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“Good morning.” He stood and straightened his jeans.

“I’m going to head into the diner. I told Abe I’d stop by the hardware store on my way home and pick up the order you guys put in. Do you need anything? I’m off after lunch.”

Asher shook his head. “No, I think I’m good.”

“I’ll see you when you get back,” Abe said in his low voice before pulling Julie into an embrace and kissing her goodbye.

Asher turned away.

He usually razzed his brother about public displays of affection because he’d never seen to do it until Julie. And if there was one thing he liked to do, it was giving his brother shit. But he just didn’t have it in him.

Once Julie’s car pulled away, Abe turned to Asher. “How are you holding up?”

Asher just turned on the sander to drown him out, even though sanding was Abe’s job. Asher was the painter.

The door opened, and both turned as Esther walked in.

She was tall and built like a Viking queen. Her long hair was almost black, although her eyes were a piercing blue. She was a force to be reckoned with, and as a dark witch, she was scary to most. Ever since she came back to the mountain, Asher understood why.

“Can one of you pick up Ruby from school today?”

“We have a consultation today,” Abe said as he unplugged the sander so he could hear.

A disgruntled huff came from Asher.

“What do you want to do?” he asked Asher.

“I’ll pick up Ruby.”

“How are you holding up?” Esther asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Because if I not mistaken, you were in your wolf?—”

“I’ll pick up Ruby, but I’m not going to do this. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Esther and Abe shared a concerned look, and Asher was just about to storm out.

“Can Ruby stay with you guys tonight?” she asked Abe.

“Of course. What are you doing?”

“I just have some plans. I’ll see you later.”

And just like that, she turned and left.

Abe huffed and crossed his arms over his big, wide chest. “I swear, you two are going to be the death of me.”

Asher plugged the sander back in and started it again. Hopefully, he could lose himself in grunt work and not have to spend the night as a wolf again.

Somehow, he managed to make it through the day.

“Okay,” he said as he made his way to the sink. “I’m headed out to get Ruby.”