Page 104 of For Your Consideration

“It isn't the food delivery,” Iris called from the door. I looked up from my laptop. I was fairly certain who it was since he’d called me five times this morning.

It had been four days since Iris had been released from hospital after her successful surgery. She was doing well, able to move around on her own, and had tried to shoo me out of here this morning.

While we were in the hospital, Asher hadn’t left my side and the rest of his friends had seemed almost on scheduled rotation. There was always someone there with us, bringing food and coffee. Sophie would spend her days with one of them and then I’d either sleep at the hospital or we’d go to Asher’s place late since Quinn and Knight were staying there and spending their nights with Sophie if needed.

But once Iris had been discharged and I spent my first night at home, I panicked a little. Asher had tried to stay with me but I told him no. Having all the guys and Quinn, but especially Asher, had given me something I needed badly. People to rely on, someone to lean on, someone who was taking care of me so I could keep going.

And in the quiet of my apartment, I realized that it could all go away in the blink of an eye.

I’d never had this. I’d bounced around through the system, I didn’t have a family looking after me. I’d gotten used to that reality. Having it waved in front of me was rather confronting.

So instead of acting rationally and pulling them closer, I shut down. I put the group text on do not disturb, only replied to one of Asher’s texts, and focused on helping Iris. I pre-made foods that the doctors said were better for her heart and higher in sodium, I cleaned so she didn’t have to, and just tried to keep myself busy.

I’d wondered this morning, from the sheer volume of missed calls, if he was over me not replying.

I stood up from Iris’s couch and went to the door. Just like I assumed, Asher was standing in the doorway. His face was unreadable but I’d gotten good at speaking Asher. His jaw was just tight enough and his eyes narrowed just right to know he was seriously pissed.

“How did you find me?” I decided to just cut to the chase.

“Since you haven’t been texting at all, I assumed here was a safe bet.” His voice was a little accusatory.

“Well…what’s up?”

“We talked about you not answering your phone.” His tone was clipped and cool.

“I texted you back,” I grumbled, looking at his shoulder rather than his face. He just narrowed his eyes, pulled out his phone, and passed it to me.

Our text thread was already pulled up.

Me

Hey sweetheart, how are you, Soph, and Iris? Do you need anything?

I can come by in a few hours. I don’t have any meetings this afternoon.

I can bring dinner. What would Iris like?

Sutton

All good here! Thanks for checking in.

“That’s a perfectly pleasant text.” I tried to hide my cringe as I passed his phone back to him. “It had an exclamation mark in it.”

I had ignored him, sent him a fake text, and he still showed up at the door. I wished he was letting me get away with this but a small part of me was glad he had come to push me.

“Why are you hiding?”

“I’m not hiding.” I was still looking at his shoulder instead of meeting his eyes.

“You are. And avoiding me.”

“I’m not.”

“Sutton, you are.”

“Stop it!” I looked up at him this time, my voice raised. “I’m not hiding.”

“Hey now.” Iris came back to the door. “Sophie is asleep in the living room.” I felt like my grandmother was giving me hell and I looked down, embarrassment making its way up my spine. Great, now I felt like crying. “Go next door. You need to talk to him.” With that she gave me a little shove out of her apartment and shut the door behind me.