From Ashes by Molly McAdams Page A

leave. You’re being completely disrespectful to your family; this isn’t how we raised you.”
    I sank down to the ground and let my head fall into my hands. “Sorry. Honestly, I thought I was hiding this a lot better. Guess I was wrong.”
    “Hiding what?”
    “Dad?” I took a deep breath in and out. “When you met Mom, did you know right away you were going to marry her?”
    That shocked him; he hadn’t been expecting that turn in the conversation. “Does this have to do with your attitude?”
    I nodded.
    “No, I reckon I didn’t. She was my best friend for a long time. We all viewed her like one of the guys. One night when we were seventeen, there was a dance at the Miller ranch, and I remember seeing her. Like I was actually seeing her for the first time. She’d done her hair and put on some makeup, and was wearing a dress. I didn’t realize it was your mama until I got the nerve to ask her to dance with me. But of course by then all the other guys had noticed her too. You shoulda seen us all fightin’ over her, trying our damnedest to get your grandpa to let us court her.”
    I laughed. I could only imagine Dad being all awkward trying to get the courage to go up to Grandpa. That was one terrifying man.
    “Took four months for her to finally agree to a date with me. I still didn’t know I was in love with her, not for a few more months after that. I just woke up one day and realized I couldn’t live without her. Gave her a promise ring that night, an engagement ring a year later, and we were married six months after that.” He looked at me for a minute. “I’d ask if you’re in love, Gage, but love makes you alive. You look dead.”
    “Yeah, about that.” I huffed and ran a hand through my hair, grabbing a good chunk in my fist. “I was kinda hoping your answer would be different. I know what’s happening between us isn’t normal. Well, not between us, I guess . . . she doesn’t feel the same way for me.”
    “Ah. I see. So why don’t you tell me what’s happening for you.”
    I looked at my dad for a minute, and I suddenly couldn’t hold it back anymore. I’d told Tyler I loved her, but I hadn’t talked to anyone about the depth of my feelings. “It’s like I’m being pulled to her. Like something in her calls to me. I know that sounds dumb, but that’s the only way to describe it. The first night I met her, I felt her before I even saw her. It’s like I had to look up at her, and when I did . . . I swear to God the world stopped moving. When she shook my hand, it felt like—not a spark, but like a jolt of electricity went through me. All I can think about is her, and I could have sworn she felt it too. But when she found out my feelings, she got pissed. Wouldn’t talk to me for a week. I’ve tried, Dad, you have no idea how damn hard I’ve tried to get over her. But I know I’m supposed to be with her, I know I’m going to marry her. I knew it the moment she hopped out of Ty’s Jeep.”
    “Ty Bradley? Your cousin Tyler?”
    “Yep.”
    “So you met her through him?”
    I laughed hard. “You could say that.”
    “You’re gonna have to help your old man out here, I don’t get what I’m missing. You having problems with him?”
    “Do you remember me telling you Ty was bringing his friend Cassi from California to live with us?”
    “Yeah . . .” He drew out the word.
    “Well Tyler’s girlfriend, Cassi, my new roommate, is the same girl who consumes my every thought.”
    “Shit.”
    “Yep.” I let my head fall back against the tree and rubbed my chest where the ache that never went away intensified from just thinking about her. “God, Dad, am I crazy? This isn’t normal, right? This can’t be healthy. She doesn’t even want me.”
    “And you’re sure about that?”
    “Yeah. She made herself pretty clear. What makes it harder is that even though she’s his girlfriend, and she doesn’t want me, I can’t stop being near her. I hate just being her