My nose and eyes burn but I push it down. "All my life, I fantasized about having what my parents had. The chaos, the crazy, but at the end of each day, all of it was love."
"Get ready, because your days of living in shit are long gone.
"I know."
Chapter 20
Miller
I focus on the reports on my desk, ready to wrap them up and get to Ashlyn's. In the two weeks since Dev was born, everyone has taken up the slack to allow Pierce to be home. Which means my time and efforts on other projects are stretched thin.
Ashlyn, on the other hand, is at her house every morning when the first crew arrives. She works alongside them, helping in all capacities. Like she wanted, every room in that house will have her personal touch.
My mind drifts to my newborn nephew, more so how Ashlyn is with him. Motherly, soft, loving… she looks at him with such adoration it glows on her.
It hasn't gone unnoticed to anyone else, either. With each picture she sends to her parents, I get a corresponding message back from Dozer. It's always the same thing.
??
That's it. A set of question marks.
He's strong on tradition but he's sending a message. And I'm reading it loud and clear, more than ready to get the ball rolling.
That day at my house, when Ashlyn unloaded her story, things changed. If there was any question of my commitment to Ashlyn after our conversation at Thanksgiving, those questions were answered.
No one blinked an eye when we shared the news I was moving into her house. Now everyone is waiting on me to make my move.
It took Peirce less than two months to get a ring on Darby's finger after she came home. And he reminds me of that every day, ribbing me incessantly.
As if on cue, he strolls into my office, looking relaxed and casual, plopping down across from me. "What's happening?"
"You don't look like a sleep-deprived zombie."
"Because I'm not. Shit man, you do not understand how much different this is." His eyes brighten as he rubs his chin. "Never knew it could be like this."
"Happy for you, brother."
"I'm here to take some of those files off your desk and warn you. Evin's ditching the party and hanging with y’all tonight."
Tonight is the Brasher Christmas party. Ashlyn volunteered to babysit, and Pierce wanted to get Darby out for a few hours.
"Doesn't surprise me, he's possessive over that baby."
"He showed last night with a shitload of gifts for Maya and Cole, grabbed a beer, and stayed for the late feeding for Darby to get ready for bed."
Sometime during the first week home, Darby decided she wasn’t going to solely breastfeed. She felt it was important for everyone to be involved with Dev’s life. Especially Maya and Cole. Pierce didn’t push, but was fucking thrilled with her decision. He felt it was less stress and pressure on her to have help with the feedings. She’s keeping the fridge stocked with her milk so whenever it’s time for him to eat, anyone is able to jump in. It’s not surprising Evin stayed to help last night.
"Isn't that your job?"
"Like I said, never knew it could be like this. There's a lot of shit that goes into having a baby in the house, all help is appreciated. Especially with two other kids in the mix."
Evin Graham surprised the shit out of everyone when Dev was born. He's always been a family man, but that baby did something to him. Dev has all of us crazy in the head, but Ashlyn and Evin are the worst. Even outside of Annie and Edward.
"You get to break the news to Ashlyn."
"Hell no, that's Darby's job."
I chuckle, picturing Ashlyn's scowl when she receives the message she has to share the kids tonight.
"On a different note, we need to talk. Any news?" He sits up, his easy-going attitude turning rigid.
"No more crazy unidentified calls or texts. Once Ashlyn called Brock directly and found out it wasn't him, nothing."
That Monday morning, with Ashlyn sitting between my legs and her family standing around, she dialed Brock and confronted him about the vague messages. As she suspected, he denied and tried to persuade her back. The fucker knew he was on speakerphone, so he was slick with his flattery, never letting onto their history. She cut him off, declining his offer, and hung up.
I wanted to put another hole in my wall next to Andrew's morning explosion, but I held it together for her.
"Stephanie called Darby this morning and she's convinced that firm is filled with shady characters. But Ashlyn's name is squeaky clean."
"She called us, too. Scottie phoned right after with gossip of more shit in the firm. I left Ashlyn in bed, cackling like a fool."
"Scottie is about to bust a gut to get here. He's coming during Christmas break."
"Heard that, too."
"Brace, Miller, because Ashlyn's in the mix now and these people are crazy."
"I'll leave that up to you. We will be busy."
He nods, knowing my plans to have Ashlyn's house ready by Christmas week.
"You have something else on your mind?"
"Are you asking me something specific?" I sit back in my chair, eyeing him wearily.
"Moving in together isn't such a big deal, but all this other?"
"I won’t lie, things don't feel settled with her, but it's my job to make it so she feels safe and secure in this. I don't care if she ever goes back to practicing law, but that's not my call."
"She'll figure it out."
"Yeah, she will." I run my hand through my hair. "I'm about to rock her world a little more. She may go ballistic."
He cocks his eyebrows, his eyes lighting with curiosity. "I don't care
