Her life! GxG! Intersex! (Book 1)

178

The soft sound from the living room faded again, like Emma had only shifted in her sleep and settled back down. The three of them stayed still for a second, listening, until the house went quiet once more.

Ashley let out a breath and looked back at Abigail. The edge she usually carried was gone, replaced by something steadier, more sincere.

"Hey," she said, stepping a little closer. "I understand how you're feeling. Seeing her pass out had me scared too."

Abigail looked at her, surprised by how direct she was being.

Ashley shrugged slightly, glancing away for a second before looking back. "For real. I know I joke a lot, but that had me shook."

Megan nodded beside her. "Yeah," she said softly. "I was worried too when Ashley told me."

Her eyes settled on Abigail warmly.

"But I knew she had you in her corner," Megan continued. "And I knew you were going to make sure she was okay."

That landed deeper than Abigail expected.

She looked down for a second, swallowing quietly.

"I was trying," she said, voice low.

"You did more than try," Megan replied immediately. "You got her help. You stayed calm. You got her home."

Ashley pointed lightly at her. "Exactly."

Then her expression shifted into something more practical, more serious.

"But listen to me," Ashley said. "If you want somebody with her twenty-four seven, I don't mind."

Abigail blinked. "What?"

"I'm serious," Ashley said. "I usually just stay home and paint while Megan is in class and stuff. If you need me to be there with her, I can."

Megan nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Ashley kept going. "If you need me to sit in classes with her, I can do that too. If you need somebody to drive her somewhere, bring her food, make sure she resting—whatever."

Abigail stared at her for a second, caught off guard by how genuine it was.

"You don't have to—"

"Yes I do," Ashley cut in. "Because that's family now."

The room went quiet again.

Megan smiled softly. "She means that."

Ashley folded her arms. "I do."

Then she uncrossed them just as quickly. "My point is—you just gotta let us know what you need. Whatever is going to make you comfortable. Whatever is going to make her comfortable."

Abigail looked between them, emotion rising again in a way she hadn't prepared for.

All day she had been holding everything alone.

The fear.

The pressure.

The need to stay steady.

And now these two were standing in front of her, offering to carry some of it without being asked.

Her throat tightened.

"...Thank you," she said quietly.

Ashley waved it off immediately. "Don't make it weird."

That pulled the smallest laugh from Abigail.

Megan stepped closer and squeezed her arm gently. "You don't have to do everything by yourself."