Page 64 of Emergency Exit
“A working rock?” repeated Ash.
“It was working at being a path,” said Rowan with a grin. “I said the rock had been honorably discharged from duty and that he could take it home with him. They were both so pleased.”
Forest groaned. “Just what I need—more rocks! Do you know how many rocks I end up carrying in my pockets?”
“My point is,” said Rowan, chuckling, “that it’s clear that he feels safe and loved with her. He’s himself around her.”
Ash had to admit that was true. And Chloe didn’t seem particularly materialistic, but Ash wasn’t sure what was perfect for Olly was perfect for Olly’s father.
“She makes him shine,” said Forest, looking through the glass again.
“She helped you set a casserole on fire,” said Rowan. “I’m all for it. Buy that girl some underwear and make it permanent.”
“She keeps talking about going back to Asia. She said she was thinking about it when she first moved in, but she keeps saying it like nothing has changed.”
“Yeah, well, maybe that’s because you haven’t told her that things have changed,” said Rowan.
“Uh... I think she’s noticed,” said Forest.
“But you haven’t told her what the new plan is,” said Rowan.
“I can’t tell her the plan because I don’tknowthe plan. This was never the plan to begin with! It’s too fast.”
Ash didn’t want to say that he agreed, but both of his brothers seemed to have decided that light speed was the relationshiptimeline to go with. Ash didn’t think he could point blank suggest that Chloe was using Forest without getting the same punch as the police officer’s horse, but he might be able to push Forest into doing his own investigating.
“Didn’t you just say how much Chloe appreciated honesty?” asked Ash.
“Yeah?”
“So be honest. Tell her you don’t know the plan, but you don’t want her going anywhere.” And then maybe Chloe would realize she didn’t want to be tied down, and she’d Mary Poppins herself back to Asia or wherever.
“Yeah,” said Forest. “Thatiswhat I should do. Use my words. Stop being weird. Just tell her that.”
“You should definitely listen to one of you,” said Rowan, and Ash laughed.
“It’s just that I tend to overthink things,” said Forest.
“We know,” said Rowan and Ash together.
“Oh, shut up,” said Forest.
Ash grinned but flipped his phone around in his hand, trying to release nervous energy. Forest had been so happy to have everyone’s feelings out in the open. They had toasted to being honest.
Only Ash hadn’t been honest.
He hadn’t told them how he really felt about Chloe. He hadn’t told them about Emma. Or Harper. Although, he knew for a fact that both Forest and Rowan would shit a brick if they found out he was paying someone to be his girlfriend. Which made Ash’s opinion of Chloe feel even worse.
But even if Chloe wasn’t using Forest for his money, he honestly didn’t see how Chloe was going to help Forest’s life goals or business. How were they a match? Olly obviously loved Chloe, so maybe that was what Forest was reacting to, but Ash didn’t see how a wild child like Chloe would be an assetto Mister Precision Forest. His brothers were total normies. They didn’t understand Ash. They loved him, but they didn’t understand him. So how could Forest be into Chloe?
Baby, I’ve been thinking about Harper.
His mother’s text was as out of the blue as any of her messages, so he waited for the next part that would possibly explain where her brain had connected the dots.
You said that you thought she was nervous about going home. Did you pay her the money you were supposed to? You said you agreed to help her pay someone back in Denver for a ring. If she was going home, maybe she wanted to pay them off then.
“Oh, fuck,” said Ash, staring at his phone as he walked into the house.
“Everything OK?” asked Rowan, his hands full of dishes as he collected them off the dining room table.
