Storm Front (The Charistown Series) (Volume 2) (11 page)

Stubbornness Works Both Ways

“DUDE, IF I had a camera, I could
ruin you right now,” Leo teased, not even trying to contain his laughter.
Ryan’s face must have displayed his confusion because Leo explained, “You are
so whipped. And look, as her brother, I am so fucking happy that she found a
great guy. But as your best friend, you look like a love sick puppy!”

Ryan couldn’t help but to release the laughter he’d tried to
hold in. Leo was a
call ‘em as you see ‘em
kind of guy. It was one of
the reasons why they’d remained so close for so long. That was also one of the
reasons Ryan had felt comfortable approaching Leo about his feelings for
Ashley. He’d known that good or bad, Leo would give it to him straight. There
would be no game playing about Leo’s best friend and his sister dating.

“Do I look that fucked up, man?”

“Worse,” Leo admitted. “Let’s go Ry, I think it’s time we
had a little chat about you and my baby sister.” Ryan cringed at the look on
his best friend’s face as they instructed the taxi to take them back to their
tour bus.

The bus was empty when they arrived. Jayson and Zane had
taken the day to visit Zane’s family in a town about an hour north so Ryan knew
they had plenty of time to talk candidly without being interrupted.

“So, here’s the deal, buddy,” Leo started, setting two beers
on the small Formica table in the dining section of the bus. “I get that things
between you and Ash are serious—”

“Leo,” Ryan went to interrupt but the way Leo lifted his
hand and closed his eyes told Ryan loud and clear that this conversation would
be one-sided for a little while.

“Man, you’re my best friend. I love you like a brother. But.
She. Is. My. Sister.” Leo emphasized each word. He hadn’t needed to. Ryan knew
how much Ashley meant to him. He sat in silence, waiting for Leo to continue.
“I would walk through fire for that girl. Do you understand?” When Ryan opened
his mouth, Leo’s
don’t interrupt me
stare had Ryan closing his mouth and
nodding his head without ever letting sound escape.

Taking a long pull of his beer, Leo closed his eyes in what
appeared to be contemplative thought. “I don’t know what you two have done, but
I know what you haven’t…done. I know you’ve been a perfect gentleman, while
she”—color rose in Leo’s cheeks—“has tested your willpower.”

Shifting his glance to the floor, Ryan allowed himself to
exhale the breath he’d been holding. He loved Leo like a brother but until that
moment he hadn’t realized how important it was that Leo really trusted him with
Ashley. He pulled his eyes back up and met his friend’s stare.

“I know you love her, Ry, I do. But, you wounded her with
that shit you pulled this weekend. Before you ask, yes, she told me about it.”
Leo cringed. “Thank God she spared me the full details, but I got the
highlights. Dude, how could you accuse her of being with someone else? How
fucked up is that shit? You and me, we’ve discussed this. I thought I’d finally
got through to you. Scott James is
not
an issue, man. YOU ARE THE
ISSUE!” He said as he slammed his hand down loudly on the table, jostling the
beer bottles.

Ryan couldn’t stop himself from interrupting. “Leo, you have
no idea. I’m the one that hears Jayson talking to Scott on the phone. From the
sounds of it, Scott is into her. Like
really
into her. And he’s making
his play. Did you know that they spend a lot of time together, both in school
and out? I’m sorry, but I don’t trust him any further than I can throw him.”

“Look at yourself. Look at your hands.”

Ryan looked down to see white knuckles and protruding veins.
He could feel the bite of his fingernails as they dug into the palms of his
hands. The realization had him unclenching his fists, slowly releasing the
tension. “Ryan, she came to me before we left on tour and asked me how she
could compete with the women who would be throwing themselves at you and I told
her that you loved her and that she needed to step back and trust you to make
the right choices.”

“I am! I haven’t so much as looked at another girl, you know
that, Leo! What are you accusing me of?” His heart thumped in his chest as his
breathing quickened.

Calm eyes surveyed his face as Leo watched Ryan intently
before saying quietly, “Nothing. I’m not accusing you of anything…and neither
is Ashley. Do you understand?”

Inhaling, Ryan stared back at Leo unable to form a response.
Did he understand? Yeah, he understood. He’d been a complete asshole. He was
the one making all of the accusations while Ashley sat back and trusted him
blindly. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he tried to wipe away the
idiotic
persona that had taken over his body.

“Do you think she’ll ever truly forgive me?” He whispered.
Fear froze the air in his lungs, making it almost impossible for him to speak
any louder.

Taking a couple more pulls from his beer before answering,
Leo smiled brightly at Ryan. “So, here’s the thing about Ashley.” He drained
his beer and set the bottle aside with a clink. “You know she is as stubborn as
a goddamn mule?”

“Yeah, I think I may have experienced that side of her a
time or two,” Ryan huffed although Leo’s relaxed face helped to lighten the
mood.

“Well, with my sister stubbornness works both ways.” Leo
chuckled. “Dude, promise me you’ll never play poker. Your face shows all of
your emotions and you have no idea what I’m even saying. Stubborn works both
ways, Ry. When Ashley is angry she’s angry with everything she has. But when
she loves…well, that girl loves the same way. Why do you think she always
forgives our sorry excuses for parents? She’s too fucking stubborn to give up
on them. Once someone is really truly in her heart, they will live there
forever. Now, that doesn’t give you the right to fuck with her. Because, best
friend or not, you only get so many chances to screw up before I kill you. But,
I think you guys are meant to be. So get your head out of your ass and stop
worrying about things that don’t matter. We clear?”

Ryan nodded. “Crystal.” Sitting up straight in the chair,
Ryan rubbed his palms over his jean clad legs, stared at Leo and nodded, “You
just do me a favor and tell Jayson to keep his fucking mouth shut when it comes
to Ashley?”

“You think I didn’t already take care of that? Ryan, she’s
my baby sister.” The growl in Leo’s voice was not to be mistaken. “I politely
explained that if he ever disrespected her in any way, ever again, he’d have to
learn how to play bass with his toes.”

Even though they both laughed at Leo’s comment, Ryan knew
that Leo was in no way joking, and he guessed that Jayson probably knew it as
well.

…As a Friend

“HEY, ASH, WAIT up.” Ashley heard
footsteps behind her as Scott quickened his pace to reach her just as she was
leaving the high school and heading for the parking lot. “I can’t believe we’re
heading into another hurricane. Jesus, this is one of the worst seasons I can
remember.”

He wasn’t wrong. They’d had ten hurricanes and tropical
storms that year in Florida—eight of them major. It was the last week in
October and the season should have been winding down but according to the
Weather Channel it was set to get worse. It looked like October and even
November might be filled with tropical storms and hurricanes.

Yuck. Ashley hated being home alone in her big house when
the violent weather hit. While she knew she should be used to the creaky sounds
the old house made when the winds hit the siding and the leaves on the trees
blew angrily, she’d never gotten over her fear of being whipped away by the
gale force winds, or drowned by the surge of angry water.

She’d seen so much devastation as a result of the hurricanes
over the years and since big storms meant big damage, her parents usually rode
out the storms at the hospital, waiting for victims to be brought in. When she
and Leo were young, they had nannies and caretakers watching over them. Once
they were old enough it had been just the two of them, holding on to each
other, waiting for the driving rains and wicked winds to pass.

This season, it had been just her in the house. Alone. On
the nights that Leo’s band wasn’t performing, he’d stayed on the phone with
her, whispering comforting words in her ear, and then she’d return the favor if
and when storms had hit wherever he was on the coast. They weren’t physically
together, but they weren’t worlds apart. She warmed at the thought, completely
forgetting that Scott was walking by her side.

“You’re shivering, Ash. Do you want my jacket?” She could
see the sincerity in his eyes and watched as he slid out of his rain slicker.
“We can’t have you getting sick. You have a long shift at the restaurant
tonight and don’t forget you’re covering for me tomorrow,” he said with a grin.

“Thanks for the jacket, Scott.” She pulled the sides closer
together and quickened her steps to move closer to her car. “I’ll see you in a
few minutes over at the restaurant.”

“You know, Ash, on the days we’re both working, we really
should just drive over together.”

His suggestion sounded logical but she knew that it would
look bad to anyone that cared to look into it. So she just shrugged her
shoulders and got into her car. The sky was a deep gray and thick low clouds
sat in wait, ready to crack under the pressure of the water tucked away inside
of them. She quickly called Ryan’s cell phone as she walked through the kitchen
to the staff room, and frowned when his voice mail picked up.

“Hi, honey, I’m heading into work and just wanted to call
and tell you that I love you. I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I
last kissed you. I miss you. Call me after your show. Bye.”

Turning her phone on vibrate, she put her things in her
locker and got ready for her shift. Standing by the mirror, she swept her long
golden tresses up into a messy bun and fastened it with a clip.

“Your hair always smells like the beach,” Scott whispered
into her ear from behind her, sending a gasp whooshing from her body. She
hadn’t even noticed him standing there until he’d spoken. Placing his hand on
her shoulder, he rubbed his thumb lightly along her shoulder blade. “Shh, calm
down Ash, I didn’t mean to startle you. I was just putting my stuff away and I
saw you standing here and, well, you just looked so damn pretty.”

“Scott—”

“No, just give me a second, Ash. We’ve been friends forever
and I know you have a boyfriend and all, but he’s never around.
Storm Front
is doing really well. Who knows what will happen with them and where that will
eventually leave you. Can’t you just give me a chance? I’m here and I care
about you. I know I can make you happy.” He looked so genuine—so sweet—but
Ashley only wanted one person, and it wasn’t Scott James.

“Scott, I adore you…as a friend. You know that. But, I’m in
love with Ryan and I always will be. He holds my heart and soul. I’m sorry. I
don’t want to hurt you because you’re right, we’ve been friends forever and I’d
like to keep it that way. Okay?”

“Sure, Ash, no problem. I’d never have forgiven myself if I
hadn’t tried though.”

She could see the defeat in his warm green eyes and she felt
bad for her friend, but the only thing she could offer him—or any other guy for
that matter—was friendship. Her heart had already been given to someone and she
had a feeling that she was never getting it back.

“Hey, Scott?”

He turned around quickly, longing etched on his face as he
waited on her words. “Tell the guys I said hello when you see them this
weekend. Wait until you see how much better they’ve gotten since they started
this tour. You’ll be really proud of them, especially your brother.”

He nodded silently and then went out into the dining room.
Ashley followed after him to start what would be a very quiet and marginally
awkward shift.
I hope his being aware helps him get over this weirdness
,
she thought to herself.