Ash tenses, and I curse myself inwardly for reminding him of other stressful times. “So… you think I shouldn’t be worried about Zane?”
“I think you shouldn’t feel guilty.”
He flinches, and I know I’ve put my finger on the source of his unease. “It’s as if I… as if I didn’t do enough to help him, to solve the mystery, and…”
“But there was no mystery after all.” I frown at him. “Was there? You just said it was all in Zane’s mind.”
“Yeah.” But something isn’t sitting well with him, that much is obvious. He’s not convinced.
“I thought you were sad that Zane had a relapse.” I sit up, too, to look him in the eye. “I thought you’d be upset that he’ll go to see a psychiatrist. That it was all in his head. But instead you’re upset because you weren’t able to prove he was right, that he’d been abused as a child. What gives? Why?”
“Because…something’s bugging me.” Ash’s gaze is clear like glass, cutting me deep, ho
nest and bright, making the shadows lurking in it all the darker. “But fuck, for the life of me, Auds… I can’t tell what it is.”
***
Megan looks amazing in her wedding gown. Kayla, Ocean’s girl and our resident fashion designer, stands back, hands on her hips, giving it a critical look.
“Turn.”
Megan turns in a slow circle. The red fabric molds over her curves, the skirt flaring over her hips, gold thread circling her waist.
“Beautiful,” I breathe.
Megan splays her hands under her breasts. “It doesn’t make my tummy look big? I swear, it’s never going to be flat again.”
Shaking my head, I stifle a snort, because I’d been waiting for my tummy to get flat again, only there’s no chance of it happening now. “You look great, honestly.”
“Not to brag,” Kayla drawls a little, eyes half-closed as she surveys her work, “I did a good job.”
Megan lifts a brow.
Kayla laughs. “And you’re super pretty, so stop fretting.” She brushes invisible lint from the front of the dress. “Rafe will be drooling all over you. Maybe I should add a towel to the ensemble.”
That finally makes Megan laugh, and I glance around, searching for Dakota. She was here a moment ago, I swear.
I go looking for her. Megan and Rafe’s apartment is spacious with tall ceilings and big windows opening over the city. A thin baby wail leads me toward what turns out to be a TV room. Dakota is sitting on the couch, the baby in her arms. She’s staring off into space, rocking her son gently.
“Hey. Couldn’t find you.” I sit down beside her. “Megan has tried on her dress, and Erin will arrive any moment now to try on hers. Don’t you want to see?”
She draws in an unsteady breath. “What’s the use?”
“The use of what?”
“All this. Weddings. Dresses. Having fun. I can’t…” Her head dips. “Can’t pretend everything’s okay anymore.”
“Oh, girl…” My heart is so heavy. I put my arm around her. “You don’t have to pretend. Not with us. Would you rather go home?”
“No.”
I frown. “Did something else happen?”
“He’s not okay, Audrey.” Her voice hitches. “He can’t sleep. He can’t function right. He’s so tired he can’t walk straight. Today he told Rafe to cancel his appointments at the shop again. His hands are shaking too badly to ink.”
Oh God. I drag her to my side, pull her until she’s leaning against me. “Did he go to see the therapist?”
“He did. Do you…?” She sniffles and it breaks my heart. “Do you believe it, too?”