Page 115 of Emergency Exit
Rowan made a flailing gesture that surprised Ash. Usually, his older brother was more articulate.
“That is not what he’s talking about,” said Forest. “Well, it’s a little of what he’s talking about, but that’s not all of it.”
“Well, then, what?”
Forest gave a deeply paternal sigh. “I cannot.”
“I am doing my best over here. Sorry if it’s not good enough for you!” snapped Ash.
“Best what?” asked Rowan.
“What?” Ash didn’t understand the question, let alone have an answer.
“Best at karate? When did you start that?”
“Like five years ago?” offered Ash, embarrassed.
“OK, great. Good start,” said Forest. “When did you start dating Harper?”
“September. What has this got to do with anything?”
“You don’t talk to us,” said Rowan. “The entire point of Forest and I coming home and starting our businesses here is that you and Mom are here.”
“We’re supposed to be a family,” said Forest. “You keep complaining that we’re not doing family stuff, but you keep us at arms-length.”
“I just...” Ash hesitated. “I don’t always... I get embarrassed. I don’t want to explain all my weird stuff to you.”
“What weird stuff?”
“Well, Emma. I was embarrassed about Emma stealing from me.”
“OK, well, I understand feeling like that, but shit happens,” said Forest with a shrug. “It’s not your fault. But why don’t we know what’s going on with your life? What’s wrong with us knowing about you? What are we doing wrong?”
“I...” Ash stumbled, looking for words, but Forest and Rowan continued to look equally perplexed. “It’s me! I’m the one that’s wrong!”
“Ash,” said Rowan, looking him up and down as if looking for the flaw, “what the fuck are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about me. I know that you and Forest like to keep things normal, and I have made an art form out of blending in, but I can’t. OK? I just can’t.”
“I’m sorry, but what the fuck now?” demanded Forest. “Blending in? Asher Valkyrie, what crack have you been smoking?”
“I’m still stuck on how we like things normal,” said Rowan.
“Has he even met us?” asked Forest in disbelief.
“You do!” protested Ash. “Rowan is all Marines and rules.”
“That I consistently break. I was E4 Mafia from the day I enlisted. The only reason I knew every rule was so I could break them just the right amount.”
“You’re always yelling at your guys to toe the line,” said Ash.
“Yes! My lines! Mine! And mostly, it’s because I know what those shitheads will get up to if I don’t. Do you know how Vivian and I met? It’s because those assholes were pulling up onto theplaza at work and loading and unloading through the lobby.”
“They were not,” gasped Forest, laughing.
“Oh, yes, they were. Which Vivian informed me of after she ambushed me in the elevator.”
“Well, but Forest is always hanging out with politicians and wearing suits,” said Ash, deciding he probably couldn’t argue effectively about the shitheads.
