Page 90 of Saving the Rockstar

I would tell him that the love of his life was out there, waiting for him. That one day, a man named Jared would come into his world and change everything, would show him what it meant to be truly seen, truly cherished.

And I would tell him that despite the pain, despite the heartache and the trauma and the long, hard road to healing, it was all worth it. Because on the other side of that darkness, that suffering, there was joy. There was love. There was a life so beautiful, so filled with warmth and laughter and unshakable bonds of friendship and family, it defied description.

I would tell him to hold on. To be brave. To never, ever stop fighting for the happiness, the wholeness, that he deserved.

And then, with a deep, shuddering breath and a heart so full it ached, I picked myself up off the floor, squared my shoulders, and walked out of my home.

Chapter 28: Asher

I sat by Jared's hospital bed, my heart in my throat as I watched the steady rise and fall of his chest, the beep of the monitors a constant, reassuring rhythm in the background. He looked so still, so pale against the stark white sheets, the bandages around his abdomen a stark reminder of how close I had come to losing him.

The tears came then, hot and fast and unstoppable. I clutched his hand in mine, bringing it to my lips and pressing desperate, fervent kisses to his knuckles, his palm, his wrist.

"Please, Jared," I whispered, my voice raw and broken. "You have to wake up. You have to come back to me."

I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the cool metal of the bed rail. "Fight, Jared. Come back to me, my love. Come back and let me spend the rest of my days showing you how much I love you."

The minutes ticked by, each one an eternity as I sat there, holding his hand, whispering my pleas and my promises and my love.

But just as I felt myself start to slip, to fall into that yawning chasm of grief and hopelessness, I felt it. A twitch, a flutter of movement beneath my fingers.

My head snapped up. "Jared?"

And then, like a miracle, like a prayer answered, his eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused at first, but then locking onto mine with clarity.

"Asher," he rasped. "Ash, baby. Don't cry."

The tears came harder then, but they were tears of relief, of joy so intense it bordered on painful. I surged forward, cupping his face in my hands and peppering every inch of his skin with kisses.

"Jared," I sobbed, my voice muffled against his cheek. "Oh god, Jared. I thought I'd lost you."

He smiled, weak but genuine, and brought a shaking hand up to brush the tears from my cheeks. "Never, Ash. You'll never lose me. I'll always fight to come back to you, always."

I kissed him then, hard and desperate and full of love. He kissed me back just as fiercely, his fingers tangling in my hair, his heart monitor spiking with the force of his emotions.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless and flushed, I rested my forehead against his, my eyes slipping closed. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."

He huffed out a laugh, wincing a little at the pull on his stitches. "I'll try my best. But you know I'd do anything to keep you safe, to protect you. That's what love is. Going through hell and back to save the ones you care about most."

We were quiet for a moment, just basking in the warmth of each other's presence, the steady thrum of our hearts beating in sync. Then Jared's brow furrowed, his eyes going sharp with concern.

"Carter," he said, his voice low and urgent. "What happened with Carter, Ash? Is he... did he...?"

I shook my head, quick to reassure him. "He's in custody. The police took him away. He's going to jail for a long, long time."

I swallowed hard, the memories of that night, of Carter's cruel words and vicious threats, still so raw and painful. "Iconfronted him, before they took him away. Told him that he had no power over me anymore."

Jared's eyes went wide, his expression a mix of awe and pride. "You did? Oh, Ash. Baby, I'm so proud of you."

As the minutes ticked by, I could feel the old fears, the old insecurities, start to creep in, insidious and cold.

Jared, attuned to my every mood, my every shift in emotion, noticed immediately. "What is it, love? What's going on in that beautiful head of yours?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I can't help but think about how much of my past, my trauma, is still a part of me. How it's always going to be there, lurking in the shadows. Waiting to pull me back under."

Jared's expression softened, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. "Oh, Ash. Baby, listen to me. Your past, your pain, it's a part of you, yes. But it doesn't define you. It doesn't control you. Not anymore."

He looked at me, his gaze fierce and unwavering. "You are so much more than the hurt you've endured, the scars you carry. I know it's hard, baby. I know the fears, the doubts, they don't just go away overnight. But I promise you, with time and love and patience, it will get easier. You will heal, you will grow. And I will be with you every step of the way, holding your hand and cheering you on."

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