You Can't Save Me..

Chapter 27

Ashton's POV

It's Wednesday. Luke is at home, Jake and the girls are all at separate friends houses and Court is at daycare.

I have the house all to myself until they come home at 7.

I was about to go get a book and sit down to read for a while when there was a knock at the door. My eyes brows crease together in confusion, but I go to answer the door anyway.

When I open the door, I see Evan standing there with a smile on his face.

"Hey, come on in." I say with a smile. I haven't seen or spoken to him in a while. It'll be nice to catch up.

"You seem happier." He observes almost immediately as we make our way to the couch.

I smile, thinking about Luke. "Yeah, I guess I am." I say, my smile growing wider.

"Oooh! Did little Ashy meet a boy? I hope you know I'm gonna have to meet him. Your dad may not be here to kick his ass, but I'd be happy to make sure you're not with some punk!" He says laughing.

He will never take my dad's place, but right now, he's the closest thing to a parental figure I have. "Actually, I would love if you met him. He already met my mother. Just once though and she didn't say much. She was only here a minute and was kinda rude, but Jake and the girls like him." I say with a smile.

"Sounds like your mother. And you tell me when. I'll polish my shot gun." He says with a smile.

I smile back. "So, what were you doing here?" I ask curiously. He comes by a lot, but normally he calls beforehand.

"Well, I wanted to make sure you were okay. I haven't heard from you in a while. I also wanted to let you know I got that job and give you my address in case of emergencies." He says.

I smile. "Thanks Evan. I really appreciate you being here. This really isn't your responsibility. Court is the only one here that is actually yours and you treat all of us better than our own mother does."

"It's no problem. Speaking of them, where are they?" He asks, looking around.

"Court is at daycare and the others are at friends houses. I'm not sure where my mother is. Probably anywhere, but work." I respond, making my voice quiet when bringing up my mother.

Seconds later, the door opens and in walks Luke. "Hey ba... Who's this?" He stops mid-sentence to ask.

"Hey Luke. This is Evan. He's.. um.. Courteney's dad." I say, realizing I never even told him Courteney wasn't my full sister.

"Oh, um, hello sir." Luke says, reaching out to shake his hand, but giving me a questioning look.

"So I'm guessing she didn't tell you that Court wasn't her full sister?" Evan asks, shaking his hand.

"Nah, never came up." He says.

"I'm sorry I never told you. It just didn't seem important." I say, worried he'd get mad at me for not telling him.

"It's not a big deal, it's not like I care for you or her any less now." Luke says, smiling at me.

"I like him." Evan says.

"Just like that? I was gonna have you over to dinner to meet him and it was gonna be a whole big deal?" I say, surprised, but happy.

"We can still do that, but this is all it takes. He's a nice boy. I can already tell. Your dad would approve. I guess I don't have to bring my shot gun. But it'll be ready, you hear me boy?" He says, looking at Luke, only a little bit serious.

"I can assure you that you will never need it." Luke says back, looking over to me with a smile.

They nod to each other before Evan announces he has to go. I pull him in for a hug, asking if he'll stop by soon. He agrees, saying we can have that dinner, he misses my cooking anyway. I laugh, walking him to the door before returning to the living room with Luke.

"You guys seem close?" Luke asks.

"Yeah. He's the closest thing to a parent I have. He's a nice guy. He just got tangled up with my mom one night when he was drunk and along came the most beautiful baby ever.

He was around a lot throughout her pregnancy and we got along. He helped me a lot. I never told him about any of the big stuff, but he knew that my mother wasn't just acting weird because of the pregnancy.

He knew she was a lazy drunk. He's been in our lives ever since. He treats us like his children. He won't replace my dad, but I love him just the same." I let out all in one breath.

"That's great. And to think, I thought I would get out of the awkward dad talk. Am I gonna get that from him?" He asks with a chuckle.

"Probably. I told him about you and he was talking about polishing his shot gun before he met you." I laugh out.

"Oh, so you were telling him about me?" He asks cockily.

"He said I seemed happier. I told him about you." I say softly, looking into his eyes.

"I'm glad I make you happy. You make me happy to." He says just as softly, pulling me in for a hug.