Landlady: A New Adult Romance (Northbridge Nights Book 1) (14 page)

“Who are you?” Sierra's mother asked, shocked by my presence and
probably by my disheveled appearance.

“I'm Asher. Sierra's...friend,” I said.

Sierra's friend looked up. “Lillian, that's Sierra's tenant. The
man I told you about earlier.”

“Cally, what's
he
doing here?” Lillian asked, still not
looking me in the eye. She seemed shrewd and suspicious. I didn't
blame her. I'd be suspicious too if I saw someone who looked like a
hobo sleeping next to my sick daughter.

“I didn't want her to be alone after surgery,” I explained, “So
I stayed here with her. But now that you're here, I guess I should
get going.”

“Hold on a darn second,” Sierra's father said. “I don't believe
we've been introduced. I'm Ernest Maywood.” He stuck out his hand.

I shook it. “Asher Morgan. Pleasure.”

“So what was Sierra doing here?” Lillian asked. “And in this
weather? Were you involved in this...this accident?”

“We came here with friends,” I explained. “For a beer festival.
The weather got bad, and there was an evacuation warning...I wasn't
there when she fell. She was with my friend Cameron.”

“So why isn't this Cameron up here then? I'd like to ask him a few
questions,” Ernest said, peeling off his poncho and shoving it into
the sink.

“I'm not sure. I don't know where he is,” I said. “But I can
let him know you want to see him.”

I felt as if I was being interrogated, even though I'd done
absolutely nothing wrong. Concern was etched on all their faces, and
I had to tell myself they were just looking out for Sierra's best
interests. They had every right to ask me questions.

Finally, Ernest said, “Thank you, Asher. For being here with her.”

I nodded. “If you need anything, I'll be around,” I said. “I'm
going to go find Cameron.”

“I'll come with you,” Cally said.

I nodded.

Once we left the room, Cally glared at me. “What the hell is going
on here? I'm her best friend, and
I
didn't even know you would
be here. She came here with Cam, so why are you here?”

“Cam and I are best friends,” I explained. “I didn't know
Sierra was coming until I met up with my buddies. It was a
coincidence.”

“You're best friends with Cam?” Cally asked, incredulous.

“You know him too?”

“Who doesn't?” Cally said, digging her hands into her front
pockets. “This is too weird. Anyway, where's Cam? Can you call him?
I'd like to give him a piece of my mind.”

“My phone's dead. And last I checked there was shitty reception.”

“The storm's pretty much over,” Cally said, taking out her phone.
“What's his number? I can call.”

I told her and she dialed his number. When Cam picked up, she cried,
“Cameron Mahoney, you better be at the hospital right now.”

After a few more angry words had been exchanged, Cally said, “He's
coming up now. With Jordan. Ugh. This might get ugly.”

“So what's the deal with Jordan anyway?” I asked. “I
accidentally told him that Sierra inherited her grandma's house. He
was pissed. Did I strike a nerve?”

“He's the black sheep of the family. Sierra's parents run a farm.
She and her brother left to pursue their dreams in the city. Sierra
went to school while Jordan pissed off his savings on booze and
cigarettes. Last I heard he was working in construction or something.
I haven't seen him in over a year.”

“So they're not close, I'm guessing.”

“Mortal enemies, more like.”

“I guess I made a good call by keeping him away from her.”

Cally nodded. “I mean, he probably wouldn't have hurt her, but
still. I think he's the last person Sisi wants to see when she wakes
up.”

“Did Sierra mention anything... you know, about me?”

Cally narrowed her eyes. “Nothing good, if that's what you mean.
She said you were engaged a couple months ago?” She pushed my
chest. “What the hell, man? Why would you kiss her if you just
—
”

“
—
It was a fake engagement,” I
interrupted, without getting into the details. “Long story. Anyway,
here they come.”

We both turned to face Cameron and Jordan coming down the hall.

I heard Cally suck in a sharp breath. “Holy shit,” she whispered.
I could only assume she was referring to the fact that Jordan looked
like a goddamn MMA fighter.

“I guess he didn't look like that a year ago?”

“Not even close. He was muscular… but not like this,” she said.
Waving Jordan and Cam down, she said, “In here.”

Once Jordan got closer, Cally shot him a forced smile. “Hi, Jordan,
long time no see.”

“Callista,” he said, politely but indifferently. “Where's my
sister?”

“Room five. Come on.”

She led us all back to Sierra's room. It was quickly turning into a
crowded room what with the six of us huddled over her bed. A regular
circus act. I felt like the outsider of the group. I had no real
reason to be there. I wasn't even really her friend. Though I wanted
to be much, much more than that...Which was why my heart did a triple
somersault when the first words Sierra said upon waking up were,
“Where's Asher?”

I'd been standing near the door, contemplating leaving. When I heard
the words, I pushed past Cam and Jordan so she could see that I was
here.

“I'm here,” I said, taking her feverish hand. “I'm here.”
Relief, heartbreak, joy, and guilt formed an unstoppable deluge of
emotions that flooded my lungs. “Sierra,” I choked, my voice
broken. “I'm here.”

Sierra's dry lips cracked into a smile. “I was looking for you,”
she said, her voice weak.

“I know.” I kneeled down and kissed her fingers. At that moment I
didn't care that I had an audience. She was all I cared about. And
she cared about me. “You should've left. I could've taken care of
myself.”

Sierra groaned, visibly in pain.

“Can I get you something? Do you want me to call the doctor?” I
asked.

“I'll go call the doc,” Cally volunteered.

“Honey,” Sierra's mom said.

“Hey...Mom,” Sierra croaked. “Dad...Cam...
Jordan.
”

“My poor baby,” Lillian said, rushing over and giving Sierra a
hug. Lillian buried her tear-stained face in Sierra's blankets, loud
racking sobs washing through her.

“I'm all right Mom, no need to
—
”

“
—
You call this all right? You were
in surgery for three hours! You lost so much blood! You could've
died. Now you're strapped in with all these bloody tubes and wires
and
—
This is
not okay.
”

“But I'm alive,” Sierra pointed out, “and well.”

Lillian wouldn't have any of it. “This city...these people, they're
a bad influence on you. This would've never happened if you were back
home.”

“Mom, that's not true, and you know it. Remember the time I almost
drove the tractor into the stables? Or the time I nearly got
decapitated by a weed whacker
—
”

“
—
Your mother's just worried about
you. As am I,” Ernest pointed out. “We've been talking. We think
it's best that, given your condition, you come home and stay with us
for a while. We can take care of you until you're back to full
health.”

“Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore. I'll be fine,” Sierra
insisted. She tried to sit up but grimaced. “Just a few scratches.
”

“Don't move too much, Sierra, you're weak, and you hurt your leg
pretty badly,” I said. “The doctor said you also got a mild
concussion.” I looked at Sierra's parents then back at her. “Maybe
your parents are right. You've had a terrible accident. You'll need
people to look after you until you're all better.”

“I'm fine. I don't need to be babied,” Sierra cried. She looked
like a girl throwing a tantrum. “See?”

She tried to push herself off the bed but nearly fell off instead.
The lines running from her arm to the IV bags were twisted around her
wrist, and she let out a yelp. The alarms on the machines went off.

“You're hooked up to IVs and a catheter,” I said. “Don't move,
Sierra. It'll hurt you.”

“Get me out of here,” she cried, her face regaining some of its
color. “Where the hell is my doctor? I want to talk to him in
private. You guys are blowing this way out of proportion.” She
gestured to the tubes and machines. “This is ridiculous!”

When Dr. Majumdar entered the room two minutes later, he said, “Could
everyone please wait outside while I talk to the patient and her
husband in private?”

“Her husband?” Lillian asked.

I shot her a panicked look that said
I'll explain later.

“Yes, Mr. Morgan, you can stay. Everyone else, if you please
—
”

They all glared at me but exited the room, one by one.

“Please take a seat, Mr. Morgan.”

I nodded.

“Sierra, my name is Dr. Majumdar. I spoke with your husband
earlier.”

Sierra's shot daggers in my direction. “Yes. Can you please tell me
when I will be discharged?” she asked.

“As I explained earlier, we'll keep you under observation for a few
days. If all your vitals look good, you should be discharged around
Thursday.”

“I feel fine,” Sierra said. “Really, you can check.”

“You just had surgery, and you suffered some major trauma. You need
to keep your leg up to reduce the swelling. You are on some powerful
antibiotics and morphine right now. That's why you may not feel
anything.”

“See, the doc says you need to stay here and rest,” I said.

“Your husband is right. I'm afraid even after you’re discharged,
you'll need someone to look after you. Depending on how physiotherapy
goes, you may need crutches for six to eight weeks. I'll write you up
a referral.”

“What?!” Sierra exploded. “Crutches? For up to eight weeks? Why
the hell would I need those?” She pulled back the covers and looked
down the length of her legs until she noticed the thick cast on her
right calf.

“You broke your leg, Sierra. When you fell,” I said.

“Shit,” she grumbled. “How am I supposed to go back to work
like this?”

“Do you want me to make some calls for you?” I asked.

She shook her head. “No, I'll do it myself. I just
—
Ugh,
I can't believe I was so stupid.”

“It wasn't your fault,” I pointed out, gripping her hand tight.
“It was an accident.” I could blame myself for causing it all I
wanted, but there was no way I'd let Sierra feel bad about it.

“If you don't have any more questions, I'll leave you two alone
now,” Dr. Majumdar said.

“Thank you, doctor,” I said.

Once the doctor left, Sierra asked, “Husband, huh?”

“It was the only way they'd let me in to see you after surgery.”

“How long was I out?”

“About a day.”

“Damn.” Sierra glanced at the door. “You called my parents?”

“No, Jordan did. He came here shortly after me. He was your
emergency contact. But he seemed a bit hostile so I didn't let him in
until your parents got here.”

“Yeah, I really need to update my emergency contact information,”
Sierra said. “Thanks for keeping him away. Him and I... aren't
exactly on speaking terms. Actually, I'm not doing so well with my
parents either.”

“Cally came too.”

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“I'm sorry. I can't help but feel I'm responsible for all of this,”
I said.

“It has nothing to do with you,” Sierra said. “I was an
idiot...But thanks for coming to visit.”

I sighed. “You scared me to death, you know?”

“Asher Morgan, scared? I'm shocked,” Sierra grinned.

I was glad to see her in such a good mood, considering the
circumstances. “Please promise me you'll be more selfish in the
future,” I said. “And if there's a goddamn evacuation, you'll get
yourself to safety instead of worrying about other people.”

“Okay, I'll keep that in mind,” Sierra said. “You don't have to
stay anymore. You probably have work right? My family's here so I'll
be fine.”

Shit. I suddenly realized it was Monday. I needed to be at the
office, in a meeting with the Holdom sisters, right now. But instead,
I was on Penderton Island, at the goddamn hospital, talking to my
landlady. Dad was going to give me major shit for this. Especially
since I'd promised Sierra wouldn't interfere with my ability to work.
They were probably calling me right now, but my phone was dead so
they wouldn't be able to reach me.

“I wish I could stay,” I said. “But you're right, I do need to
get to work. I'll come visit you tomorrow.”

“You don't have to, really Asher. You don't owe me anything.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You think I'd sleep in that
shitty chair all night for anybody? I fucking care about you, Sierra.
I've told you again and again. I care. That's why I stayed.”

“Geez, Asher, no need to curse.”

“I'll be back tomorrow after work.”

“I think visiting hours are
—
”

“
—
Fuck visiting hours. Nothing's
going to stop me from seeing you tomorrow. Now get some rest,
Sierra.” I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.

I caught a glimpse of Sierra's gobsmacked face before leaving.

No matter what anyone said, I’d put her in this mess, and I was
going to make it right.

CHAPTER 15

SIERRA

“HUSBAND?” MOM ASKED, CLEARLY perturbed.

“He just said that so they'd let him see me,” I explained.

“Is he your boyfriend?” Dad asked.

“No, he's
—
He rents Grandma's house.”

Jordan butted in. “He told me Grandma left the house to you. And
that you're his new landlady.”

Asher Morgan...goddamn blabbermouth.

“Yes, Grandma left it to me.”

I prayed my being in a hospital bed would soften the blow. Maybe
Jordan wouldn't be so upset and he’d take it easy on me. Jordan
always thought Grandma loved him more. But when he started hanging
with the wrong people, he stopped visiting me and Grandma, and the
three of us became estranged.