Those green eyes connected with mine. “What about you? Do you let someone help carry your load?”
My ribs tightened around my lungs, making it hard to breathe. “I have.”
Aspen arched a brow. “Why am I finding that hard to believe?”
Because she saw way too much.
Aspen sighed as if disappointed that I wouldn’t let her in, but she let me off the hook. “How do you know the podcasters haven’t left?”
I shifted in place. “Did a little digging. Found out where they’re staying. Took a drive.”
“Digging?” Aspen pressed.
“I know a thing or two about computers.” It was a skill I kept quiet about, but it had come in handy more than once.
“Legal things?”
My lips twitched. “Doesn’t matter if no one knows you’re doing it.”
Aspen grumbled something under her breath. “The last thing I need is you getting arrested because you’re trying to look out for me. Your family would never forgive me.”
“My family would pat me on the back and tell me good job.”
She frowned. “You really think that?”
“I know that. They get that sometimes you have to color outside the lines to do what’s right.” Hell, they’d help if I let them in on what was going on.
Aspen worried that spot on the inside of her cheek. “Just don’t get caught, okay?”
“I’m too good to get caught.”
She rolled her eyes. “Men. Always so cocky.”
“There’s cocky, and then there’s knowing what you’re doing.”
Aspen’s eyes flared, filling with liquid fire.
Oh, hell. That was not what I needed to see. I forced my gaze away to break her hypnotic spell and cleared my throat. “Didn’t see any signs of Steven and Tyson packing up.”
Aspen toyed with the hem of her flannel shirt. “They’re going to publish the podcast.”
“I’m talking to Lawson first thing tomorrow. He’ll give them a more forceful warning. He might want you to get a restraining order, as well.”
“That won’t stop the media from spewing bullshit. Trust me, I know.”
That grinding feeling was back in my chest. I understood a little of what she’d been through. Knew what it was for people not to believe you. To turn against you. But I didn’t know what it was to be caught up in a media storm on top of it. To have unstable people grabbing hold of the story and coming after you.
I hated what she’d endured. And even more, I detested that she’d had to go through it alone. Aspen couldn’t be much older than twenty-six or twenty-seven. Five years ago, she would’ve been barely past college age. And she’d taken on a kid and a vicious court battle.
“Law has a way of bringing people around to his way of thinking,” I assured her. And if he didn’t, I’d be there to help.
Aspen bobbed her head in a nod, but I could see the anxiety eating at her. And I understood it. People’s morbid curiosity was far too easily reignited. I’d seen it time and time again.
“Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it.”
Aspen swallowed hard. “Thank you. I don’t know why you’re helping me, but I’m just going to say thank you.”
“You’re a good person. You don’t deserve this. If I can shield you a bit, I’m happy to do it.”
“You’re a good man, Roan,” she said softly, but each word hit like a physical blow.
People around here didn’t see me that way. At best, they saw me as damaged goods. At worst, someone to fear. But Aspen? She saw me as the man I wanted to be.
Cady bounded out of the back hallway. “I’ve got pink and purple and green and blue. The pink’s my favorite. What do you want? Ooooooh, I could do all the colors! Sometimes, Miss Maddie gives me rainbow nails, and it’s the bestest.”
Aspen’s lips twitched as she headed for the kitchen. “Have fun, Mr. Grizz.”
I muttered a curse under my breath. Cady grabbed my hand, leading me over to the couch and explaining all the different colors in detail. As she chattered about what glitter shone the brightest, her mom looked on from the kitchen with amusement. That pressure returned to my chest.
Sheer panic nearly stole my breath. Nothing could happen to these two. They were lights in a world of darkness. And I knew better than most that anything could happen when people believed lies about you like the ones people believed about Aspen.
16
ASPEN
“He’s still sleeping,” Cady whispered, leaning over Roan.