Page 50 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
“When did you find out?”
“Not long before I bumped into you again. I’d apparently been dealing with it for a long time. I just didn’t know it. I took tripping or dropping items as me being clumsy or rushing and not paying attention. The tightening sensation I have all the time now around my midsection, I reasoned, was nothing more than working too much and tight muscles.” She stopped and ran her fingers along his forearm. If he could purr, he would’ve fucking purred in her ear—it felt so good. “It got to a point where even I couldn’t make excuses anymore. I began getting tested over a year ago, but they just figured out it was MS. Kind of a process of elimination. It could’ve been any number of things.” He held her tighter and kissed the top of her head. “Kes?”
“Yeah, Doll?”
“I’m scared,” she whispered, and yet her sheer terror was as evident as if she’d screamed the words.
No two words had ever had a stronger effect on him. Ashley had always been fearless, even when facing him and the rest of the fucktards he’d once called friends. She’d stood tall and didn’t let life drag her around like he’d let his father control him. If she was scared, then he was terrified, but he couldn’t say that.
“I have your six now.” He kissed the top of her head and buried his own fear.
A soft whimper that broke his heart left her lips as she held on to him with a death grip. He was going to find out everything he could about the fucking disease, and if there was anything he could do to stop it, come hell or high water, he was going to make it happen.
Ashley had the worst time concentrating at work. The conversation from that morning with Kes had been running on a loop in her mind. She shifted between giddy schoolgirl and wanting to smack herself and yell at herself for being an idiot.
It had been the same in high school. Her stomach was always a mixture of emotions that seemed to contradict one another like mixing oil and water together.
“Here you go,” Ashley said, smiling at the newest member of Salvation Place. She held out the bowl of chili for the man to take.
“I get all this,” he asked as he stared at the bowl with wide eyes.
“Yes, and we have enough for seconds. There are also buns and coffee down there. Help yourself.” The man she offered the bowl to took the offering but just stared at it. “What’s your name?”
“My friends call me Stiles.”
“Well, Stiles, I don’t know if you have a place to stay, but if you talk to Dennis, he can let you know if a bed is available.”
Stiles ran his hand through his grey beard, making him look like an elderly grandfather figure. “I wasn’t always homeless. I…I just don’t know where north is anymore.” He shuffled off before she could ask what he meant.
“Hi,” a small voice said, and Ashley startled and grabbed the table to steady herself. The young girl she’d seen before with Kes, Zumi was standing there and smiling like she’d won the lottery.
“Zumi, right?”
Her eyes slightly narrowed as she turned her head like a baby bird inspecting her. “Kes told you my name?” She beamed. “Good, I like you.”
“Thank you. Did you want something to eat? We have plenty.” Zumi bit her bottom lip as she looked at the large pot. “Come on. I’ll eat with you—I need a break anyway.”
“It’s a deal.”
Ashley almost burst out laughing—Zumi sounded exactly like Kes. The inflection of how he’d say it was down pat. Ashley held out a bowl to Zumi to take and spooned one up for herself before they made their way toward a table and sat down.
“Oh, I’ll go grab buns, be right back,” Zumi said and dashed off like a high-speed sprite—she was back again in a blink. “I love the decorations.” Zumi pointed to the lights and the large tree Dennis had brought in for Christmas. It did have a magical feel with all the lights glittering.
“So Zumi, tell me about yourself.”
Zumi ripped a piece of the bun apart and dunked it in the chili before stuffing the piece in her mouth with a small moan.
“Not much to tell. I live with my mom. I’m ten, and I like fast cars.” She gave a little grin before rambling on. “I’d prefer you tell me about yourself. How did you and Kes meet? I know you two must know one another—he never pays attention to anyone. Well, anyone other than me.”
Ashley flushed, her mouth hanging open as she stared at the young girl. “Well, um. Uhhh….”
“Come on, don’t be shy.” Zumi smiled, and Ashley couldn’t help but laugh as she took in the Joker-like smile, red chili staining her cheeks.
“You’re pretty forward.”
Zumi raised her shoulders and let them drop. “I am what I am.”
Once again, she sounded like Kes. It was easy to see that the young girl was taken with him. “Yes, Kes and I know one another. We met in high school.”
