Finding You: The Switched Series book one (7 page)

“It’s fine. Molly woke up so they are all at the hospital today. I’m just hanging out.”

“How did everything go meeting everybody?”

“It was fine, they seem really nice, I just don’t know how long I want to stay here. I think it was a really bad idea. Everything just seems like a mess,” I say, feeling the tears starting to form in my eyes.

“Don’t leave before talking to them again. I’m on my way with your car, but it will be early in the morning before I can get it there. Where are you staying so I can drop it off? I’ll leave the keys under the seat. You will probably feel better when you can get around.”

“I’m staying with Brody,” I say to him still thinking about what just happened outside. What is Ash’s problem with me?

“I’m not sure where Brody lives. Do you have the address?”

“No, I have no idea. Middle of nowhere back road should do it,” I say, while he just laughs.

“What’s it close to?” he asks, still laughing.

“Trees and grass,” I say. “I have no idea. He lives with some guy named Ash. Do you know him?”

“You are staying with Ash?” he asks, sounding very concerned. What is the deal with all of these men? Is Ash really that bad?

“Yes, only until I get my car and can get to a hotel,” I say, going into the bathroom to shower.

“Okay, I’ll let you go. I’ll have your car there in the morning. Let me know if you need anything else. Get some rest, you sound tired,” he says, before hanging up.

I go into the bathroom and get these stinky horse smelling clothes off of me. I jump in the hot shower and finally try to relax. I really need to forget about Ash. Sure I loved talking to him today and really loved looking at him, but I came here to meet a family, not find him. Doesn’t matter anyway, he seems to hate me now.

I get out of the shower and put on pajama pants and a tank top before drying my hair. I open the door to try and sneak into Brody’s bedroom only to find Ash standing across from the door looking at me.

“I’m sorry about what happened out there. You didn’t do anything and I shouldn’t have acted like that,” he says.

“It’s no big deal, don’t worry about it. It was a bad idea for me to come here. I should have my car in the morning. I will just stay tonight and I promise to be out of your way in the morning,” I say, turning to walk down the hall. He grabs my arm and pulls me back to him.

“I don’t want you to go,” he says putting both of his hands on the sides of my face to make me look up at him. “I want…..I just want…..”

“What do you want Ash?” I ask him looking up into those beautiful eyes that still seem so familiar. Have I met him before?

“You,” he says, before his lips are on mine and he is kissing me…..hard. As soon as the moan escapes my throat he is pushing me away from him. “Brody is going to shoot me. Just so you know, that was definitely worth it,” he says, before heading in the other direction.

“Why would Brody shoot you?” I ask him. He turns around and smiles.

“He told me you were off limits and I better not touch you. I guess I’m not very good at following directions,” he says, smiling and winking before walking outside and closing the door.

I have no idea what is going on with Ash, but I know if I never kiss another man again, that will be fine. I don’t think any kiss in the world could live up to that one. I really should get out of here as soon as possible.

Chapter Eight

              I don’t know where Ash went when he left me standing in the hallway after that kiss. I’m assuming he went outside to do whatever you do when you have a farm. It’s only eight o’clock on a June night, but it is already so dark outside. The weather must be getting really bad tonight.

              I go into the kitchen to see if I can find something to cook for supper. I don’t know if Ash will want anything to eat when he gets in. For all I know he has already gone out and gotten something. I really can’t figure this one out at all. I decide on stir fry because it’s easy and will keep me busy for a few minutes. I’m almost finished when I hear the door open and turn around to see a soaking wet Ash standing in the doorway. I didn’t even realize it had started raining.

              “That smells really good and I’m starving, so I hope you made enough for me,” he says, looking at the stove.

              “I might have made enough for two. You may want to get dried off first,” I say, looking at him.

              “I’m going to take a quick shower. You may want to turn the weather on and see what’s going on. It looks awful outside. I’ll hurry,” he says, heading to the bathroom to shower. I go over and turn the television on. I have been watching the weather a few minutes when my phone starts ringing. I grab my phone and look down to see Brody calling.

              “Hello,” I answer.

“Hey Callie, how’s the weather there?”

“It’s really dark and raining. I had just turned the weather on when you called.”

“I think we are all going to stay here tonight since the storms are so bad here right now. If you are uncomfortable staying there with Ash, tell me and I will get back tonight somehow, or I can make him go somewhere else.”

“You are not coming home in this weather and you are not kicking him out of his own house. It will be fine. I’m not big on storms, so I would rather somebody be here with me anyway.”

“Is Ash there? I tried to call his phone, but he didn’t answer.”

“He is in the shower. He was outside doing something and just got in. Do you want him to call you when he gets out?”

“No, I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Is he treating you okay?” he asks. What an odd question. Why is everybody so worried about him?

“Of course he is, he even took me horseback riding and it was so much fun,” I say, hoping he gets off the Ash subject really quick. “How is Molly?” I ask him trying to change the subject.

“She’s good. They think she may get to go home tomorrow,” he answers.

“Have y’all told her about me yet?”

“We did. She took it pretty good. I think she was glad you weren’t here with us today. I think this is going to be a lot harder than we thought. She’s pretty upset her biological parents are dead and she will never get to meet them. I think mom has convinced her to come home with them for now so she will have someone to take care of her. She seemed a little surprised they still wanted her there. This is all just a really awkward situation. I’m sorry we all left you alone today.”

“It’s fine, don’t worry about me. My car should be here in the morning and I think it would be best if I stayed in a hotel the rest of the time. I really hate putting people out,” I say, hoping he will understand I need some space too.

“Absolutely not, we will figure something out, but I don’t want you staying by yourself. Are you sure Ash is being nice?”

“Of course he is. Why would you even think that?”

“Ash has been through a lot. He doesn’t let a lot of people in and sometimes he comes across as being really rude. He hates to talk about himself and his family. So I guess, just don’t ask him any questions and you should be fine,” he says.

“I will try to remember that,” I say, just as Ash comes back into the kitchen dressed in a t-shirt and sweat pants. I never knew they could look that good on a man. I’m trying to process what Brody has just told me. It makes no sense to me. Ash told me a little about himself today and his little sister. Maybe that’s what upset him so much today. Maybe it wasn’t me after all.

“Try to stay safe tonight and I will be back tomorrow. Tell Ash to remember what I said,” he adds with a laugh. “Bye Callie.”

“Bye,” I say, before hanging up. I look up to see Ash looking out the window at the weather.

“This weather is getting rough,” he says. “Was that your boyfriend?” he adds, still looking out the window. My boyfriend, why would he think I have a boyfriend?

“I don’t have a boyfriend. If I did, the hallway wouldn’t have happened. Actually nothing today would have happened.” I go into the kitchen again and start looking for plates. How could he think I would have acted like that with him if I had a boyfriend? Does he really think that little of me? I am so mad right now. I get both of our plates ready and practically throw them on the table while he just stands there.

I go over to look through the drawers for flatware when he comes up behind me.               He wraps an arm around my shoulder and leans his chin on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. I told you stuff today that I have never told anyone. I don’t know why, but you make me want to tell you stuff. I want you to know the real me. Then I saw the phone call and just thought the worst. I am sorry.” What phone call is he talking about? I look up at him and shake my head trying to figure out what he is talking about.

“Clay,” he whispers.

“Oh. Clay is like my second dad. He just calls to check up on me sometimes. Definitely nothing going on there,” I say, grabbing the forks and walking back to the table.

“It’s none of my business, like I said, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I say, sitting down at the table. Ash comes and sits beside me. “This looks really good. Thanks for fixing it.”

“You’re welcome. I have to warn you that I’m not a very good cook. I can only make about four different things.” We get half way through supper when I remember that Brody had called.

“Brody called. That’s who I was talking to when you came in here. He said since the weather was so bad they were all staying in Nashville tonight.” I say, watching Ash take a deep breath.

“I guess it’s just me and you tonight. I can’t believe he left you here with me. He will probably show up in the middle of the night to make sure we are where we’re supposed to be,” he says, winking at me. It’s amazing what that little gesture does to my stomach.  

“He said to tell you that you better remember what he said,” I say, smiling at him. “What did he say to you?”

“I told you he said he would shoot me if I touched you and I believe him. I hope you can keep a secret if you want me to live,” he says, getting up to put our dishes in the dishwasher. “You cooked, so I will clean up. Do you want to watch a movie when I finish up in here?”

“Sure, but I will help clean up. I made the mess.” We clean the kitchen in comfortable silence. In a way I am really glad Brody is gone tonight, but then again it would be nice to have another person here to keep the conversation going. The closer it got time to watch a movie, the more nervous I was feeling.

“There are some movies in the cabinet under the TV. They are mostly guy movies, pick out whatever you want to watch,” Ash says, when we are finally finished cleaning. He wasn’t kidding; these are all killing or war movies. I don’t know if I can handle this so close to bed. I finally find one on the bottom that doesn’t look too bad so I grab it. I take it over and hand it to Ash.

“One of my favorites,” he says, walking over to put it in. He grabs the remote off the top and comes over to sit by me. I have no idea how this can be one of his favorite movies. I am bored out of my mind and pretty sure if my body wasn’t so aware of his so close to me I would be asleep by now. I can’t stop the giant yawn that comes out of my mouth.

“Am I boring you?” Ash asks, laughing.

“Not at all, it’s just been a really long day.”

“You can go to bed if you want, you won’t hurt my feelings.”

“I have to see how it ends now, I would never be able to go to sleep not knowing,” I say, yawning again. Ash just laughs and puts his arm around me pulling me closer. When I lay my head on his shoulder, he kisses the top of my head. I don’t know how it happened, but this moment right now is the safest I have felt in ten years. I wish I could make it last forever.

I open my eyes when I feel Ash trying to push me off of him.

“Callie, you have to wake up. I think Brody decided to come home early. There’s a truck out there. Let me up and I’ll see if it’s him.” I look up to see the weather is back on the TV. I look at the clock and it is already after midnight. I can’t believe I fell asleep in here. Ash stands up just as the door opens and Brody and Jaxon are both coming in the door.

“What’s going on?” Brody asks looking back and forth from me to Ash. Ash is just standing there looking at him in the guiltiest way. Has this guy never had to tell a little white lie really quickly before?

“We were keeping an eye on the weather. It’s storming out there,” I say to Brody.

“I know it’s storming, I just drove two hours in this awful mess to get here,” Brody says.

“Why, I thought you were going to stay there?” I ask him.  He actually looks embarrassed.

“I knew you didn’t sleep well at night sometimes. I got to thinking about what you said last night and I didn’t want to leave you here alone. I didn’t know Ash would stay up all night babysitting you,” he says, giving Ash the I want to kill you look again.

“That’s really sweet, but you didn’t have to do that. I’ve made it twenty six years without you. I think I could have made it one night. Besides, he wasn’t babysitting me. He was keeping a watch on the weather. I’m the one who fell asleep. Thank you for coming back though.”

“Why don’t you sleep?” Ash asks, sitting back down beside me. This is not a conversation I want to have with an audience. It’s actually a little embarrassing right now with all of these boys looking at me.

“Can we talk about it later?” I whisper to him laying my hand on his leg. “Please, I’ll tell you, just not right now.” He nods his head at me and smiles before looking at my hand on his leg. I pull it back really fast when Brody walks over to me.

“Are you sure I’m not missing something here? What have you two been doing all night?” he asks, sitting in the chair across from me. I was about to answer when the entire house lit up from a huge streak of lightning followed by a boom so loud it shook the house. Brody and Ash both jumped up and ran to the window. I followed them to the window not having any idea what I was supposed to be looking for. 

“Do you think it got the barn?” Brody asks looking at Ash.

“It could have. I’m going to check on the horses. I’ll be right back,” Ash says, grabbing a raincoat out of the closet.

“You can’t go out in this. Did you not just hear that?” I say, grabbing Ash’s arm before he goes out the door. He looks at Brody then back at me.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to make sure the horses can’t get out. I’ll be right back,” he says, grabbing my hand.

“I’ll go with him,” Brody says to me. “Jaxon, stay here with her. Don’t let her come outside. We’ll be right back,” he says, before heading out the door with Ash.

I turn around to find Jaxon sitting in the chair Brody just got out of smiling. How can he be smiling right now? Is he not worried about them even a little?

“What was really going on before we got here?” he asks, with the same smug look Brody usually has.

“I told you. I fell asleep and Ash was watching the weather,” I say.

“I actually believe you. You are a really good liar. Unfortunately for you, Ash is a sucky liar. Lucky for you both, I don’t think Brody has his gun on him.”

“He would not shoot him,” I say, watching Jaxon shrug.

“You’re probably right, he won’t shoot him. He might punch him though. For some reason Brody is very protective of you,” he says, narrowing his eyes on me. He sits up in the chair and rests his chin in his hands. “By the way, you never denied something going on. You may want to work on that before Brody gets back.”

I look back at him. I guess I forgot these boys are all trained to find out the truth and to know when someone is lying. At least this one seems okay with everything.

I finally hear the door open and turn around to see Ash and Brody coming back inside. Ash doesn’t look like he’s been punched, so maybe everything is okay.

“The lightning struck a tree next to the barn. Everything is okay. It looks like the worst of the storm is over,” Ash says, taking his raincoat off.

“I guess I will head home,” Jaxon says standing up out of the chair. “You are welcome to stay with me,” he says to Brody on the way out.

“I’m good on the couch,” he says. “I need to talk to Callie anyway.”

“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Do you want me to stay?” he asks Brody. What is going on now?

“It’s up to you, but you don’t have to,” he says to Jaxon. Jaxon just looks at me a minute before heading to the door.

“I think I’ll head out, it’s late. I’ll come by and talk to you tomorrow,” he says, looking at me. I’m not sure what we have to talk about, but it must be important.

“Okay,” I say, trying to figure out what is going on. He almost gets to the door when he turns around and comes back to give me a hug. “I’m really glad, just so you know,” he says, before turning around and walking out the door. Once again I feel like I am missing out on some big news.