Page 26 of Hidden
“How are you feeling this morning? After snowshoeing for the first time last night, I mean,” he asked.
She smiled, grateful that he wasn’t treating her as if she were nothing but her mental health concerns. “A little sore, but not bad. I did take some ibuprofen before bed, so that probably helped.”
“You and me both,” he said, exiting the parking lot. “I haven’t been out much this year. It was a workout for me, too.”
Asher was a fit man. Lean in all the right ways. And when he’d helped her to his truck after the accident, she’d felt just how hard his muscles were. She doubted their walk the night before was much of a workout for him. But rather than dwell on thoughts of his body, she asked, “Where are we going?”
He lifted his chin in the direction of the road. “Just a bit farther.”
“One of the cabins?”
He wagged his head. “Sort of,” he responded as he turned onto a long drive. At the end, maybe a third of a mile toward the lake, stood a building. More of a house than one of the lodge cabins.
“It’s the original home my ancestor built on the land,” Asher continued. “It was where the family lived while building, then running, the lodge.”
“And no one lives there now?” She didn’t hide her incredulity. Like many of the homes in the area, the two-story raw-wood clapboard house had a large covered porch. And with its dormer windows, gingerbread details, and stone chimney, it was beyond charming. Of course, she didn’t know what it looked like on the inside. But she had a hard time believing that the Warwicks would keep the outside in the shape it was while neglecting the inside.
“It’s reserved for family,” Asher said, stopping in front of the front steps. “Or friends of family. We had some folks staying here when Tia and Cody got married at the lodge on New Year’s Day. But it’s been empty since. It’s a little rustic but comfortable.”
“The men in your family get married quickly, don’t they?” she said on a laugh. The comment had nothing to do with anything. But his mention of the wedding sparked a memory of a conversation she’d had with Sofia shortly after the event.
Asher laughed, too. “To be fair, Chad, Ethan,andCody all knew their now-wives for a long time before moving out of the friend zone and into more.” He paused, a private smile still dancing on his face. “But yeah, once they made that move, they were pretty quick to make things legal.”
She didn’t know about Chad and Sabina, but Ethan and Kara had become a couple in August of the prior year. They were engaged in October and married by the end of November. And Tia and Cody were even faster. They started dating in November and were married by New Year’s. Sofia and Josh were the outliers. They hadn’t tied the knot—not that anyone knew—and Ellie wasn’t sure they would. It wasn’t a comment on their commitment to each other. Just more of a reflection of who they were as people.
“How about we take a look?” she suggested.
He pulled a set of keys from his jacket pocket, and a few minutes later, they stood in the middle of the open living room looking out the large picture windows toward the lake. Mountains rose all around them, and forests clung to the inclines, only clearing to reveal dramatic, ancient volcanic slabs of rock. The view had her catching her breath, and she 100 percent believed that anyone who had the opportunity to stay there was lucky. But something inside held her back from jumping at the chance.
She followed Asher as he gave her a tour of the three-bedroom home. As he’d said, it wasn’t luxurious, but it had everything she’d need. More than she’d need. And being far enough away from the lodge, she’d be able to maintain her privacy. An added bonus. Really, it was a perfect option. And yet…
“What’s wrong?” Asher asked when they returned to the living room.
“Nothing. It’s great. A stunning spot. And perfect for me. For the situation,” she replied, not wanting to appear ungrateful. And she wasn’t lying. Itwasperfect. And yet, it wasn’t. A year ago, she would have adored the opportunity to hole up in a place like this. Maybe get through some of the books on her e-reader while sitting in front of a roaring fire and enjoying being away from the hustle and bustle of LA.
“But?” he pressed.
She pursed her lips then walked to the windows, keeping her back to Asher.
“You don’t have to tell me what’s on your mind,” he said. “But I can’t help you if you don’t let me. If you don’t want my help, that’s fine, too. We’ll just head back to your car and no harm, no foul. It’s your call.”
Her job, her life, included a lot of people who both wanted and needed things from her. She didn’t think she was all that different from a lot of people—hell, Asher had an entire hospital that both wanted and needed things from him. But she had a public persona she needed to keep up—something Asher’s cousin Cody would understand—while moving through public life. Andthatcould be exhausting.
The fact that Asher had just given her carte blanche to make whatever decision she wanted—with no expectations from him—wrapped around her. And spurred her to give him an honest answer.
“I’m worried,” she said, her back still to him.
“About?” He’d moved closer, but not too close.
“A lot of my issues, my episodes, have happened when I’m alone. Since I’ve been staying with Sofia and Josh, I’ve felt great.”
A beat passed before he responded. “And you’re worried that if you’re here alone, they might start happening again.”
She crossed her arms and tightened them against her body. At this point, the anxiety she felt about thepossibilityof an episode was almost as debilitating as the episode itself. The thought of being in this lovely home and having the experience ruined by her fear and paranoia brought tears to her eyes. She hated the incidents. But she also hated living in fear of them.
She was about to tell Asher to forget that she said anything. And that she’d be grateful to stay in the cabin. But he spoke first.
“I have an apartment above my garage,” he said. She looked at him over her shoulder. “It’s not big, just a studio. But it’s yours if you think you’d be more comfortable there. I won’t bother you or anything. You wouldn’t have to worry about that.”
