Page 25 of Finding Ash
“Oh Ash, I’m so sorry,” mom sobbed. “One thing led to another while we were shopping and chatting with the nice shopkeepers they all insisted on meeting us for dinner. We didn’t mean to ambush you.”
“But you did. I’m not Kit. I’m not the outgoing one. I like my little bubble just the way it is, and I like Foggy. I have two wonderful men who love me and I’m staying right here with them where I belong.”
“My boy will take great care of you as he has with Kara and I,” Lynn kissed my cheek. “We’ll just be a phone call away if you boys and McClain need anything.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Remy said. “We’re staying at McClain’s tonight. I don’t want to leave Ash.”
“I think that’s a great idea. Text or call me if you need anything.”
I really liked Remy’s mom. Mine, well, we were going to have one long overdue conversation very soon.
Chapter Eleven
Remy
Kit had the cooks make us dinner, then he insisted on driving us back to McClain’s to eat. It was only a ten-minute walk, but with as shaky as Ash was, none of us were willing to risk it. Kit carried the food upstairs, while McClain and I had a hold of Ash. He protested, stating he was fine, but we didn’t buy it, not for a second. Had McClain not been right there to scoop him up as he passed out in Pints, he could’ve really been hurt. I wasso angry I chewed them all out right before we went to Kit and Nate’s house. McClain carried Ash the entire way there.
“Here, sweet boy, have a seat. We’ll eat on the couch tonight where it’s more comfortable.” McClain led Ash over there while Kit set our food on the coffee table and grabbed silverware from the kitchen.
“Ash, I’m so mad about this and you’re right, ambushes are only good if the one being ambushed finds humor in them, as I do. That’s not you, and I made damn sure mom knows that. I get she likes to chat, since she doesn’t get to do much of that back home, but she needs to remember her filter.”
“I highly doubt the townsfolk will do this again to Ash,” McClain said as we each took a seat beside him. “Though I fully anticipate them filtering through the creamery this week to apologize to you. As they should.”
“Alright, I better get back to Pints. Ash, I love you, and I’m really sorry about this.”
“I know, I love you too, Kit, but don’t be alarmed if I’m here more than at your house. Too many people are just too much for me and I really need to get the words in my head straight before I talk to mom. I don’t want to hurt her, but right now I’m a jumbled mess.”
“Understood, brother. McClain, Remy, if he or any of you need anything don’t hesitate to ask. Ash, makesure they have mine and Nate’s numbers in their phones, please.” Ash nodded. “I’ll bring some of your stuff by tomorrow.”
“Feel free to bring all of his stuff,” McClain said, shocking the hell out of us. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to let him out of my sight, at least not for a while. Remy, that goes for you too. When you’re ready, know that I have a key waiting for you.”
For the first time, tears filled my eyes. This, this right here was what I longed for. Not that my mother never gave me the love I needed, because she did. But this relationship between the three of us was everything to me.
“Thank you. As soon as mom and Kara leave I’ll bring my stuff over. My place is here with both of you.” The details of where I’d work will be dealt with later. Right now, Ash was both our main concern.
“That sounds perfect to me,” Kit smiled, “and for the record, the three of you together are too. I know you’ll take good care of my brother. I’ll text before I come by tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Night Kit and thank you,” McClain said. “For everything.”
“I probably should’ve asked you both first about moving in, but given how the night went, it just kind of came out, and more possessively than it should’ve.” McClainglanced from Ash to me. “If moving in isn’t what either of you wants, I completely understand.”
Ash kissed him. “I don’t want to be anywhere you guys aren’t.”
“Same,” I readily agreed. “But I want to spend time with my mom and sister while they’re here, plus there’s the wholewhere will I work from when I’m heresituation. I um, I have a couple huge monitors that take up nearly an entire wall in the RV.”
McClain laughed. “I have an empty room, well, an about to be empty room full of crap I don’t need, that we can easily turn into an office for you. I understand you work odd hours as well, so at least in there you won’t have to worry about waking us.”
“That’ll make it a lot easier for when you guys need help downstairs. A quick text or run up and get me and I’m at your service.” McClain laughed.
There were so many positives to moving our relationship into this next level that far outweighed any doubts I may have had, especially after witnessing Ash’s panic attack tonight. Much like McClain, I wasn’t keen on leaving his side.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
Ash wasn’t saying much, but the color in his face had returned, and he was eating. Generally, He was pretty quiet,unless it was just the three of us. Given the amount of information he was currently absorbing, I’m sure his mind was racing, as mine was. I’ll go home in the morning and talk with mom. I’d rather she heard about my moving into McClain’s from me than anyone else. We’d always had an open line of communication, and I planned to keep it that way.
“How about a comedy movie tonight?” McClain picked up the remote. “Any suggestions?”
“Considering I haven’t really seen any, I’ll let you guys choose, but yes, please, to it being silly and fun,” Ash replied, and I readily agreed.
