Hold the Forevers

“Hey. This is a surprise,” he said easily.

“Can you meet me at the park?”

“Uh …”

“Please, Ash,” I said, my voice breaking.

He was silent before answering, “Yeah, give me a few minutes.”

“Thank you.”

I hung up and drove straight to Forsyth Park. It was busy for Easter Sunday, but I found a parking spot nearby. I hadn’t changed out of my heels and was regretting it as I crossed the cobbled streets and into the park. I walked the Spanish moss–lined walkway to the fountain and took a seat at the base while I waited.

It was another twenty minutes before Ash Talmadge walked to the fountain. His gaze was set on mine, and his stride quickened. “Hey, is everything okay?”

“No,” I said. “I didn’t know if you’d be able to get away.”

“Well, no one was happy about it, least of all Heather, but you sounded upset.”

“You told her you were coming to see me?”

He nodded. “I told her it was an emergency.”

“I bet she didn’t like that. I’m sorry.”

He took a seat next to me by the fountain. “What happened?”

“So, you know how my mom had a kidney transplant after I was born?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it’s rejecting, and she’s back on the transplant list.”

“Fuck,” he whispered.

“I know.”

“Lila, I’m so sorry. That’s terrible.”

“She’s okay for now,” I told him. “But it’s going to get worse, and she doesn’t want any of us girls to get tested to see if we’re a match. She said she can’t take an organ from a kid or whatever.”

“That sounds like your mom.”

“I know,” I said, and then I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst into tears. I didn’t want my mom to die. I didn’t want her to wait forever on a transplant list with no hope. I couldn’t be away from her while she was going through this.

Ash didn’t say anything at all; he just pulled me into his arms and held me there. Let me cry on his expensive suit without a word. He ran a hand through my hair as I let it all out.

I sniffled and swiped a hand under my eyes. “I know this sounds so selfish, but now, I have no idea what to do about PT school.”

“That doesn’t sound selfish, Lila.”

“But why am I even thinking about myself right now?”

“Because you love your mom, and now, you’re reconsidering your life.”

“Yeah,” I whispered. I debated telling him the truth. I could have held it back and not let him know, but he was telling Heather everything. Actually, he was dating Heather. So, why should he care about what I was going to say? “I was going to move to San Francisco.”

Ash stiffened. “For PT school?”

I nodded.

“Why?”

Our eyes met.

“You know why.”

“Ah,” he said, his jaw tightening. “I didn’t realize you two were still talking.”

“We aren’t really,” I admitted. “But it felt like maybe we would if I moved there.”

“That’s a big move for a maybe.”

He wasn’t wrong. I’d thought about it so much over the last six months of applications. But a part of me knew that if I went there, it would work out. The only reason Cole and I had ever had real problems was distance and the man sitting right next to me.

“What are you going to do?”

I choked. “I don’t know.”

“Okay. Think about it like this: if something happened with your mom and you were a thousand miles away, how would you feel?”

“I can hardly stomach the idea of being four hours away.”

“Then that’s your answer.”

Fuck. I hated when he was right. And I knew he was. There was only one answer. It had nothing to do with Cole and everything to do with my mom. I’d never forgive myself if I wasn’t here when she needed me.

“Thanks, Ash.”

He released my shoulder now that I didn’t look like I was going to fall apart. “Always, Lila.”

Our eyes met, and something passed between us. A current of energy. The same feeling I’d always had with Ash. Even through my anger.

I coughed and shuffled a little further away. He was dating someone. I had been prepared to move across the country for Cole. Ash might be acting like my friend right now, but I hadn’t been wrong when I said we were complicated.

“You should get back to Heather,” I said carefully.

He nodded and stood. “I probably should.”

“I should talk to Cole.”

His gaze was dark as he said, “Tell him I said hi.”

I glared at him. “Don’t be an ass.”

He smirked. “Can’t help myself. I kind of hate that guy.”

“I’m sure the feeling is mutual.”

“I’m sure it is,” he said as he bent down and kissed my cheek. “Call me if you need me.”

Then he strode away, leaving me alone to call Cole and ruin any chance we’d had at getting back together. He practically had a skip in his step. Bastard.