From Ashes

After taking a calming breath, I headed out into the kitchen so I could grab some water. I tried not to, but my eyes betrayed me and flashed over to their door. I was itching to knock it down and drag her to my bed; I didn’t want him touching her at all. Dear Lord, since when did I get this possessive over a girl? I was about to go caveman on Ty’s ass and put my claim on her. Turning away from the door, I almost choked when I saw sweet Cassidy curled up asleep on the couch. After downing the rest of the water, I walked quietly into the living room and smiled at the sight of her. She had her arms and legs inside what must have been one of Tyler’s shirts, and was curled into a tight ball in the corner of the couch.

Part of me was happy because I didn’t think she’d come out here after having sex with Ty; the rest was annoyed that he’d done something to upset her enough that she felt like she needed to sleep out here. I called her name and touched her shoulder gently; when she didn’t respond I picked her up and carried her to my room. She was a small girl anyway, but I’d lifted hay bales heavier than her, and I was feeling too many bones. I didn’t even want to think about how her spine and shoulder blades had jutted out in those pictures. Whether she wasn’t allowed to cook often or didn’t have enough food in the house, she’d obviously missed too many meals. I’d have to make sure we always had enough food here; Cassidy needed to put on at least twenty more pounds just to look healthy.

Flipping back the comforter on my bed, I lowered her to the mattress and pulled the covers back over her. Her hair had fallen in her face, and I tucked it behind her ear so I could see her better. God, she was beautiful. I was aching to slide into the bed with her and hold her all night, but I’d probably be woken up by either her or Tyler punching me. Afraid she’d wake up and see me starin’ at her, I walked to my dresser and changed into some workout shorts and headed out to the couch. I almost groaned out loud when I lay down and was surrounded in her scent trapped in the pillow. How did Ty fall asleep with her in his bed every night? I could barely relax just thinking about her in my bed, and we were separated by a few walls.

“GAGE.” I FELT a hand on my arm. “Gage.” This was a better dream than most; I swore I could smell her sweet scent in this one. “Gage, you gotta wake up!”

The pillow slipped out from under me and my head hit the hard arm of the couch. “What the f**k?” My eyes flew open and I saw Cassidy standing right in front of me, clutching her pillow to her chest. “Oh, Cass, I’m sorry.”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “For the last time, your cussing doesn’t offend me.”

Yeah, but once again, Mama would smack me upside the head for even saying that in front of a girl. I smiled back. “Mornin’.”

“Ty’s going to wake up soon, you need to get up. I swear, Gage, you have got to stop putting me in your bed. One of these times he’s going to find out you do that and he’ll be mad.”

“I don’t know what happens between y’all that you feel the need to sleep out here sometimes, but it’s not right. He’s the guy so he should be out here, not the other way around.” Besides, I loved seeing her in my bed. This was the fifth time in the last month since they moved in that I’d found her on the couch at night. That didn’t include the mornings I would be leaving for my run and find her then.

“Well, I don’t come out here so you’ll take my place. If you keep doing this I’ll just start sleeping in the tub. Now, get up.” She was already stepping away from the couch and folding the blanket she had bought for her nights out here.

I took the blanket from her and put it in the closet before heading to my room to get ready for a run. When I took my phone off the charger I caught a glimpse of the date and practically jogged out to the kitchen. She was getting the coffee ready and had her back to me, so I wrapped my arms around her and leaned in close. “Happy birthday, Cassidy.”

It wasn’t weird for me to hug her anymore; every morning one of us got the coffee ready, and she came in for her “morning hug,” as she called it. I thought it was adorable, and I lived for it. It was the one time Tyler didn’t give me crap for being near her, mostly because he wasn’t there to see it. But this morning she didn’t hug me back, she just continued to get the coffeepot ready, even with my arms wrapped around her. I almost cursed out loud when I realized what else today was.

Spinning her around so she was facing me, I cupped her cheeks and bent down so I was closer to her eye level. “You gonna be okay today, darlin’?”

She nodded and gave me a sad smile, her arms lightly wrapping around my waist. “I’m fine, it’s just hard. I wish he was here.”

“I know you do.” I heard Tyler moving around so I let her go and pressed start on the coffeepot. “So what do you have planned for today? Tattoos, buying cigarettes, voting?” I winked and nudged her shoulder.

“You’re so dumb. No, to all of the above. I don’t have many plans; I need to go to the bank though. Now that I’m eighteen, the bank accounts are in my name and I can use them.”

“Bank accounts?”

“Yeah, before he died, my dad started a savings account and a college account in both our names. But I wasn’t allowed to touch them until I turned eighteen. I wish I already had some of my own money, but when I turned sixteen and said I was going to get a job, Mom . . . well . . . let’s just say I wasn’t allowed.”