Page 1 of Trapped
Chapter 1
Ashley
If you’d asked me a year ago if I’d come crawling back to Weatherford, TX, the small town I grew up in, my answer would’ve been a hard no. I’d loved everything about my life in Dallas. My job, my apartment, my active social life.
Two weeks ago, I got fired from my job. For no logical reason.
One week ago, I got evicted. For no logical reason.
Plus, my period was late. I fluctuated from month to month, and sometimes even skipped a month, so I hadn’t worried about it until I realized it’d been two months since my last cycle.
At least there was a logical, though improbable, reason for the pregnancy. I always made Finn suit up, but it could still happen. Ninety-nine percent effective means one percent ineffective. And wouldn’t it be my dumb luck that I had a one percent result with a guy who had more red flags than a parade in China.
Two weeks before dumping his ass.
Fuck my life.
At least moving back home meant I’d be able to hang out with my best friend more. Emily Taylor, now Sheppard, had married her high school crush—the still super-hot, eldest Sheppard son, Jamie. They went through hell before finding each other. Jamie’s first wife was murdered, and Em’s ex hit her.
Who would’ve thought they’d fall in love when Emily’s big brother hired Jamie, his best friend, to protect her? Not me, and definitely not her big brother. He legit punched Jamie, but he came around. He even shed a tear during the ceremony,though he still refuses to admit it.
The timing of my streak of bad luck couldn’t be worse. A month before I got fired, my grandmother, the woman who’d raised me after my parents died when I was a little girl, fell and broke her hip. She’d needed surgery and still needed months of physical therapy. Her insurance covered most of the hospital bills and some of the therapy, but not the in-home help she needed. It was just us, so I had to hire a home nurse until she was strong enough to support herself again.
Gran had argued, but I refused to let her go into debt. I made good money and could afford it.
Well, I could until I lost my job and got evicted.
Afraid of depleting my savings account, I moved back home and took over her care.
When it rains, it fucking pours.
“Look on the bright side, Ashley. You’re living rent-free and spending quality time with your grandmother while you look foranother job,” I said to myself while pulling my dark brown hair into a high ponytail.
Being Monday, I hoped I’d get some responses from the dozens of resumes I’d sent last week.
“Gran, will you be okay for a few hours if I go to Grannie’s Coffee Bar?” I asked as I walked into the living room.
“Of course, I’ve got my knitting, and I may nap in front of the TV for a bit. Will you be back for lunch?”
“Yes.”
“Should I make something?”
“No, I will when I come back.”
“What will you make?” she asked, her voice thick with skepticism. I wasn’t a great cook, and Gran wasn’t shy about letting me know.
My skills were above those of a bachelor, but I’d lived alone and eaten out or ordered delivery most days. My skills were rusty. If I put my heart into it, I could follow a recipe and make an amazing meal. I’d just never felt like it. That was changing as I helped Gran with our meals.
“How about turkey burgers with goat cheese and a salad?” I asked. I’d rather have a cheeseburger and fries, but Gran had to watch her cholesterol.
“That sounds good.”
I pulled a pound of ground turkey out of the freezer to thaw before leaving.
“Here’s your phone.” Gran was old school and often forgot to bring her phone with her when she changed rooms. “Call me if you need me.”
“I won’t need you.” Gran was fiercely independent. A trait I both admired and despised.A trait I inherited.
