Deep Burn (Burned Duet 2)

“Because…” I left the single word

hanging in the air.

Her brows rose. “What about Lara and Jez?”

“They’re guesting in a few other shops until I figure out what I’m gonna do.”

She tilted her head to the side, and I shuffled in my seat. “What are you not telling me, Asher?” I didn’t answer her. I couldn’t. I’d already made the decision in my mind that I was closing up shop there. She didn’t need to be constantly reminded about what happened in that place. “Are you doing this because of me?”

I glanced over at Mom and Dad, silently asking them for their help, but they were focused on Elodie, as were the rest of the table. “I—”

“Are you serious, Asher?” She stood, the legs on her chair scraping against the floor. “You can’t close the shop because of me.” She looked panicked, her shaking hands gripping on to the base of her neck. “You need to go back and open it. You’re going to lose clients and—”

“Nope.” I placed my fork on the edge of my plate. “I’m not going back until you’re ready to. Even if it takes a year.” I shrugged, trying to act indifferent, but from the way her face was turning red, it wasn’t working. “I might even move the shop.”

“Don’t be stupid.” She chortled, the sound so weird coming from her lips. “You can’t do that.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “We’re going home after this holiday, and you’re gonna open back up.” My lips quirked at the corner, and I leaned back in my chair. I liked bossy Elodie. “It doesn’t matter whether you work from there or anywhere else, the memories will always be in here.” She tapped the side of her head. “I refuse to let you uproot what you’ve spent so much time building.”

“It doesn’t bother me—”

“It bothers me.” Her chest moved rapidly. “He’s not going to win. I refuse to let him win.” She stared me down, not giving even an inch of leeway. “I’m done with him winning.”

“Yeah, girl!” Belle shouted, throwing her hand up in the air. “You tell him.”

“Belle,” Mom ground out.

“What?” Belle shrugged. “She’s right. She can’t keep letting him win. I spent years afraid of everything after this.” She pointed at the scar on her neck, and Elodie turned to face her. “Every time I went out of the house, I wondered if something would happen. I’d constantly be looking over my shoulder.” She let out a breath, and I hated seeing the pain on my sister’s face. “I wouldn’t go out. I stayed inside all day, hiding away from the world. But it didn’t do me any good.” She smiled at Elodie, the kind of smile that told her she understood how she was feeling. “The moment you tell him he’s not going to win is when you get your control back.”

“I want that,” Elodie whispered, and it was as if no one else was in the room. “I don’t want to feel…” She pulled in a breath and held it for several seconds, but it did nothing to keep the tear rolling down her cheek at bay. “Trapped. I want to be free. Free from my past.”

“You can do it,” Dad said, his voice soft. “This family has been through so much sadness and look at all of us.” He stood and moved toward her. “And you’re part of this family now, Elodie.” He smiled down at her, the same smile he used on Belle and Aria. “We’ve got your back. Always.”

Elodie hiccupped a sob, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I couldn’t sit here and watch her fall apart. She needed more time to heal. I pushed my chair back and stood, prepared to catch her when she fell.

“You do?”

“We do,” Dad answered her, and without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. “You’re never alone. Not now. Not with us.”

Elodie grabbed on to the front of his T-shirt as Mom stood, and it was only seconds until she was joining in on the hug as well, whispering something in her ear.

“Well, shit.” Ford leaned back in his seat. “I feel like crying now too.”

Belle snorted, but as I turned to face her, tears streamed down her cheeks. “This is so sad and happy all at the same time.” She pushed her chair back and ran over to them. “I want in on this hug too.” She wrapped her arms around Mom and Elodie, and they parted a little to let her in.

“Me too!” Leo shouted and scampered out of his seat.

Slowly, everyone moved from their seats and joined them. But I stayed standing there, wondering how I’d managed to be born into a family like this one. They loved hard, supported the people who they cared about, and fought for what was right.

I took a step toward them as they started to part, and by the time I made it to them, Elodie was standing in the middle, wiping the tears from her face. “Elodie,” I whispered, and it was all she needed to dart toward me and wrap her arms around my waist. I held her tight, not willing to let go.

“I think we should go home,” she murmured into my chest.

I blew out a breath, knowing deep down it was the best thing for her now. She’d had time away, she’d started to heal, but what she needed were people around her who would have her back. She needed the support of a family—our family. “I think we should too.” I pulled back a little and placed my hands on the sides of her face. “When you say home, what do you—”

“Your home.” Her lips pulled up on one side in a small smile. “Our home.”

“So, you’ll move in?” I asked, my eyes wide. I was sure she was going to say no. She was fiercely independent, and that was just one of the reasons I loved her so much.

“I will.” She lifted up onto her tiptoes, then placed a kiss on my cheek.