.
“It’s just a maybe,” he cautions.
I smile and nod like I agree but inside my head I’m dancing a jig. It’s happening. With Karen solidly on the side of moving to the Cove, I know that sooner rather than later my family will be living here.
I’m visualizing that outcome at this very moment.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
____________________________________
ASHLEY
I’M SO HAPPY that Tyler brought me back to Leavenworth for the weekend to see the Christmas Lighting Ceremony. He says I’m more excited than I would be if he took me to the Jennifer Lopez show in Vegas. I love J-Lo, but I have to admit that he’s right. What can I say? I’m a girl who loves the magical sparkle of a bazillion lights.
Sitting at the small table in front of the large window in our suite, I stare out at the beauty of the town. It’s been snowing for days, so it truly looks like a winter wonderland. The cold and snow haven’t stopped tourists from coming, though. Every hotel in the area is at capacity, which means everything is extra busy. Thus, when Tyler tried to make an early dinner reservation at our favorite Bavarian restaurant, he was told there’s a three-hour wait. Rather than miss out on dinner, he went to pick up a to-go order. I wanted to go, but he’s got it in his head that it’s too cold for me out there. I’m not sure how he thinks I’d freeze now but not later tonight—when the temperature goes down—when we go to see the lights. Men. Sometimes even the best of them make no sense.
I got so lost in staring out at the snow that I startle when my phone buzzes. Picking it up, I see a text from Karen.
Karen: LOOK!!
At the bottom of the message is a link to a popular gossip site. When the article opens, I gasp. The headline reads:
Mega influencer Hadley Halls arrested. We’ve got the video!
Clicking the video included with the story, it’s immediately apparent that someone in Starbucks recorded the event with their phone, which meant she went off in front of people. That surprises me since she was always so good about faking it whenever she was in public.
Whatever faking skills she possessed seem to have deserted her. I watch as Hadley screams at a male barista over the “indecent” amount of cream in her iced coffee. The man offers to make her another, but she’s so busy flying off the handle that she can’t reel it in. My jaw is on the floor as she calls him every name in the book along with a few even I’ve never heard.
When he tells her to leave, she throws her coffee in his face. I cringe for the poor guy, who was lucky the coffee was cold. A woman enters the shot and tells Hadley the manager is calling the police. That sets Hadley off even more, and she starts picking things up from the counter and tossing them at the workers. She’s a pit of rage, bellowing that they’re incompetent losers and telling them only people with pitiful lives work in service.
It goes on for several minutes, which I know from experience is typical for one of her tantrums. Unfortunately for Hadley, the video ends with her arrest. I can’t contain a bark of laughter when they march her handcuffed, hollering ass out of the store.
Going back to the text from Karen, I type a response.
Me: I feel bad for those people, but I admit I’m glad someone finally caught her real personality and shared it for everyone to see. If that makes me petty, so be it.
Karen: You’re far from petty. You took her abuse in silence for far too long. Now everyone will see who she is. What people put out comes back to them three-fold.
I agree. How can I not when the two most horrible people I’ve ever known are both dealing with the aftermath of visits from karma?
Rita is going on trial for a myriad of charges for assault, kidnapping and, now that it’s proven that she purposely put peanut powder in her ex’s drink, pre-meditated murder. The prosecutor is going for a thirty to life sentence.
Hadley getting arrested in Starbucks won’t lead to her doing time, but I know how the influencer game works. There’s no doubt that she’s bleeding sponsorships and subscribers at this very minute.
I view both women as cautionary tales about why trying to lie, cheat, and steal—and in Rita’s case, kill—to get where you want to go in life always ends in disaster.
<
br /> I’ll stick with being authentic all day, every day.
_______________
“ARE YOU SURE you’re warm enough? I hadn’t planned on there being so much snow.”
I have to bite my cheek to keep from laughing as I take in Tyler’s concerned expression. I’m starting to suspect he believes being truly warm in the snow means getting suited up like Randy, the little brother in A Christmas Story. My man takes being overprotective to the extreme.
I’m wearing jeans, a sweater, UGG boots, a jacket, and a pair of soft white gloves that matches my scarf. On top of that, there’s a thick faux fur blanket draped across my lap and I’m drinking from a thermos full of deliciously decadent hot chocolate. At this point, I’m more in danger of melting than of freezing.
“I’m toasty warm and ridiculously excited to see the Christmas lights,” I assure him.
“Just making sure.” As he speaks, he hugs me to him so that he can drop a kiss on top of my head.
I switch my full attention from him to focus on what’s happening around us as the sleigh we’re riding in turns onto Leavenworth’s main street. The lights make the village look even more beautiful than usual.
Our sleigh pulls up to Front Street Park, where every tree is covered in lights. After Tyler helps me down and tips our driver, he tucks my arm in his before he leads me to the center of the park where a group of carolers are singing in the covered gazebo. I wish I could bottle the feeling of being here right now. The way the lights illuminate the falling snow is nothing short of magical, and the Christmas carols make it perfect.
Tyler stops walking as we near the front of the gazebo. Turning, my eyes widen as I watch him get down on one knee and my breath catches in my throat.
“Tyler?” I ask, wondering if I’m reading the situation correctly. One part of my brain is thinking why else would he be down on his knee in the snow, while the other part of my brain is thinking that he might have dropped something.