(Ashleigh’s POV)
I stayed there for a while. On the floor, back against the door, knees tucked to my chest. The house was quiet—too quiet. The kind that made you feel like the f*****g walls were watching you.
There was an aching pressure building behind my eyes, but I blinked hard and forced it back. I didn’t want to cry. Crying didn’t change s**t. It just left your face puffy and your dignity leaking out of your nose.
A soft knock against my door a few minutes later startled the crap outta me.
I didn’t answer immediately.
“Ashleigh?” Aunt Wendy’s voice came through, soft and uncertain. “Can we come in?”
We. So Uncle Mike was with her. Of course.
I wiped at my face even though there weren’t any tears, just in case, and pulled myself up off the floor.
“Yeah,” I said, straightening m
