Page 32 of One Little Lie
“Sometimes you need an escape,” Easton finishes sagely.
I nod because I’m at my emotional limit.
“Halt?” Ashton’s voice is barely a whisper, but I hear the plea and raise my gaze to his. “I need you.”
And there it is. A battle cry none of us ever walk away from. We were raised to drop everything for the family. It doesn’t matter if they’re family by blood or by choice … you drop everything to help.
“What is it, Ash? What’s the matter?”
His face is stricken, and I realize this is the first time I have ever heard him ask for help. Ever. Even as a child, he would work on something until he figured it out. At first, we thought he was just stubborn, but now we know it’s more than that. He’s a fixer, a problem solver, and I know I’ll do whatever he asks.
He glances at Preston and makes a continue motion with his hands. It’s like a sucker punch to witness him struggling so much.
“Ash thinks Pacen is hiding out on Block Island. He no longer believes she’s the reason for his attack, but she has information he needs to move on.”
Glancing around the room, I begin to understand what he needs. Dexter and Preston have families they need to take care of. Easton just dropped the marriage bomb, and knowing Lexi, he’s got his work cut out for him. Loki will need to return to North Carolina soon for the business he, Seth, and Ash have started. Staring at Ash, I also know why he can’t go. He’s been shying away from people more and more as the months go on.
It doesn’t escape me that Colton’s not here for this powwow. I know I’m going to have to work to repair that relationship, but for now, getting away from everyone will help me clear my head and figure out the best way to go about reconciling. With everyone.
“So, you need me to go.”
“Yes,” Ash whispers.
“What is it I need to do?”
Again, Ash points to Preston.
“Ash believes she’s hiding on her own. No one’s forcing her, but he doesn’t know why. If that’s true, she’s going to spook easy. You’ll have to spend some time there observing, getting to know the locals, and when you find her, bring her home.”
My eyebrows pinch together. “What if she doesn’t want to come?”
“Tell her she owes me at least that much,” Ash rasps.
“Ah, there’s something else, too.”
Turning to Preston, I wait for him to continue.
“Well,” he pinches the back of his neck. It’s a gesture that tells me he’s uncomfortable. “You remember how small that island is?”
I think back to the few weekends we spent there when East was in college. He had a friend who grew up there, and we visited a few times.
“Yeah, really fucking small. There’s not even a grocery store, is there?”
“Not like we’re used to, no. So, you know there’s only one hotel?” East asks, and I nod for him to continue, not sure I like where this is going. “Well, it’s booked solid, and there aren’t any rentals available either. But Ash is pretty adamant that you need to stay on the island.”
“Ohhkay. What are you getting at?”
“You’ll have to camp out. Allie’s family still lives there, and they have a lean-to that’s pretty private on the edge of their land. There’s an outhouse and an outdoor shower, but it’ll be pretty rustic living for a while.”
“A lean-to? Do you mean those buildings that only have three sides and are wide open to the elements on the other?”
Easton grimaces, and I laugh because this is ridiculous. But maybe some time alone in the wilderness will be just what I need.
“Okay, I can handle it. How long are we talking?”
All eyes land on Ash, but it’s Preston who speaks. “Not sure. It could be a couple of days or a couple of weeks. It depends on how intent she is on staying hidden.”
My eyes nearly bug out of my head. Two weeks in a lean-to? I mean, our parents always made sure we experienced everything in life. They didn’t want us growing up only knowing the privilege we were born into, but to fully understand how other people lived. Living in a lean-to for two weeks exceeds anything they ever had us do, though.
