Rich Prick – Tijan Page 0,63

The guy who held me, made me feel loved, who had started to show me a world I never thought I’d see, much less walk in?

I wanted to kill this guy.

“It was your father? Who did that to you?”

Blaise jerked toward me, and he stiffened even more. “Aspen.”

Zeke watched me. After a moment, he grinned. “I like you.”

I glanced at him, but stayed focused on my question. “Your father? Your non-bio dad did that?”

Blaise didn’t answer, but his eyes were bleak.

Zeke answered, “Yeah. His non-bio dad.”

I shoved my chair back.

“Where are you going?”

I picked up my phone. “My brother. He knows people who can hurt that man.”

Blaise muttered a curse. He shoved his chair back and took the phone from my hands. “Aspen, no.”

I looked at him. “He needs to hurt. A lot.”

He smiled down at me, his hand on my hip. “I know, and he will, but I gotta make sure he doesn’t hurt my real dad.”

I waited. “Your real dad?”

“My real dad beat the crap out of him last night. He was whaling on him when we walked inside.”

Wait. “Really?”

He nodded, sliding my phone into his pocket. “It’s all good. I won’t let him hurt anyone else I care about, but he’s hurting today. I bet he can’t even piss standing up.”

That made me feel better. Some of the tightness eased. “Good. He shouldn’t piss standing for the rest of his life.”

Zeke lifted his fist. “I really like you.”

Then it hit me what Blaise had gone through. There were pieces and holes, but I was putting together what had happened last night.

And he’d come to me.

He came to me.

I wanted to cry.

“Aspen.” Blaise’s voice came out thick. He was feeling it too.

I pressed my forehead to his chest, grabbing ahold of his shirt. His fingers slid through my hair.

I slid my arms around his waist and held on. After a moment’s hesitation, Blaise wrapped his arms around me too. We held each other, ignoring the world around us, or just Zeke since it was only him here.

Blaise leaned down to my ear. “Later I’m going to show you how much your reaction means to me.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

I looked into his eyes.

They blazed with an emotion that made my throat swell.

I didn’t dare name it. If I did, I’d fall even harder, faster. And I was scared of what I already felt.

“I wish Owen could’ve met you,” I whispered.

“Babe.” His face transformed with such tenderness and warmth. He cupped my face with both hands and lowered his head, his lips finding mine.

Yes. Owen would’ve liked him. He would’ve liked him a whole bunch.

The three of us hung out the rest of the day.

Blaise suggested the pool, so we swam for the next couple hours. Miss Sandy brought out swim trunks for both of the guys. I went up to my room to change. I pulled out a one-piece and a bikini, laying them both on my bed.

I couldn’t decide.

I’d normally grab the one-piece, but Blaise was here, and I wanted to look good for him.

It wasn’t until Miss Sandy knocked once on the door, stuck her head in, and said, “The bikini, Miss Aspen,” that I made my choice.

She came in and disappeared into my closet. After I changed in the bathroom, she held out a cover-up for me. I took it, feeling sophisticated for maybe the first time in my life.

She took my hand and whispered, “I like your boy very much, even if he did stay the night.”

I nodded, fighting a blush. “Me too.”

“We’ll bring lunch out to you and your guests,” she said as she retreated. “They’re already enjoying the pool.”

“Miss Sandy.”

She paused, glancing back.

“Thank you.”

She nodded, her eyes blinking a few times. “Of course, Miss Aspen.” She started to leave, but looked back once more. “It’s nice to hear laughter in the house again. It’s been a long time.”

Oh. Now I was crying.

I took a deep breath, pulled the cover-up on, slid my feet into sandals, and headed downstairs. She was right. It’d been a long time coming, and I was going to enjoy this moment.

Who knew when I might get another one like it.

32

Blaise

It was nice to spend the day with Aspen and Zeke. My girlfriend and my best bud were getting along. Zeke didn’t bring up the party again, and I was grateful. That would’ve made Aspen tense. I didn’t want to put her in a situation she wasn’t ready for. Having Zeke here was a big deal,