Page 72 of Forbidden Dreams
Maverick grinned wider. "With or without your lug of a brother."
"Hey, watch it." I was used to their ribbing though. It meant that they liked me.
"Your mother is welcome too," Maria said casually as if it wasn't a big deal.
I wasn't sure about bringing my mother here. It was a nice idea, but she tended to attract my dad. And if he got wind of her hanging around the Sterlings, he'd smell money. I couldn't let that happen, and I didn't want him to embarrass me.
But I kept those thoughts to myself. "Thanks for the invitation. I'll pass it along."
"I'm grateful that everyone is here under one roof and that we're going to have another grand baby very soon."
"I'm going to be a big sister," Ayla said proudly.
"You're going to be an awesome big sister," Hudson said with his arm over her chair.
Conversation started around us, and Emery leaned closer. "They're great. I can see why you kept them to yourself."
"I shouldn't have."
"I know why you did. I had my own methods of escape."
She had sleepovers at friends' houses all the time back then. It made me feel good that she was safe and protected, far away from my father. Thankfully, he didn't spend much time with her. He was more interested in Mom and me because we worked and had money he could steal.
Hopefully, he was in our past, and we could relax and enjoy time with the Sterlings guilt-free.
It was hard to imagine being here and not being with Aspen. Would it feel weird? I didn't want to think about a time when I had to pretend I didn't care about us breaking up.
"How's school?" I loved these updates. They were confirmation that I'd done one good thing in my life in supporting Emery.
She smiled. "I love it. I'm thinking about moving into an apartment next year with a few friends."
She'd talked to me about this, but it wasn't my choice to make. I just hoped she'd be safe since she was still living on campus.
"We'll have to talk about getting you a car."
Her eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
I felt Aspen's gaze on us. "Don't most juniors have cars?"
She looked down at her plate as if she was afraid to say it out loud. "Well, yeah, but I wasn't sure we could afford it."
I shrugged. "I only have myself to support."
She gave me a look. "You're paying part of my tuition. You're doing more than enough."
"I want to buy you a car." I glanced up and Aspen was watching us carefully.
She sighed. "Okay."
I wanted to take care of Emery. I'd never clear that compulsion. Aspen was quickly filling that space in my heart too. Except she wasn't mine and never would be.
"You haven't heard from Dad, have you?" I couldn't help but ask. The possibility of him showing up on her campus was always in the back of my mind.
She rolled her eyes. "Why would he contact me? I don't have anything for him."
I winced. "I'm sorry you had to see that growing up."
"I survived," she said casually, as if it wasn't a big deal.
