Just Breathe

Chapter Twenty-One Bailey

Heading over to meet Ash by our trucks I feel as if I’m being watched from a distance. Chills run up my spine and leave an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I shake it off to being worried about having to tell Gavin, sooner rather than later, about my past.
“From the look on your face, I say we head to my place where we can talk without an audience. Sound good?” Ash squeezes my shoulder and offers a soft smile.
“Sounds good. Lead the way.” We both hop in our own truck and I wait until Ash backs out onto the main road, then follow behind.
                              ~
“Alright, girl. Spill your soul. Momma is all ears.” Ash hands me a large mug of steaming hot coffee that does wonders to my senses, but nothing to my speech.
“Bailey! What is it with your face looking like someone kicked Zeus’ ass? You had an overnight date with Gavin freaking McKnight! What gives?” Ash practically screams. Ugh.
“It’s not about last night. Last night was beyond perfect. Everything from the flowers to dinner, to coming home together, to this morning, was just perfect.” I let out a frustrated groan.
“Okay, although I want every detail, especially about when you two got home, let’s get to the second important part that has you all twisted up.” Ash reaches over from her side of the couch and squeezes my leg. You have to tell someone. Don’t be stupid, you know the type of man he is. What if he finds a way to find you and no one knows? Just once, I wish my inner voice didn’t have a point.
“Listen, Ash. What I’m about to tell you, you can not tell a single soul. You can not even repeat it back to yourself, got it?” I say, my voice void of any emotion while giving her a stone-cold look, letting her know I’m dead serious and not fucking around.
“Shit, B, this sounds like it’s fucked up. You got my word but under one condition.” She reciprocates in the same way I just did.
“I won’t agree to anything without knowing your condition first.”
“Fair enough. I won’t say anything, unless I feel it is a threat to you, Logan, or anyone of us.” She looks me dead in the eye, and in that moment, I realize I can trust Ash with my life and Logan’s. As scary as that is for me, it’s really damn comforting to know I have someone who genuinely has my back.
“Fair enough, but know I would never put anyone in harm’s way.” I reassure her.
“I know you wouldn’t. But I also know that you wouldn’t ask for help if you were in danger. Now, we got exactly two and a half hours for you to tell me everything that has you looking about ready to throw up.”
We settle down against the cushions on her soft grey couch and sip our coffees before I plunge into a story I have yet to tell a soul.