Forty-One
Porter
We got back to the house at eleven that night.
Asher’s Kia was uncomfortable as fuck for a guy of my stature, and I’d like nothing more than to get her in a different car. But that was battle for a different day.
“We’re home,” I said, after shutting down the car, turning toward her sleeping form. She didn’t stir with my words.
With the back of her seat reclined slightly, she had turned so she was nearly on her side facing me, and fell asleep sometime around nine. It had been a long two hours to drive in silence, but I was just thankful she was going home with me.
I reached out to run my hand down her hair. “Asher.”
Her sigh was really damn cute, and I found myself grinning in the dark. “Asher. Beautiful, we’re home.”
And it was a home.
Almost.
It just needed Asher.
It also just needed a dog barking happily near the fence—white picket, I’d like to add—but I was hoping to have that accomplished tomorrow after practice.
Her sigh was heavy, but when her eyes opened, her smile was full—even if half-asleep.
“Ok,” was her quiet reply.
I leaned over the console to press a kiss to the corner of her lips. I straightened, saying, “I’ll grab the bags.” She had her big suitcase but I only had a medium duffle. I’d been in a hurry to get to North Carolina, and didn’t need a whole lot for a weekend.
Asher met me at the back of the car, just as I was closing the trunk. I shouldered the duffle and lifted her suitcase by the handle, taking her hand in my free hand.
“I did some things,” I told her, walking with her toward the door that would lead into the house.
I let go of her suitcase so I could hit the garage button, then swung the door open so Asher could step in before me.
After grabbing her suitcase, I followed her in. The garage door brought us into the mudroom, which Asher walked through in the dark.
It was okay. I hadn’t done anything in there other than add some funky baskets that my teammate’s girlfriend swore were the key to organization.
After Nico and my attempt to making the place homier with oversized vases with stick things inside, and candles, I studied the internet, only to realize what I wanted to do with the house, was well over my abilities.
Thankfully, we had a new kid on the team who did have the ability.
At least, the connection.
Jordy Popps was the kid of an internet Susie Homemaker. He came over with Nico and the three of us men did a video chat with his mom, who gave me all sorts of ideas for the space. With his mom’s ideas listed, the three of us hit up every single home goods store in the area, and then Popps’s girlfriend came to join the fun, too, adding that last feminine touch.
I was pretty damn proud of the mudroom, but I guessed that could wait until the next time Ash did laundry.
Because my luck, the next time she’d leave the house, she’d do it through the front door and completely bypass that freaking awesome mud room.
Asher hit the light switch in the hall that led to our bedroom, and to the main living space.
And she gasped.
This wall wasn’t my number one favorite in the place, but it was definitely up there. This one had multi-sized canvas black and white prints of our family—because, as much as she sometimes tried to deny it, my family was hers, even without the wedding.
Over the weekend, I was sure to snap a few pictures of Ash with Carter, too, because it was evident that Carter was her family, as well. I’d have to get those printed and on the wall soon.
“Oh, my gosh,” Asher said, bringing her fingers to her mouth.
I dropped our bags in the doorway of the mudroom, and went to her, taking her free hand. “There’s more.” I took her into the living space where, to the right of the front door, there was now a foyer table and a roman numeral clock built into the already shiplap wall.
That was my favorite wall in the rental.
Putting those numbers in place just perfectly, though, was a pain in my left nut, but it looked pretty damn good, taking up the entire space. On the table was a bowl with those twig ball things, and a few candles.
“I don’t…” she started, but faltered, shaking her head. “Why?” She turned toward me but her eyes snagged behind me at the fireplace.
The boys and I white washed it, and stained the mantle a deep cherry. I was afraid the contrast would be too much, but it looked good. “Jesus, Porter,” she mumbled, stepping around me and the couch, moving to the fireplace. I followed like the puppy dog I was with her, and watched as she gently brushed her hand along the mantle.
“I talked to the landlord before I did anything major, and she was cool with the plans Popps’s mom sent me. I wanted the place to be home, Ash. We moved in, sure, but Nico had done everything else. We were busy. I wanted you to be able to come back here, and recognize it as home. It’s our home.”
She turned toward me, the smile on her face small, tears in her eyes.
Shit. What did I do now?
“It’s beautiful,” she said, stepping to me and wrapping her arms around my hips.
I let out a breath of relief as I wrapped my arms around her shoulders. “I love you.”
She nodded against my chest and tightened her arms around my body.
I dropped my head to hers, brushing a kiss to her hair. I wasn’t doing a damn thing that would push her away.
Not again.