Torn(54)

I told her to leave it up. I like it there. It's a reminder of what my soul looks like when it's shredded into a million pieces. It's also a reminder of the woman who helped repair it, piece-by-piece.

"I hired a new assistant yesterday." Falon turns towards Shirley." She's fresh out of photo school but she's part-time. I could use some help the other days. Do you want to come down and help out? Clara can get you on payroll."

Shirley's blank expression shifts instantly. "You'd do that for me, Fal?"

"I'd do anything for you." She tugs on her sister's frail shoulders. "Would you consider doing something for me?"

"What?" Shirley's chin jumps in an act of defiance. "It's the meetings, isn't it? You want me to go to those meetings again. I don't know anyone there, Fal. I feel alone."

"We're talking about Narcotic's Anonymous?" I interject because I see promise in her. I see what my brother, Gabriel, saw in me when I was drowning in my addictions. "I go three times a week. You want to tag along with me?"

"You'd go with me?" Shirley asks hesitantly. "You really go to meetings?"

"I always go to meetings." I wrap my arm around Falon's waist. "It doesn’t matter what city I'm in, I find a meeting. Whenever I'm here in New York, we'll go together. Shirley. I'll be right beside you."





CHAPTER 43


Falon




"I think you are my newest celebrity crush." I brush my lips across his cheek. "What you're doing for my sister is unbelievable, Asher. I don't know how to thank you."

He turns to look at me. We're sitting at the long, narrow dining room table that my entire family just gathered around to enjoy our Sunday dinner. Tonight's menu was Italian and as Asher dug in to the lasagna that my mom and sisters worked so hard to prepare, he told them how wonderful it was. He complimented my mom on the bread and spoke to each of my siblings individually. I was proud, proud to be with him, proud to know him.

"Your parents call you Girlie," he whispers as he leans in close to me. "They call all of your sisters that and your brothers…"

"Lads," I interrupt him. "It's been that way for a very long time."

He kisses me softly. "You work so hard because of that, don't you?"

I draw in a shallow breath. "I work hard because I'm trying to build my business."

"No one has ever cherished you, Falon." His voice cracks. "You never stood out here."

I bow my head. My family has assembled in the next room to talk about the birthday cakes and special orders that they need to focus on this week. "I love my family, Asher."

"They love you too." He rests his head against mine. "I love you too."

My heart constricts at the words. There are so many things I want to say back. Words that mirror his and others about feeling lost in Philadelphia and being unsure about my work and his and what our schedules would mean for a future together.

I look up and into his eyes. They reflect his words. I see so much there. I move forward, cupping my hands over his face, pulling his lips onto mine.

I kiss him then, softly, slowly, the pressure just right, the taste exquisite.

"I love you too, Asher," I whisper as I slide my lips along his cheek to his ear. "I love you too."

***

"I had Daniel, the head of my security team, go see Karen."

My head darts up. I've been working on some of the photographs of the Reynolds family since we got back to Asher's apartment after dinner. "Does she live in New York?"

"No." He sits next to me on the couch. "She was visiting her family here. She's living in Tennessee now."

I'm glad to hear it. I felt exposed after that call. "I still don't understand how she knew my number."

He slides closer to me, until he's resting his hand on my knee. "Daniel told me that she stopped by the recording studio to see me. She called a mutual friend who gave her the address. He's not a mutual friend anymore."

I scratch my forearm before I finally look at his face. "That doesn’t explain how she knew my cell number. I was at the studio with you but I didn't have a sign around my neck with my name written across it."

"She's gone back to Tennessee now." He cups his hand over mine. "There's also a restraining order in place now. She can't come anywhere near me or you, for that matter."

My stomach lurches. I try to tug my hand away, but he holds tight.

"It's a precautionary move, Falon. She followed you and Eli from my studio to your apartment. She was outside the next morning and she followed you to your studio. Your name is on the building's master list by the buzzers. She put two and two together and found your site which has your number listed."

My head spins with all that information. "Why would she do that? You ended things years ago."

"She's recently divorced. She saw that picture of the two of us online and it triggered something in her."

This is what I don't want. I don't want my entire life upended because he's famous. I like to be hidden away, in a safe corner of New York, doing work that I'm proud of.