Southern Secrets (Southern #7) - Natasha Madison Page 0,25

and the light off. I warm the food and take it to my bedroom with me.

The next morning, I wake up early, and even though I won’t admit it to myself, I walk out and see that he isn’t there. The coffee is started, but no food. I grab a cup and walk back into my room.

What is your problem? I ask myself, and I want to yell that this is what I wanted. The disappointment running through me makes my stomach burn and my heart ache just a tiny bit. I fight it back, reminding myself this is all for the best.

Getting to the barn, I say hello to everyone as I go to my desk. I walk back to the stalls to see if Willow or Quinn is there. When I don’t spot either of them, I take my phone out, and I’m about to call them when I hear a car door shut. My heart speeds up, my palms get sweaty, and my mouth suddenly goes dry.

I walk toward the barn door, and when I see that it’s my mother, this sudden letdown runs through me. "There is my girl," my mother says, smiling when she sees me. Walking to the passenger side of the truck, she opens it and grabs two white bags.

"Let me help you." I rush to her and grab a heavy bag from her.

"Thank you," she says, and she puts her arm around me as we walk back into the barn. "You look tired."

"I’m not," I answer her honestly. "What is all this?" I change the subject.

"That is for Asher," she says, and I want to roll my eyes. "He was at your grandparents’ yesterday, and your grandmother went on a shopping spree."

"He can buy his own clothes," I huff, walking to my car to dump the bags in there.

"What are you doing?" my mother asks me.

"I’ll bring them home to Asher," I say, and her eyebrows shoot up.

"Wait, he’s staying with you?" she asks me when I grab the bag from her hand and dump it into the back seat of my car.

"Yeah," I say, avoiding her eyes and closing the car door. "He helped me out."

"Is that a good idea?" my mother asks me softly.

"Why wouldn’t it be a good idea?" I fold my arms over my chest. "He needs help. What was I supposed to do?"

"Have you had coffee today?" my mother asks, trying to hide the sly smile.

"I’m fine," I say, annoyed. "I’m not tired. I’m helping a friend, and it’s fine."

She walks to me and puts her hand on my cheek, and I look at her. She looks the same she did when she was eighteen. "One of these days, someone is going to want to help you juggle all those balls you have in the air, and you are going to freak the fuck out."

"Mom!" I laugh. "You just said the f-word." I point at her.

"Damn straight, I did," she says. "Now, what is troubling you?"

"Nothing," I say, trying to figure it out myself. "I’m cranky, and I don’t know why, and it’s bothering me that I can’t fix why I’m cranky."

"Unless you know the answer and you don’t like it," my mother says, and it makes me put my head back and groan. "I have to get back to work." She kisses my cheek. "I’ll see you Sunday, yes?"

"Always," I say and watch her get into her truck and pull off.

I grab my phone and pull up Asher’s name. Going to the text.

Me: Where have you been?

I quickly delete it and start again.

Me: Haven’t seen you in a while.

I erase that also. "What the fuck?" I mumble.

Me: My mother dropped off clothes. Come and get them.

I stare at it for a good ten seconds before I delete it.

Me: My mother dropped off clothes for you. I’ll leave them at home.

I press send before I erase it and put my phone away, turning when the hair on the back of my neck flies up, and I feel someone watching me. I turn in a circle and look at the open field toward the dense bushes in the back. I see what looks like a little orange circle, and when I pick up my hand to put it over my eyes to see better, I can’t find it again.

Chapter 11

Asher

I get out of the truck after having to park almost in the street. I can hear the country music all the way over here. The parking lot is