Page 59 of Emergency Exit
“What are you talking about?” demanded Forest. “You used to carry all the beef jerky when we shoplifted at the 7-11.”
“Forest!” gasped Rowan.
“What? Ash was the perfect wingman. He was so damn cute. No one ever suspected him. We got away with so much shit because of him. He was the best lookout, too.”
“Two-foot taps means someone’s coming,” said Ash automatically.
“Oh, my God,” said Rowan, covering his face with his hand.
“What?” repeated Forest.
“Juvenile delinquents, the pair of you.”
“Ash is worried he didn’t contribute. Clearly, he’s forgotten some key details, and I’m just saying he’s an indispensable member of the team.”
“Can we be a team if we all want different things?” asked Ash, although he felt warmer at Forest’s words.
“We don’t want different things,” objected Rowan. “We want Team Valkyrie to succeed. But we’re negotiating how to respect our various MOS as we move forward.”
Forest looked completely blank, but Rowan had used the abbreviation enough that Ash had looked it up and memorized it.
“Military Operational Specialty,” Ash muttered toward Forest.
“Thanks. I was never getting there,” said Forest.
“We have different tactical specialties,” said Rowan. “Forest has always had to keep an eye on reality because I will just put my head down and charge ahead regardless of what’s going on, and Ash, you know you will wander off when left unsupervised.”
“There are a lot of shiny rocks and flowers out there. I get distracted.” Ash tried to say it with a laugh, but he remembered Rowan’s frustration when Ash had tried to show him cool rocksin childhood.
“Yes, and that means that Forest is left trying to keep us connected. That’s not easy when we’re pulling him in opposite directions.”
“I’m burned out,” said Forest abruptly. “I know I used to be better at keeping everyone connected. But I’m burned out. Vera’s death, taking care of Olly, and then managing the business... I’m at my limit.”
Ash wanted to facepalm himself. He’d been so wrapped up in his own stuff that he hadn’t been able to see that Forest was drowning.
“I don’t want Mom here because it makes my fucking anxiety so high that I get headaches,” continued Forest and Ash grimaced. That was not a good space for anyone to be in. “I physically can’t deal with her. I’m not saying it will always be that way, but that is where I’m at right now. If she wants to send a present for Olly or something... I guess that’s fine.”
“I think she just wants to see him. I forward her pictures sometimes.” Ash stole a look at Forest, expecting anger. Instead, Forest looked relieved.
“Great. Perfect. Then I don’t have to think about it.”
Ash hesitated. If Forest was exhausted and not mad, maybe he could take something off Forest’s plateandhelp their mother?
“Uh... So what if I took him to see Mom?”
Forest’s eye twitched. “Um... Maybe... Maybe set up a lunch or a play date with Chloe?”
“Yeah, OK. I could do that.” Maybe.
“We can check with Chloe in a minute,” Forest said, and Ash raised an eyebrow. No one checked with the nanny for that kind of thing. Nannies got told what to do. Forest was totally sleeping with her.
“I’ll try to help more,” said Ash. Not that he knew how. “I know I’ve been a little absent lately.”
“You’ve been busy,” said Forest. “Your business is important.”
Ash looked at Rowan. The answer was so typical of Forest. No wonder Forest was burned out. He never put himself first. Rowan gave Ash a smile that said he knew what Ash was thinking.
“OK,” said Ash with an eye-roll. “Well, for the sake of Team Valkyrie, I think I will make a little more effort.”
