Our backs tell stories
no book have the spine
to carry
-Rupi Kaur

•••

Confused and flustered that was what I was. A frown made it's way to my face as many thoughts hovered over my head. And I bet that the old man standing in front of me felt the same towards me. He wasn't Asher's father.

"Hello, Miss." He smiled at me. His eyes wrinkled, his long nose scrunched a little. His glasses were resting on the bridge of his nose.

"Hello." I cleared my throat.

"I'm here to meet Mr Grayson." My eyes brighten up as I heard Asher's name.

"Hey, come inside." I said as I smiled at him stepped aside making room for him to step in.

"Been awhile since I've met a nice lady here." He let out a throaty laugh and I blushed red.

I tucked my hair behind my ear, "I'll just inform Asher." I nodded at him before running into the living room.

"Someone is here to meet you," I said as soon as I saw him. Asher scowled at me but didn't say anything.

"I can never be at peace." he grumbled under his breath as he passed by me brushing his shoulder against mine.

It's been a while since I've been so happy. I smiled at his retrieving figure, I immediately changed my mind and decided to follow him.

I can never be at peace.

Those words rang in my ears and my heart crumbled when I saw the look on Asher's face. It doesn't take time for things to change. He looked terrified as he was looking at the man. His hands were clenched. His chest was rising and falling at a faster rate.

"It's good to see you again, Mr Grayson. "

His jaw clenched and my legs quickly moved towards him. I had such a bad urge to comfort him. In one swift motion I was beside him, before I knew my fingers were tangled with his, he was shaking my heart was racing. I had no idea what was happening. I pressed my side to his and squeezed his hand. I wanted to tell him it's gonna to be alright, I wanted to tell him that there's nothing to be scared about. A slight touch of my thumb on the back of his hand and the shivering stopped. I exhaled in relief.

Everything was completely quiet. Asher couldn't say anything.

"Let's sit and talk, Mr Grayson." The old man adjusted his glasses and then removed his shoes and placed them in one corner, they looked worn out and dirty. I frowned at his actions and looked up at Asher his eyes immediately met mine like he was looking at me already. Fear, pain, sadness was all I saw in those blues. His defined jaw clenched again and again. The veins of his neck were popping, I wished so bad that I could do something to relax him. He didn't say a word, he held his breath for a second before he exhaled his shoulders dropped and then his eyes fell on the ground.

"I need him out of my house, please."

With one last squeeze I moved away from him and towards the old man as those words left his mouth. What I wanted at that moment was him out of the house just what Asher wanted.

"Who are you?"

"I think you should ask that question to Mr. Grayson. Who are you, Miss?"

"I'm Sophie Cal- "

"She's my wife."
Asher. I felt a hand on the small of my back and then his body pressed against my back. I immediately moved back and pressed into his warmth. I couldn't explain what I was feeling I was having a happy dance party in my head as those words left Asher's mouth.

The man's grey eyes widen and his eyebrows shot up. "What a surprise, Well Mrs Grayson, I'm Asher's therapist."

Asher has a therapist.

Asher's arm snaked around my waist and he pulled me tightly against himself. My breath hitched and my stomach formed knots. I didn't say a word, my heart was on fire from the sudden sensation his hands caused. Goodness.

"Leave, I don't want you in my house." I've heard that so many times but this time those words weren't for me.

"I will do as your mother told me to. Let's sit down or maybe we should start the procedure right away, young man."

He tensed behind me, he stopped breathing and his fingers dug in my stomach.

"Mrs. Grayson, you should leave us alone for a awhile."

I don't like this man anymore. I decided frowning at him. He affected Asher's behaviour so much.

I nodded at him, "Okay but before that I'd like to talk to Asher in private." I turned around in Asher's arms and they tightened. His eyes searching for something in mine. I gave him a small reassuring smile. "Come with me." I grabbed his hand that was around my waist and started pulling him towards the kitchen he followed me without any protest and I sighed.

As soon as we were alone I turned to him again. "What is wrong?" I blurted out immediately and his jaw tightened. He looked down. I looked down too and saw him curling his toes in again and again I stepped towards him and stepped on his feet my arms went around his torso. I knew he needed someone, I was the only one here, he didn't need me, he needed comfort. He looked so anxious. "Look at me," and so he did, he wasn't that angry stubborn man I knew. He looked helpless. I tilted my head a little as I looked at him. I tried my best to keep a small smile on my face.

"Tell me what happened."

"It's nothing, I just want him out of my house."

"It's always not-"

He started moving forward and I yelped as I realized I was in the air and his arms held me up as he moved us backwards. I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck as my back hit the platform, in one swift motion and set me up on the platform and stepped between my legs.

"Asher..." my fingers ran over his jaw as I looked at him. "He's your therapist, he is here to help you just talk to him."

"He's not my fucking therapist, you don't know shit." He barked at me, I close my eyes as he yelled on my face. It's fine, Sophie, it's fine.

"It's not like that," My thumb ran down his neck. "Do you trust me?"

"No."

I immediately rolled my eyes but something twisted painfully in my gut I tried my best to not show that I was hurt, "Then you should."

He didn't utter a word. The therapist was here to help him, Asher needed that. I didn't know why he was so afraid of me.

"Come on, I'll be with you."

"No," he grabbed my thigh as he leaned into me and buried his face in the crook of my neck, his warm heavy breaths fanned my neck and I shuddered. Holy shit. My mind started swirling in a pool of sexual thoughts and my hands were itching to touch him everywhere.

What the fuck! This is not the time for it!!

I reminded myself, I felt something wet against my bare skin and my eyes widen. There's so much sadness in the world but it's heart breaking to watch such a strong man cry. My chest felt so heavy. His vulnerability was killing me.

"Are you okay? Please don't cr-"

"I'm not crying." Came his stern reply as he moved his head up and pressed his lips in my hair and I closed his eyes.

"It's okay." He sniffed and suddenly I was cold, the warmth was gone, he was gone and I was left wondering what just happened.

"Stay here." I stared at his retrieving figure. Is he even Asher?

Time passed and I didn't move. I had so many questions in my mind. Why was he so scared? Why was he so civil with me?why did he cry?

I jumped off the platform. It has just been five minutes and it felt like he left me there for hours.

I tiptoed my way out of the kitchen, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Have you been drinking lately?"

No. His reply was so curt. He sat there with his eyes on the floor he was leaning forward his hands placed on his knees and his fingers interlaced. If somebody saw him they would admire the power he held but only I knew how helpless he was feeling.

"Lift you sleeves up." He wasn't asking he was telling him. It was a demand. I could feel that he had the power in his hand. Asher looked like he was holding himself back from punching that guy on the face and at the same time he was trying not to break. How conflicted things can get sometimes. I knew why he asked him to lift his sleeves, he was so very aware of Asher's situation. Does that mean he knows about violet too?

Everything was quiet.

"Mrs Grayson!!" The two heads shot in my direction. My eyes met Asher's and a wave of relief hit me.

"It would be very nice of you two leave the two of us alone." He added and I swear I wanted to punch him. I knew why Asher didn't like him.

"No, she will stay." With a new found confidence I made my way towards Asher as I heard those words. His hands were on me before I knew. They pulled me closer to him. He held my hand with both of his and looked down at them.

He cleared his throat looking at us.

"How long have you two been together?"

"Does it matter?" Asher immediately shot back narrowing his eyes at him.

"Back to work. Lift up your sleeves" Asher clearly tensed.

"No."

"Okay then," he got up and moved towards the stairs.

"Wait!!" And then there was me, I wasn't needed there but I felt alarmed when he started climbing the stairs. "Where are you going? you can't just move around the house."

"Mrs Grayson, I'm not his flavour of the month and I don't think I need anyone's permission to move around the house."

"Whatever, I simply don't care, stay put or I'll call the police."

He laughed loudly, "what better than calling the police in a house full of drugs and alcohol. That's a good idea."

My eyes widen, my jaw was literally on the floor. Drugs???

My eyes shot towards Asher. I needed some fucking answers. He looked at me unapologetically. He didn't look scared but angry.

I looked away, "just leave the house," he didn't listen he started moving up and disappeared soon, a moment later I heard heavy footsteps behind me and then I was surrounded by Asher's cologne as he passed me he was running up the stairs. I heard a door slam shut and a loud scream. It was Asher. I wasn't fine at all. I was so confused I wanted to pull my hair out. I didn't know to move up or move away.

"Stop it!! Please don't do that!!"

I rushed towards the door. It was locked. Something was burning. I was panicking, sweat trickled down my neck and my spine stiffened.

"I will tell you everything, stop!!"
Smoke was coming from the little space under the door.

"You should have thought earlier."

"Don't burn it you bastard!"

"Asher open the door!! Open the door right now!!" I screamed feeling worn out.

Screams, pain, fury, helpless cries that was what Asher Grayson was made of I realised today. I backed away from the door and rushed towards my room. Only Scarlett could stop this chaos. My face scrunched up as the burning smell hit my nose. The phone rang twice before Scarlett answered.

"Sophi-"

"Asher needs your help!! Help him please, there's a man in the house who claims to be his therapist. He's crying, Asher he's crying-" I didn't realize I was crying, my hands were shaking and my breath staggered. I wanted to make it all stop for good.

The call ended the last thing I heard was Scarlett's shaky sigh.

What the fuck?? I didn't have the time to think why she ended the call, I ran towards his door. Goosebumps rose all over my body, everything was so quiet. The door open and that bloody idiot stepped out accompanied with a lot of smoke.

I pressed myself to the wall as he made his way out of there. I didn't say a word as I stared at him with wide eyes.

Asher, his name rang in my head like a broken record. And my heart started beating louder.

Not a moment later strong arms caged me and pulled me in, I gasped before it all went down to being a mess. Tears never stopped, his cries were louder than mine as we crumbled on the floor. Our hands trying to hold each other, slipping, falling still not giving up to find a grip, he pulled me to his chest his whole body was shaking, he pressed his lips in my hair as his tears rolled down my cheeks. I was confused more than ever but I didn't care, I didn't know what happened in that room, what the old man burned down.  All I cared about was the man in my arms and his helpless cries.

Heyyy!! I hope you liked this chapter. Do tell me what you think about it. Don't forget to Vote, comment and share!!

Do you think Asher will stay the same with Sophie??

Anybody who is as confused as Sophie???

Tbh, I could have written more than 5K words but then I didn't wanted to drag the chapter when it was not needed.

I'll see you soon.

Love you

Garima