Page 117 of Starcrossed Colorado

The moment I got back to my room, I called Ashford. And…

He didn’t answer.

“Dang it.” I plopped onto my mattress. Stella came over to check on me, so I scratched her behind the ears. “I guess that means I have to call Dad.” I made a whiny sound. Stella looked sympathetic.

Get it together, I told myself.You’ve got this.

I chickened out and called Madison’s phone instead of my dad’s. She answered on the first ring. “Emma! Hey, sweetheart.” Then she yelled, “Nash! Emma’s on the phone!”

I paced. A few seconds later, my dad’s deep voice spoke. “Em. Are you okay?”

“I’m at Last Refuge with Aiden and Jessi.”Deep breaths, I reminded myself.

“I know that, but that’s not what I meant. You say the word, and that so-called director who messed with you will find out what it’s like to have a SEAL sniper on his ass.”

I sputtered a laugh. “Dad.”

“I’ll use a paintball gun. Not a real one. It’ll still hurt like a bitch, though.”

“The paint would be wasted on him.” I knew Dad wasn’t being serious. He’d been a sniper on the West Oaks SWAT team for many years now, and he rarely stepped a toe out of line. Unlike my uncles Aiden or Jake. But they were Madison’s siblings, not my dad’s. Those Shelbornes could be trouble.

“Em, I wish you’d told us,” Dad said, all joking gone. “We’re on your side. One-hundred percent. In case there was any doubt.”

I looked up at the ceiling, tears filling my eyes.

But before I could respond, Madison chimed in. “We’re definitely on your side, and we’ll support you if you really want to transfer schools. It’s your choice. But babe, you should consider going back. You were so excited when you got in. It’snot right foryouto suffer because of what that man did. It’s not like you to run away.”

For a moment, I was speechless. Because she was right.

We talked a while longer. I told them about Ashford and Maisie and how I’d gotten closer to them this summer, though I left out the part about being in love. Too awkward.

“Jane Holt is going to help Ashford find a lawyer. I gave her his contact info.”

“That’s smart of you,” Madison said. “Tell my brother hi and ask him to call me sometime. Aiden’s the worst about keeping in touch. Even worse than you.”

“I love you both.”

“Love you too, Em,” Dad said. “No matter what.”

After we ended the call, I lay down on the bed. My nerves were still ragged. Yet it couldn’t have gone better. They’d said everything I needed to hear. I still needed to call my mom, but I needed a few minutes.

Stella stretched out right over my stomach. “Oof. You’re heavy.” I didn’t make her move, though. I ran my fingers through her soft fur. “Madison had a point. Ididrun away from grad school. I ran instead of staying and fighting for my place there.” A place I was no longer sure I wanted anyway.

But I’d done the same thing with Ashford. I ran because I thought it would be easier.

Could I go back and fix it? Fight for what was mine? Or had I already messed it up?

Less than an hour later, my room’s phone rang. “Emma,” Jessi said. “You need to come down to the lobby. Like,now.”

“Okay. But—” She hung up before I could finish asking what this was about. I looked over at Stella. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I guess I’d better hurry. Can’t upset the pregnant lady.”

I heard voices as I made my way down the stairs to the lobby. One of them made my breath catch. I rushed the rest of the way.

Ashford was here.

He was facing off against my uncle Aiden. Two bearded mountain men in jeans and dark T-shirts, thick arms crossed and wearing similar grumpy expressions. Jessi stood behind the reception desk, rolling her eyes and keeping out of the way.

“I know she’s staying here.”

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