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Leaning against the sink, he pressed one against his finger until it stopped bleeding. He wrapped a clean paper towel around his finger, then secured it with a piece of paper tape from the dust-covered dispenser on the counter. It would work for now.

His phone vibrated in his front pocket. He dug it out and found his mom’s picture lighting up his screen.

“Hey, Mom. What’s going on?”

“Hi, honey. I sent you a text, but I didn’t get a response, so I decided to call.”

“Sorry, I was fixing a window and missed the alert.”

“No worries. I know you’re busy. I wanted to see if you’ve given any more thought about coming to your dad’s party. Abi will be there. She misses you.”

Mom’s unspoken “too” hung in the air between them.

Asher swallowed a groan as he cupped his palm over his forehead, dislodging his hat. “I don’t know, Mom…”

“Honey, please. It would mean so much to him. And to me.” The way her voice lowered made him suspect his presence would be more uplifting for her.

Asher wanted to argue, but he didn’t want to upset his mom. His dad wouldn’t care less if Asher showed up or stayed on the ranch where peace reigned.

He filled his lungs with air and released it slowly. “Okay, I’ll be there, but one word from Dad about how I’m living my life, and I’m gone.”

“I wish you two could put your stubbornness aside and be friends again.”

Asher laughed, a strangled sound that caught in his throat. “Dad and I were never friends. I was the son who was a constant disappointment, remember?”

Mom sniffed, and Asher’s fingers curled into a fist. He’d upset her and that wasn’t right. She had been his champion for as long as he could remember.

“Asher Noble Quinn, you have never been, and you never will be, a disappointment. You are the son we prayed for. Our miracle baby. We love you.”

“Thanks, Mom.” He softened his tone. “I’ll be there. I promise.”

“Thanks, honey. You have no idea what this means to me. I love you.”

“I love you too. I’ll see you soon.” Asher ended the call and gripped his phone.

“Are you involved with someone?”

At the sound of the feminine voice, Asher jumped, then whirled around.

Sadie stood in the doorway, her hands clenched in front of her. Her eyes blazed as her lips thinned into a tight line.

“What’d you say?”

She took a step into the room. “I asked if you were involved with someone. Are you?”

He frowned. “No. Whatever gave you that idea?”

She nodded toward his hand. “I heard you say I love you.”

He laughed and shook his head. “I do love someone. My mom.” He lifted the phone in his hand. “She called to see if I was going to my dad’s birthday party.”

“Oh.” Sadie’s shoulders sagged as she leaned against one of the long stainless-steel counters. Her face softened immediately. “That’s great.”

Asher closed the gap between them and touched her chin. “You don’t trust easily, do you?”

Wrapping her arms around her waist, Sadie shook her head. “Not really.”

He didn’t want to pry, but if he knew more about her, then maybe he’d have a better understanding of how to gain her trust.