Page 72 of For Your Consideration

“I texted Jaxson. He’s on his way over too,” Quinn said from beside me.

“Good call.” Will nodded.

“Why?” I frowned and looked at her. I wasn’t sure what to do with all these people just stepping up for me.

“We’ve acquired PI companies over the years. Jaxson’s in charge of them. We might need their services and he can get the ball rolling the fastest,” Will explained.

I put my elbows on my knees and rested my forehead on my hands, taking a few deep breaths.

Quinn rested her hand on my back. “Um…Sutton?” I lifted my head to look at her. “You might want to call Ash…”

“He’d be pretty mad if he found out about this from someone else, hey?” I said on a sigh.

Honestly, all I’d wanted since hanging up the phone was to be in his arms, to have his smooth voice talking me down and his scent around me.

Because even just having him around made me feel safe.

“Pretty mad would be an understatement,” Will muttered. “He might even consider murdering me if he found out I was here and didn’t force you to call him.”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to laugh, but he didn’t.

Quinn got up and grabbed my cell from where I had left it on the desk before passing it to me. I bit my cheek and then hit his number. The ringing had my stomach in knots but then his voicemail kicked in and I hung up, not trusting my voice enough to leave a message.

I didn’t know if I wanted to scream or cry, and with Asher, I was pretty sure I was going to cry.

“Text him. He’s in a meeting,” Will suggested when I didn’t do anything else other than stare down at my phone. I pulled up our last text to each other and let out a breath.

Me

Call me when you can.

His reply was instant.

Asher

In a meeting. Everything okay?

Me

Umm…fine

I just didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else and since Will is here, I figured there was a chance. Your friends seem to like to gossip.

Just call when you’re done.

Not even a full twenty seconds had passed before my phone started ringing. The image of him and Sophie snuggling lit up my screen and had my eyes watering.

My voice was shaky as I answered the phone. “I told you to call when you were done.”

“What happened?” His voice was alert. I bet if I could see him his jaw would be tightening.

“It isn’t an emergency. I could’ve waited,” I whispered as a few tears slipped out.

“Sweetheart,” he said in a low, gravelly, demanding tone. I didn’t know anyone else who used a nickname as a command.

“My ex called. He saw a picture of me at the Maria Knight event. Thank God Sophie wasn’t in it with me. He’s threatening to go after full custody. Quinn called Will, and Will called his lawyer friend who apparently hates him but is good at her job and so we’re waiting for her to get here. Jaxson is also on his way for a reason I don’t quite understand, something about a PI, but Quinn thought it was a good idea so he’s coming too. I thought I should tell you before someone else mentioned it. Well, actually, Quinn said I should and Will agreed. See? Not an emergency.” I waited in silence, not hearing a sound from the other end of the line after I word-vomited all of that. “Ash?” I finally asked.

“Give the phone to Will.” His voice was lower and sharper than before. He sounded pissed.