For the Love of Ash (43 page)

"Why don't I call your sisters? I'm sure they'll be better at distracting him than me right now."

"No," he snapped. "They'll make me stay with them. I want to stay here with Luke. But he's so grumpy, and he's hovering over me now. Please. He's always happy when you're around."

"I'll see what I can do, Liam. Can I get you anything?"
 

"Advil, please."

"No problem. I'll be right back." I patted his leg and exited the room. Asher and Luke were talking in the family room, sitting at opposite sides of the room, but when I walked in, they both shut up fast. I narrowed my eyes on Luke as I walked into the kitchen and got the platter that Luke had made.
 

I didn't say anything as I brought it into the room and put it beside Liam. He took two bites of toast, slugged back some water, and then took the two Advils.
 

"Any requests from the grocery store?" I asked as I took the now empty tray and walked to the door.
 

"No. But can you go to my house and get my video games? I have two DSs. Asher can play one of them with me. You don't have to," he started to say, but I shook my head.

"I'll get them for you. Just rest, okay? And don't worry."

"Thank you, Maggie."

"No problem." I blew him a kiss from the doorway and shut the door slightly, so he didn't feel like he was completely on display. I went straight for the kitchen, bypassing the whispery boys in the living room.
 

After washing the plate and rinsing the cup, I grabbed a pad of paper from one of his top drawers and opened the door to the refrigerator. It was completely empty: three things total.
 

"Are you kidding me?" I muttered as I opened drawers and searched for hidden compartments.
This
was what Luke was living like. It was a miracle he and Liam were even alive.
 

"What's wrong?" I jumped from his closeness. I turned, and we were almost chest to chest. I couldn't see into the living room to check on Asher from the kitchen; he had walls, unlike my house which was more open.
 

"When's the last time you ate?"

"Today. I had some bread. I ate something at work yesterday…" He wouldn't make eye contact with me, so I knew that he was lying. His gray eyes were distant, looking past me instead of at me.
 

"I'm going shopping. There's a lot to get. Do you have a card?" I asked because I knew there was no way I could afford the large bill. His whole kitchen needed to be stocked.
 

"Sure." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his black leather wallet, producing a black card. He handed it over. "Just say you're Lindsay or something if they give you problems."

"Can you watch Ash while I run out?"

"Of course."

"Thanks." I kissed Ash on the top of the head as I walked through the living room towards the door. He giggled as I grabbed my purse from the entryway and bolted out.
 

When I walked through the back door into the Wilson estate, I kept on my tiptoes so I wouldn't be heard. There were five cars parked in the driveway, but from what I knew, that was pretty normal.
 

The entire bottom floor was lit up in a yellow glow from all of the low hanging chandeliers. But as I crept from room to room, I didn't find a single person.
 

I couldn't remember which room was Liam's. I suddenly began to panic. Luke's was the first on the right, and I knew Lindsay's was after that. I took a chance and opened the first door on the left, and luckily, I nailed it.
 

I hurried in and grabbed the two video game consoles that were on his bedside table. I looked around for things he might need and quickly packed a bag of random clothes from his closet. Then I grabbed a case of extra cartridges and the cords and ran back outside.
 

As I pulled down their private drive, I let out a sigh of relief. I was in the clear. My Honda's entire back seat was filled with groceries, so much I could barely see out the window.
 

I honked the horn when I parked at Luke's. His apartment was in a nicer part of Norwalk, down by the water. Even though we were in the same city, it took a good fifteen minutes to get from my place to his. Not that I cared…

"Damn, Maggie. How much did you set me back?"
 

"A nice chunk. Bring them in for me, and I'll make dinner." I smiled as I walked around the car.

"Asher, come help bring these in!" Luke yelled as he pulled out two brown paper bags. Asher almost ran me over as he sprinted from inside the apartment to Luke's side. I knew this was a bad idea having them so close again, but Liam was the priority right now.
 

I decided that since I was here and it was only seven in the morning, I would make a couple of meals that could be frozen or refrigerated. I knew Luke wasn't going to cook so I might as well…Plus, it was for Liam. Not Luke.

"Sweetie, we have to go," I said as I finished wrapping the large tray of lasagna. It worked out well since his refrigerator was basically empty; there was plenty of room to store all the things I had made.
 

"I want to stay with Luke," Asher whined. I was so close to cracking just by being here all day that I was not in the mood for Asher throwing a hissy fit. I gave him a look, begging him to cut me some slack, but I could tell from the long blink of his eyes that he was exhausted. I was already three in the after noon. He'd had long enough.

"You'll see Luke on Monday." I grabbed his jacket and put it over his shoulders. But he refused to stick his arms through it. "Please," I begged again.
 

"Your mom is right. I have to go hang out with Liam, anyway. I'll see you. We can work on your stick handling later, okay?" Luke shook his head, but Asher wasn't completely convinced.

"Will you come out during recess?" Damn. He was a boy after my own heart, making trades and deals. He was too smart for his own good.
 

"Sure, dude." Luke walked over to Asher and me, and for a second, I thought he was going to hug me. But he crouched down in front of Ash and pulled him towards his chest. He squeezed, making Asher giggle.
 

"Fine. We can go."

"Well, thanks for your permission," I grumbled as I zipped up my knee-length winter jacket. I tied my black scarf around my neck and looked over at Ash who was ready to go.
 

"Thanks for everything," Luke said to me.
 

"I'll bring food on Monday. Let me know if I can do anything. I gave Liam my number. Make sure he doesn't exert himself too much. See ya." I quickly pulled open the door but only made it to the first step.

"Maggie!" He grabbed the crook of my elbow.
 

"Luke, please don't. Today was fine. It will take some time. Just let me go."

"I can't. I can't stop thinking about you."

"Please," I begged for what felt like the millionth time. I was physically and emotionally exhausted. My heart ached for Luke and his family. My body ached from running around all day. I just wanted my bed.
 

"I won't give up."

"And I am not changing my mind."

Chapter Forty-Five

Maggie

Two more weeks. That's all I had to get through before I had my much needed winter vacation. I sat on the opposite side of the room for my Child Development class. I don't think I could stand having Luke breathe down my neck with his minty hot breath.

I trained my eyes to the desk as I waited for other students to fill the room. But it didn't matter. The second he walked through the doors, I felt his heavy presence like a hunting dog. My entire body tensed as I fought every urge to look up—if only just to see how he was doing.
 

He sat in his normal spot, halfway across the room and in the back. I couldn't see him unless I craned my neck and squinted my eyes. Which I didn't.
 

Dr. Atwater was beginning to go over material that would be on our final exam. I knew that I had to get my head on straight to pass all of my finals, especially this one. I wrote myself a message to get notecards. I was shoving it in my jeans pocket when the man sitting next to me tapped me on the shoulder and handed me a folded piece of paper.

Stop shaking your leg, Sunny. It just makes me want to calm you down. I miss you. Will you give me that chance yet?

I wouldn't look at him. I wouldn't give him that kind of satisfaction of getting into my head. Knowing that he was looking at me, I lifted the piece of paper up and flicked my wrist to bring attention to it.
 

Very slowly, I ripped the paper in half. And then again. And again. I didn't stop ripping the stupid thing until there was a pile of snow on my desk. He could've reacted poorly, but I had no idea because I looked to the front of the classroom and scribbled down Dr. Atwater's notes.
 

After we were given our assignment and dismissed, I hung back. I had food in the back of my car for Luke to take home. He must have sensed that I wanted him because he waited for me outside of the classroom.

"I have food for you," I said.

"You want to follow me back to my place?" he asked, his eyes wide in a hopeful way.

"I have to get Ash and go to hockey. I'll make more Wednesday or Thursday for you guys."

"Have you talked to my sisters?" he asked as he followed me down the stairs. I grabbed my backpack's straps and rolled the hard clasp between my fingers. I refused to look over at him.

"I haven't. Lindsay was mad at me, so she's avoiding me."

"Why was she mad?"
 

"Because of you." I looked over and glared. Then, I quickly looked away again before I was put under his spell.

"What did I do?" He reached forward and grabbed the large door for me, holding it as I walked through. It slammed shut behind us.

"You know what you do. You're you. She was mad I didn't take you back."

"I'll talk to her," he said with steely resolve.

"Don't!" I yelled. "I can handle her."

"You sure?" he asked. I unlocked my car once we got into the parking lot and shoved my bag onto the passenger seat. Luke walked beside me, stopping near the trunk.
 

"Positive. This is chicken noodle soup," I said as I handed him the Tupperware. "I put a loaf of bread in here, too. There's cheese in your fridge, so make some grilled cheeses to go with it." I handed him over the large cloth bag filled with goodies, raising my eyebrows to make sure he was listening.
 

"Thanks, Sunny. I love you." He leaned forward like he might kiss me, so I leaned back to counter him. I shook my head and walked the long way around my car so he would get the message.
 

"I—bye." I glanced one last time over the hood of the car and then dove in, hiding from his sad glance.
 

Asher wasn't allowed to fully play yet because of his concussion, so he suited up with just his skates and helmet on. I waved as he got on the ice and walked up the bleachers to sit beside Janet.

"Hey, honey! How are you doing?" She gave me a hug and then sat down.