Page 77 of Because You Loved Me

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“I don’t know why you bothered coming, Chase.”

He was being a dick and he knew it. But the last thing Asher wanted was company of any kind, especially not in the form of his eldest brother.

“We’re worried about you, man.”

“Don’t be.” He pushed past his brother and walked into the cabin. He flung the door shut behind him, but Chase caught it easily and welcomed himself inside. Asher shot him a look as he kicked his boots off, but Chase either didn’t notice or didn’t care that Asher wanted nothing to do with him. “I’m fine.”

“Obviously.”

Asher spun around at the humor in his brother’s voice. “Is something funny? Because you don’t have to be here.” He tugged his coat off and dropped it on the floor instead of hanging it on the hook. “In fact, you shouldn’t be here at all.”

Chase slipped his own snowy shoes off before striding confidently into the room. “Oh, settle down, Asher. I’m not here to pick a fight with you.”

Another retort was hot on his tongue, but Asher swallowed it down. He and Chase had worked hard on building their relationship up since their father died. He didn’t need to undo all their efforts just because he was in a bad mood.

“Want some coffee?” It was as close to an apology as he was going to offer.

Fortunately, Chase recognized the peace offering for what it was. “If you’re making some, that sounds great.”

Asher went through the motions of filling the kettle and measuring the grounds in the French press he’d found in the cupboard.

“Just like Dad used to make,” Chase observed.

“Makes sense since this was his place.” Asher shrugged dramatically. “Apparently.”

“Yeah. That’s crazy that there was a whole cabin in the woods that nobody knew anything about, don’t you think?”

Asher gave his older brother a look. “Did you come to check it out for yourself? Feel free to take a look around.” He waved his arm to encompass the small space. “This is pretty much it.”

If Chase recognized the sarcasm in his voice, he didn’t mention it. Instead, he began slowly moving around the cabin, investigating every corner.

Asher ignored him and pulled the mugs from the cupboard before he pressed the coffee. When he poured it into the mugs and turned around, his brother was standing in front of the Christmas tree.

He growled a little under his breath. He should have taken the tree down days ago. He should have chopped it up into firewood and fed it into the fireplace, burning all the decorations with it. Including the star that still sat proudly on the highest branches.

But he couldn’t. Something stopped him every time.

“I should have taken it down by now.” He crossed the room and gave the coffee to Chase, who nodded a thank-you.

“I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you with a tree. I didn’t really think it was your thing.”

“It’s not.”

Chase lifted an eyebrow, and Asher shook his head. “It wasn’t my idea.”

“Oh. Noa.”

“Noa.”

“About Noa?—”

“No.”

“No what?”

“Just, no. Whatever it is you’re going to say or ask me about her…don’t.”

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