“What did she want?” I asked Ash when we were in the car and Xav was driving home us home.
“Isabella? She came to support me… and she’s officially left Frank, which I think is why Viktor let her come with Gregor.”
“How do you feel about that?”
Ash looked away towards Rory who was quiet, although that wasn’t unusual. She slid her hand into his, causing him to look at her.
“I don’t know, Quinn. I don’t know how I feel about any of it… only that I can’t keep being angry at her. I really think all she’s done is try to protect me the only way she knew how.”
Her other hand slipped into mine as she leant her head on Rory’s shoulder. The fact he let her without complaint showed how far Rory had come over the last few months.
“Can I stay with you tonight?” she whispered to him.
“Is that really what you want, little star?”
“Yes.”
He was silent for a beat, then he rested his head on hers.
“Okay.”
She let out a long breath as if she’d been scared he’d say no. I saw it then. I really fucking saw it. Just how much those two needed each other. Ash was like Rory’s balm. She gave him something no one else could. Love. And not just familial love like Xav, Eric and I did, but real all-consuming love. That love came without judgements. Without conditions or restraints. Ash saw Rory and she didn’t care about how dark he was or the depraved shit he liked. All she cared about was him. She wanted to make him happy.
“Hey E,” Xav hissed. “Get a fucking picture of that.”
Eric looked behind and saw Rory and Ash. His eyes widened at the simple display of casual affection between them. To be honest, it surprised me too.
“He will kill me,” Eric hissed back.
“Come on, man. That’s the cutest fucking shit I’ve ever seen Rory do.”
Rory looked at Xav and Eric, his eyes narrowing.
“If you take a picture of me, I will trash your rooms.”
“You’re such a spoilsport,” Xav complained.
Ash shifted a little, but neither she nor Rory changed their positions.
“What if I want a picture of us together?” she asked.
I think that stumped him. His hazel eyes betrayed how conflicted he felt. On the one hand, he wanted to do everything he could to make Ash happy, but on the other, he hated photos of himself.
“Xav, Quinn and E let me take pictures… Can’t I just get one, Ror?”
It was true. As soon as I got her that damn phone, she’d made me pose with her in bed on several occasions and had insisted on taking photos when I wasn’t paying attention. That girl seemed to want to capture her entire life in pictures at times. I didn’t mind so much since it seemed to make her happy.
“Also I’d quite like it if I had a picture of you all with me so I can have it as my wallpaper on my phone… and maybe frame it to go by my bed.”
I think the whole car was waiting with bated breath to see what Rory would say. If he’d deny her the one thing she’d asked him for.
“Fine,” he muttered.
I swear Ash vibrated with happiness.
“Oh good, we can take one when we get home, but E… go on… I want to see how cute we are together.”
I swear Rory looked mutinous until Eric got his phone out, then he smoothed out his features. A few pictures were snapped and Eric handed it to Ash so she could see. Her eyes lit up.
“Xav’s right… you’re cute as hell, Ror.”
He didn’t say anything, only scowling at the photos which she promptly sent to herself before handing the phone back to Eric.
“What do you know, Rory’s finally joining in on all the fun,” Xav said which only earnt him another scowl.
Ash let go of my hand and rubbed Rory’s shoulder.
“Thank you, Ror,” she whispered.
“Only for you, little star,” he whispered back.
When we got home, Ash didn’t let up, leading us all into the living room and gathering us together around her. Now she’d got the idea in her head, she wasn’t letting us back out of it.
“Do we really have to do this?” I asked.
“Yes and if you don’t smile, I will hurt you.”
The four of us crowded in behind her as she held the phone up. She took a few and when she checked them, even Rory was half smiling. She sighed contentedly and turned to us.
“Thank you… also, you all look sexy as hell in suits so I can’t think of a better time to have a photo.”
We were all silent for a long moment before springing apart. Then a cloud of discord descended over us as the elephant in the room reared its ugly head. We might have talked to the families tonight, but come tomorrow, our forty-eight hours from Frank would be up. And we all knew what would happen then.
“He’s going to send the rose,” Ash said quietly.
“Yes, he is, little girl.”
She looked at the floor.
“I suppose it’s only fair. He has been on my death list for a while.”
“That doesn’t make it any better.”
Her hand shook as she gripped her phone tightly in it.
“I think I just want to go to bed if that’s okay. Talking about this won’t change it. I don’t know what’s coming next, but I do know we have to stick together.”
I stepped forward and leant down, tipping her face up towards me.
“We’re going to get through this, little girl. All of us. We have no choice.”
She let
