Page 89 of Forgotten Prejudice

Ash didn’t resist and quickly wrapped two arms around me. He wasn’t a small guy, yet he felt so fragile in my embrace, and I tightened my hold. I pressed my cheek against his head, his damp hair wetting me. With my eyes closed, I enjoyed the fresh scent of his shampoo while slowly tracing my fingers along his naked back. Nothing about this hug was friendly, and I’d bet my money Ash thought the same, yet he didn’t nudge away and kept hugging me back.

“What are you two doing?”

Startled, we both pulled back and stared at Paris, who was standing by the open door with a naughty look on his face.

“Ash helped me treat my wound.” I coughed, trying to clear my dry throat.

Paris narrowed his eyes.

“But he hugged you.” The little devil smirked. God. He definitely got that from his mother. “Did he kiss your boo-boo?”

Ash nearly choked on the spot and began coughing. I patted his back, trying to help him get some air back into his lungs while my kid laughed. I’m glad he found the situation amusing.

“To be clear, he’s referring to my cut,” I whispered in Ash’s ear, then frowned at Paris. “Why are you up here and not downstairs eating your breakfast?”

“I’m already done,” he answered innocently while shifting his weight and moving around. “I want to go surfing.”

“Fine,” I grunted. “Wait for me downstairs. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Paris glanced between Ash and me, a knowing smile on his face before he dashed out. He might be seven, but he was one heck of a smart kid that nothing, and I mean nothing, ever escaped him.

“Sorry about that,” I mumbled, rubbing the back of my head, already expecting Ash to use this encounter as an excuse to bolt, when he surprised me by asking if he could join.

“Seriously?” I raised one skeptical brow his way after he asked if he could surf with us.

“Y-Yeah. I think it’s about time I get back in the water.”

“Fuck yeah.” I wrapped an arm around his shoulder and gave him a proper shake. “Now you’re talkin’!”

Ash smiled, putting a hand on my chest.

“J-Just let me get dressed first, okay?”

This day is turning out to be good.

“Sure, I’ll wait for you downstairs.”

Ash answered me with a short nod before he turned around and walked into the hall. Following him out, I eyed his firm ass and bit my lips.

Real fucking good.

Kai

“Come on, Ashy, hurry up. The engine’s running,” I called loudly, one arm lazily hanging out my Jeep’s window as I waited for him to come so we could get on the road. The back of the car was already packed with everything we’d need for our little camping trip, yet Ash was still in the house, looking for who knew what.

I was the one who suggested we go camping after Ash mentioned he missed nature. He didn’t hesitate before agreeing and even looked eager for the trip. Ash had been much more outgoing for the past couple of weeks, and I was confident it had to do with him being back in the water. Ever since that Saturday he’d surfed with Paris and me, Ash hardly left the ocean. He spent his days in the water, catching waves and riding tubes. Morning, noon, or evening, you name it. Ash was surfing around the clock, each surf bringing a bit of his old self back to life.

Finally, the man of the hour stumbled out the front door with more bags hanging around his arms.

“Sorry,” he panted, dropping everything in the back seat. “I just thought we might need a few more things.”

“A few?” I glanced back. “You brought the whole house, Ashy. We’re only going for two days.”

“One can never be too prepared,” he answered with a cute smile while opening the passenger door.

“Prepared for what? Seven years of drought?”

“Oh!” He stopped in his tracks. “I forgot the snacks!”