Page 60 of Meet Me on Blueberry Hill

The pain in Asher’s chest expanded, threatening to tear his ribs apart. “What gives? How about the fact that I’m responsible for so many deaths, including my cousin’s, who happened to be my best friend?”

Liam held up a hand. “But that was an accident. That wasn’t your fault.”

“My bus, my fault.” Asher pressed a hand against the wall as his vision swirled and his head pounded.

Liam eyed him again. “You dyed your hair. It used to be blond and much longer. And you were clean-shaven.”

“Actually, this is my natural hair color. I used to dye it when I was on the road. Some dumb teen magazine did a poll about my hair color, and the blond won, so that’s what I went with. Anything for the fans.” Asher scoffed and rolled his eyes, then ran a hand over his beard that felt more like a mask. “When I’m off the ranch, I’m usually wearing sunglasses and a ball cap. Plus, the beard hides a lot of the scars, and I’ve filled out a bit more since being a punk kid. By keeping to myself, no one bothers me.”

“So, who knows you’re here?” Liam lowered his voice, almost resigned, as if the secret doused his enthusiasm. “Other than your aunt and uncle.”

“Dani. That’s it. She used to be friends with my sister and cousins, and Eliza told her about Jared and me forming Phoenix. But no one else knows, and I need to keep it that way to protect my family. They value their privacy. I don’t want the paparazzimessing with the quiet island experience. And after losing my cousin…” Asher sent another pleading look to his friend.

Liam lifted his hands and stepped back. “No worries, man. Not my story to tell. I’m just saying, you could use this to your advantage.”

“I’m done using things to my advantage. It’s not about me anymore. Never should have been.” An ache started at the base of Asher’s skull. “I didn’t like the guy I was becoming. Don’t want to go back to him. After the accident…and being released from the hospital, I drowned my guilt, shame, and sorrow in alcohol. I was headed down a destructive road, and my aunt and uncle, of all people, were the ones who saved me and brought me to the ranch. Gave me a sense of purpose again.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t pretend to know what you went through. I do know what it’s like to lose someone you love though. I lost my mom when I was a kid. Just know you don’t have to go through this alone.”

“Yeah, I kind of do.”

“Why? For some sort of self-penance? Beating yourself up for an accident won’t bring them back.”

Asher’s face hardened as he faced Liam. “Why do I get to have any sort of life when they don’t?”

Liam shrugged. “I don’t know the answer to that. God spared you for a reason. He has a plan for you, man.”

“A pretty cruddy one, if you ask me.”

“Only if you choose to look at it that way. The offer’s there to talk if you want.”

“Thanks.”

“So, does Sadie know?”

Shaking his head, Asher moved and braced his hands on the edge of the sink. “Not yet. I just learned the other day that her sister died in the same crash. When I tell her who I am, she won’t want anything to do with me.”

Liam clapped him on the back. “That’s tough. Pray about it and ask the Lord to guide you.”

He opened the heavy door and stepped out into the night air, leaving Asher alone in his mental prison. He glanced at himself in the mirror, disgusted at the man staring back at him.

Pray about it.

Right.

Like God wanted anything to do with someone like him.

But Liam was throwing him a lifeline. The offer of a friend, a confidant. Someone who knew his secret and still wanted to hang out with him.

Was he brave enough to grab on to it?

Sitting on the bench at the park with her face lifted to the morning sunshine did little to warm the chill wrapped around Sadie’s heart.

Two days and still no word from Asher, despite her attempts to contact him. She tossed her phone back and forth in her hands and resisted the urge to check to see if he’d responded yet. The unsettled feeling coiled in the pit of her stomach.

“Hey. Sorry I’m late.” Dani dropped on the bench next to her and handed her a steaming to-go cup from Good Day Coffee. “Jill has a new blend in honor of the festival—summer sunset. Tell me what you think.”

Wrapping her chilled hands around the warm to-go cup, Sadie inhaled the steam and raised an eyebrow. “Do I smell coconut?”

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