Page 87 of One Little Mistake
“Then we take it one day at a time. Tonight is date three. How long do you usually hold out before you put out?” I add to lighten the mood.
The punch she lands to my gut knocks the wind out of me.
“Jesus, Locket. I was kidding. Well, sort of.” I smirk. “So, date three. What are we making?”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“We’ve had coffee, date number one. Lunch was date number two, and making dinner together will be date number three.”
“We’re not dating, Easton.”
“It’s the only way to keep the marriage alive, sweetheart.” I waggle my eyebrows at her for effect and am fucking ecstatic when she bursts out laughing.
“That won’t be necessary anymore,” comes a raspy voice I don’t recognize. Lifting my gaze away from Lexi, my throat closes up as my youngest brother hobbles into the room.
Immediately, I push off the counter in my rush to get to him, but he stops me with his cane pointed at my chest.
“I’m not an invalid. I don’t want or need your help.”
God, it sounds painful when he talks, and my stomach turns when I see his injuries for the first time in person. I truly think I might be sick.
Without a word, Lexi slides a glass of water across the island. Ashton takes it with a grateful nod.
“I don’t want your fucking pity, East, so stop staring at me like that or walk the fuck away.”
This isn’t the Ash I’ve always known, and my heart shatters for him.
“Everything’s gone to shit. You can get divorced whenever you want. Pacen is missing.” He sits heavily in a kitchen chair as Seth and Loki walk in. I don’t miss the uncomfortable glances they throw at Ashton, but I’m still trying to comprehend everything he just said.
“What’s gone to shit? How is Pacen missing? Where did she go?” Lexi throws rapid-fire questions at the room.
I turn to Ash, but he points to Loki to explain. Even as Loki begins to speak, I can’t tear my gaze away from Ashton. The scar that runs from his eyebrow, across his lip, and over his chin makes my stomach revolt in the most violent way. I have to swallow multiple times so I don’t vomit.
Finally, tearing my gaze away, I seek out Lexi, who is staring at me with sadness.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Loki. What did you say?”
“It’s okay, East. I was answering Lexi’s questions. Pacen is missing, but we don’t know if someone took her or if she left on her own.”
I have to lean into the island so I don’t fall over.
“H-How do you know she’s missing?” Lexi asks, but her eyes never leave mine. It’s as if she’s sending me her strength, and I’d give anything to hold her right now.
The emotion of seeing Ashton is threatening to overtake me. I close my eyes and count to ten to calm my inner turmoil when I feel a soft hand I know slip into mine. Lexi has stepped into my side and gives my hand a squeeze.
Glancing around the room, I can see that the only one who has noticed is Ashton. His expression is a mixture of pride, sadness, and something I’ve never seen from him before—rage. It’s burning just below his surface, and he doesn’t know what to do with it.
“Um.” I cough to cover up the break in my voice. “Could you guys give Ash and me a minute? Please?”
Lexi glances at me curiously but gives my hand one more squeeze and takes the guys out to the porch.
“Keep fighting for her,” Ashton forces out.
“What?”
“Lexi. Keep fighting for her. She wants to love you, she just doesn’t trust herself. Be the trust for her.” He downs his water and pops something into his mouth. I can’t tell from here if it’s candy or medicine.
“Ash—”
