Page 131 of More Than Pen Pals

Mom says, “That makes sense. I also know without a doubt when your father left to ‘get some air,’ he cornered Leslie, even though he denied it. So I took the car, left him there, and came down here to check on Leslie and you boys.” She focuses on me. “I like her a lot, Ashley. She stood up to your father, which most people won’t dare to do. And she responded to his insults with grace. I heartily approve.”

I slump down in my chair. “If she’ll still have me after this—whateverthisis.”

sixty-three

I’m lying on my side on the hotel bed, wrapped in the sheets and bedspread, looking at my brother, who is sitting cross-legged on the other bed with his elbows propped on his knees.

“You ready to tell me what happened?” Shannon asks.

I tell him about Ash’s dad and what he said. Then I say, “How could he do that to me? How could he make me responsible for two men’s livelihoods and standing in their family? H-he’s an evil man.”

My brother gets up, throws my covers off, and pulls me into his arms. I let him hold me as I cry.

“Les,” he says, “I love you, and I know this hurts, but you’re not responsible for what that man does. He’s only trying to make you believe you are. That’s what men like him do.”

I sniffle. In theory, he’s right. But in actuality, I do hold the power to stop Walter Hamilton from carrying out his threats.

“Ash told me he’s planning to leave the firm anyway,” Shannon says, “whether he has another job lined up or not.”

I turn my head so I can look him in the eye. “He told you that?”

“Yes. And he told me a lot more. I like Ash. He seems like a very good man. Maybe even good enough to deserve you. And he won’t be upset at all if he gets fired. In fact, after what happened tonight, I’d guess he’ll quit before his dad has time to fire him.”

“But what about Randall? He doesn’t deserve any of this. I don’t know how he’ll survive without an income or his family.”

“Again, that’s not your responsibility. Randall is a grown man. If he can’t take care of himself, that’s not your problem. Plus, something tells me he knew what he was getting into with this Diego Sanchez thing, anyway.”

“He’s not like Ash,” I say. “He’s impulsive, and he’s not good with money.”

“That’s his problem, not yours. Now, you haven’t mentioned how you feel about this man threatening to ruin your own career.”

“I don’t care about that.”

“No?”

“No. All I want is to be with Ash and for him to be happy. I don’t care what my job is or where it is, as long as I’m with him.”

“You mean that?”

“I do.”

“You love him?”

“I do—more than anyone.” I poke his chest. “Even you.”

“I think I can deal with that.” He kisses the top of my head, slides off the bed, and covers me up again. “Now go to sleep. There’s nothing we can do about any of this until morning.”

I want to call Ash, but I don’t know his number, and I don’t currently have the strength to tell him what his father said to me anyway, so I let myself drift off to sleep.

* * *

“Les, it’s time to get up,” my brother says as he shakes my shoulder. “We need to check out soon.”

I groan and roll over onto my back. “What time is it?” I mumble.

“Nine-thirty. Check out time is ten.”

How did I sleep so long?

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