Free Rock Him by Rachel Cross

phone with an air of distraction for a few minutes, and then made
     a call.
    “Justin? Asher. I wrecked the Aston Martin on Stunt Drive. California Highway Patrol
     may be calling you, or a tow company, possibly the media. Yes, yes, I’m fine. Maddy
     took me to get checked out.”
    There was shouting from the other end of the phone and Asher pulled it away from his
     ear. She snuck a glance, wide-eyed.
    “I’ve already been given an effective lecture, Justin. Done?” There was a pause. “Yes.
     Good. Now I need you to get me a Mercedes for Maddy to drive, preferably a ML350 SUV.
     Loaded. Color?” He grinned. “Red. Hell, yes, I’m serious. Have you seen what she drives?
     I’m not having her drive my niece around in that. See ya.” Asher tried to put the
     phone in his pocket, grunted in pain, then gave up and put it on the console.
    Life was so unfair. She couldn’t pay her mom’s twenty thousand dollar debt yet she’d
     be driving around a car that likely cost twice that.
    “Asher, I am not driving a Mercedes. It’s excessive and … and ostentatious!”
    “It’s one of the safest vehicles on the road. End of discussion.” He ignored her protests
     for two full minutes before he spoke up again. “Maddy, you will not win this argument.”
    She braked for a light and couldn’t help noticing that he put a hand to his head.
    She was quiet the rest of the ride.
    Later that afternoon, a car dealer dropped off the SUV. He even installed Ella’s car
     seat. Burgundy on the outside — the closest to red they had without special ordering
     — it had a rounded dashboard with wood paneling and leather. The seats were a neutral
     crème, pure elegance, and Maddy hated it on sight.
    • • •
    Asher leaned against the kitchen counter with a full mug of hot chocolate, reveling
     in the warm, golden glow of the early morning light coming through the windows and
     watching Maddy go about her morning routine with Ella. He hadn’t been up this early
     regularly in … well, ever. And he found himself enjoying his revised schedule, watching
     and occasionally participating in the preparations for the day, which included gummy
     vitamins, a breakfast bar, and a packed lunch. Ella had been living here six weeks,
     Maddy four. She was a miracle worker.
    “Ella, get your shoes, honey,” Maddy said, crossing over to Asher with a smile as
     she put the dishes in the sink.
    His niece brought her lace-up sneakers, and sat on the kitchen chair as Maddy crouched
     down in front of her to tie them.
    Maddy kept up a steady stream of banter about school the entire time.
    Curious, Asher walked over to the table and peered over her shoulder. What was taking
     so long? Maddy attempted to tie the shoelaces again. Then again. He studied her thin
     hands with their red, swollen knuckles, some of the fingers on her right hand off
     kilter. An involuntary sound escaped him.
    She cast a quelling look over her shoulder.
    He crouched next to her. “Let me,” he said, reaching for Ella’s foot.
    Maddy held it away from him. “No, I’ll do it.”
    Ella’s wide-eyed, brown gaze darted from one adult to the other.
    Maddy sighed. “Please, Asher.”
    It was obvious her hands were stiff, probably painful, and he was surprised by her
     lack of dexterity. He rarely thought about her condition anymore. It didn’t seem to
     affect her. But now, watching her struggle, his chest grew tight.
    She finished tying the first shoe.
    Asher reached to take the second shoe from her, aware of Ella’s curious gaze.
    “Asher.” She met his eyes calmly. “Ella can see that I have trouble tying her laces,
     especially in the morning, but I try until I get it, right Ella?”
    “Right, Maddy.”
    He sat back on his heels, his throat thickening as she put the shoe on the little
     foot with her swollen, gnarled hands. It took her two laborious attempts to tie the
     laces.
    She glanced up into his face and whispered, “It’s okay.”
    He rose to his