From Ashes by Molly McAdams Read Free Book Online Page B

y’all that you feel the need to sleep out here sometimes, but it’s not right. He’s the guy so he should be out here, not the other way around.” Besides, I loved seeing her in my bed. This was the fifth time in the last month since they moved in that I’d found her on the couch at night. That didn’t include the mornings I would be leaving for my run and find her then.
    “Well, I don’t come out here so you’ll take my place. If you keep doing this I’ll just start sleeping in the tub. Now, get up.” She was already stepping away from the couch and folding the blanket she had bought for her nights out here.
    I took the blanket from her and put it in the closet before heading to my room to get ready for a run. When I took my phone off the charger I caught a glimpse of the date and practically jogged out to the kitchen. She was getting the coffee ready and had her back to me, so I wrapped my arms around her and leaned in close. “Happy birthday, Cassidy.”
    It wasn’t weird for me to hug her anymore; every morning one of us got the coffee ready, and she came in for her “morning hug,” as she called it. I thought it was adorable, and I lived for it. It was the one time Tyler didn’t give me crap for being near her, mostly because he wasn’t there to see it. But this morning she didn’t hug me back, she just continued to get the coffeepot ready, even with my arms wrapped around her. I almost cursed out loud when I realized what else today was.
    Spinning her around so she was facing me, I cupped her cheeks and bent down so I was closer to her eye level. “You gonna be okay today, darlin’?”
    She nodded and gave me a sad smile, her arms lightly wrapping around my waist. “I’m fine, it’s just hard. I wish he was here.”
    “I know you do.” I heard Tyler moving around so I let her go and pressed start on the coffeepot. “So what do you have planned for today? Tattoos, buying cigarettes, voting?” I winked and nudged her shoulder.
    “You’re so dumb. No, to all of the above. I don’t have many plans; I need to go to the bank though. Now that I’m eighteen, the bank accounts are in my name and I can use them.”
    “Bank accounts?”
    “Yeah, before he died, my dad started a savings account and a college account in both our names. But I wasn’t allowed to touch them until I turned eighteen. I wish I already had some of my own money, but when I turned sixteen and said I was going to get a job, Mom . . . well . . . let’s just say I wasn’t allowed.”
    I ground my teeth and forced my hands not to ball into fists. “You need a ride? I mean, you can wait for Ty if you want, but I don’t have any classes today, so I’ll take you if you want to get it done early.”
    “That’d be great, thanks, Gage.” She set about pouring the coffee into two mugs for us, and a travel mug for Tyler.
    Just as she finished, Tyler walked out and grabbed her hand, taking her to their room. I was glad they weren’t in there for more than two minutes; not much they could have done in that time.
    “What’s up, man?” Tyler shouldered past me as he grabbed his cup. “Take care of my woman this morning for me, okay?”
    I knew Cassidy must not have come back in with him if he was being all possessive. “Sure thing. Gonna go for a run, then I’ll take her to the bank to get all that stuff taken care of.” I looked around to the hall, then back to him. “We still taking her out tonight?”
    “Yep, you call everyone?”
    “Yeah, most of them are coming. Jackie, Dana, and Lanie for sure; Adam, Ethan, Grant, and some of the other guys will be there.”
    “Sounds good, I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
    “Later.”
    I sat at the table and started drinking my coffee, waiting for Cassidy to come join me like she did every morning, but she ran into the kitchen, gave me a small smile, and ran back to the room with her mug in her hand. Couple minutes later I heard the shower turn on so I put my mug in