Six days until the networking event.
Six days until Marcus Webb would walk through those doors.
Six days until Asher's carefully constructed life might crumble.
He dropped the twins at school, where Lily clung to him extra tight.
"You have the worried face again, Fer-daddy."
"I'm okay, sweetheart."
"No you're not. Your hands are shaky." She held up his trembling fingers as proof. "See?"
Kai appeared at his other side, protective as always. "Is someone being mean to you at work?"
"No, buddy. Just a lot happening this week."
"Bad things or good things?"
"Just... big things. Grown-up things."
"We could come to your work and protect you," Kai offered seriously. "Me and Lily are very fierce when we need to be."
Despite his anxiety, Asher smiled. "My fierce protectors. What would I do without you?"
"Be sad and lonely," Lily said matter-of-factly. "That's why you have us."
