Page 66 of Hiding In the Dark (The Righteous 4)
Laying a kiss on the top of her head, he stepped back and, unable to help himself, placed a chaste kiss on her lips.
“Do you really want kids?” His stomach was in knots over the idea. A dad was supposed to be someone good and decent, and he wasn’t sure he was either of those things.
She shook her head back and forth and then lifted her shoulders. He had no idea what that meant and hated it when she leaned away from him to rest against the counter. Kes stared into her eyes, and there was so much emotion swirling around that he couldn’t read her like normal.
“I honestly don’t know, Kes. I mean, we’ve been together for all of a minute, and there is all the other stuff to consider. I just wish I had time to make a choice and not be rushed into it.” Ashley sat down on a stool and looked exhausted. “I always pictured making that decision because I was in love and wanting a child for the right reasons. I….” She covered her eyes with one hand as tears started to flow.
Stepping in close, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head, just letting her know he was there. “I want kids,” he said, shocking himself that the words had tumbled out, but he meant it. He didn’t want them with just anyone, but he could picture a family with her.
“What?” Ashley leaned back and he cupped her face, kissing away the tears still slipping down her cheeks.
“If you decide you want kids, I’m in. Unless you decide you can’t be with me, because of what I do. But, I don’t think it’s too soon. As far as I’m concerned, we’ve never been apart. I’d marry you tomorrow if you wanted. If you want to move in together, I will. You want kids, then I want them too. All I wish for is us—you can decide how fast and how much, just know if you choose to go forward and start trying, then I’m all in.”
“I…I….”
Kes leaned down and kissed her lips, stopping her from whatever she was going to say. “You don’t have to give me an answer right now. I’m actually going to go for tonight. You need time to think, and I should check on Zumi.” He reached out and grabbed the pad and pen she had on the counter and scribbled out his number. “If you need to reach me, that’s my cell. Call anytime—I don’t care if it’s to come kill a spider, I’ll be here.”
She gave a little laugh, and it was good to hear that sweet sound. “I love you, Ashley.” He kissed the top of her head and then walked toward the front door.
He was reaching for the handle when Ashley called his name. Looking back, his eyes locked with hers. She bit her lip but didn’t say anything more.
“I know,” he said. Her eyes were filled with the unspoken emotion. “But I love you more,” he teased and smiled. “I want you to know that if you decide we are done, I won’t pressure you to change your mind. I won’t sneak in here or follow you around. You can live your life without worrying that I will be around the next corner like a nightmare you can’t shake.”
“I wouldn’t think that of you.”
“I just wanted you to know.”
He waited in the hall until he heard her lock the door and then wandered down the stairs and out into the afternoon sun. He pulled up the hood on his sweatshirt and jogged across the street as his phone rang.
His heart skipped a beat until he saw it was Trev, not Ashley calling him and asking him to come back.
“Hey,” he said, after pressing accept.
“I just got the call. The verdict is in.”
“I’ll be ready,” he said and hung up the phone. It was game time, but first, he needed to check on his tent and, of course, on Zumi.
* * *
Kes nodded to Momma G, who was sitting near the entrance, her shopping cart by her side as always.
“You fix bad wheel?” She pointed to the wheel on the shopping cart that had been causing her issues.
“Maybe,” he said, giving her a smirk.
“You do too much,” Momma G called out to his back.
“We’re family, Momma G,” he said as he wandered past her perch.
Right about now, he would give anything for Ashley to call and tell him that . He couldn’t shake the look of shock on her face when he told her exactly what he did for The Righteous, but there was no point in worrying about it. He wanted her more than anything, but he couldn’t stop helping those that needed him. Maybe it was a hero complex, or perhaps he’d simply grown to love the hunt and the kill, but whatever it was, it was the one thing he couldn’t give up for her. He’d burn the motherfucking world down for her, but he couldn’t give up The Righteous. He hated to admit it, and he would never admit it in front of Trev, but the shit kept him sane.
He wandered past Zumi’s tent, but she wasn’t outside despite the time. He didn’t hear anything coming from inside, so he continued to his own tent. He never worried about his stuff, but it was wise not to leave it alone for too long. He unzipped the faded material and looked around at the sparse belongings. The only thing he’d even want to take if he left was his guitar. He hadn’t picked it up since Ringo died, but he couldn’t leave it behind.
A soft rustling sound had him turning to see Zumi step out of her tent. Kes started to smile but stopped as he spotted the dark purple mark on her cheek and her eye all swollen. His fist balled as the anger flowed through his body. He was going to kill the fucker that hurt her.
He marched out of his tent toward the girl, and her eyes went as wide as saucers as she saw him stomping in her direction, his long strides eating up the distance. She turned like she was going to try and bolt. “Don’t even think about it, Kid.” She looked down but slowly turned to face him. “Who did this to you?”
“No one.”
