"Wait, what?" I asked, confused. "You have a sister?" The girl couldn't have been more than four, which explains why I didn't remember her from the New York days.
"Yeah." He muttered sheepishly, trying to get Katie's attention as she buried her head into his shoulder. "Katie, this is my... friend, Olivia."
She poked her head out timidly and gave me a tiny smile that mirrored Asher's. The two were practically carbon copies of each other, despite the gap in age and gender. Katie's light brunette hair blended into Asher's as she rested her head against his, peering at me with the same curious stare. Her eyes had slightly more flecks of aqua and cerulean, but were filled with emotion just as her brother's frequently were.
"Hi, Katie." I smiled at her invitingly and waved. This action seemed to cheer her up. Jumping out of Asher's arms, she walked toward me until she was right in front of me, her steps surprisingly fluid for someone so young.
"Hi, Livia." She stuck her hand out for me to shake adorably. I grabbed it response and bent down so we were at eye level.
"It's very nice to meet you."
Behind her, Asher shifted awkwardly from foot to foot while he judged by reaction. The worry hidden inside his happy expression reminded me of something.
"I thought your parents didn't move here with you?" I asked him, standing back up to my normal height. If his parents weren't here, was he raising Katie himself?
"I promise we can talk about this, but I need to get her to sleep." Asher answered. I nodded in response, glancing up at the clock behind him. It was already past 11:00.
Asher picked Katie back up at gestured for me to follow him as he walked back down the hall. He stopped at the door that he had shut earlier, answering my questions about what was inside. The inside was light blue, with a tiny white canopy bed and a few dolls spaced throughout the room. It was kept neatly, further evidence that Asher's sister had not fallen far from the tree.
After tucking her into bed and turning on a dim, butterfly-shaped night light, Asher closed the door and headed back upstairs to the loft.
"She wasn't supposed to be here tonight. She was supposed to be staying at a friend's house." Asher blurted out.
"Why?" I had a horrible feeling that it had to do with me. "Did you not want me to know you had a sister?"
"It's not that, exactly." Asher patted the spot next to him on the bed, but I remained standing. He frowned at my reaction but went on. "I didn't want to freak you out."
"How would a little girl freak me out?"
"Olivia, I'm Katie's legal guardian. That's why she lives with me, and why she moved here with me." Asher sighed.
"Her- her guardian?" I asked. "Why?"
Asher motioned for me to sit down again, but I didn't move. "You know the giant navy base here, right?" I nodded in response. Most people at our school had parents who were stationed there. It was only around thirty minutes from my house.
"My parents were stationed there before I was born. They're both in the navy. When I moved to New York, it was because they got sent there." That must have explained why I didn't remember much about Asher's parents; they were probably busy all the time.
"They liked New York, even though they preferred Hawaii. They took a lot of time off with me in the summers, which was nice. I was lucky that they rarely had to travel for long periods of time, but when they did, my cousins lived nearby and I could stay with them."
"My mom got pregnant again five years ago. She was overjoyed; she had always wanted multiple kids but her job made it hard. That's when Katie came along. After my mom's maternity leave, though, things started to get harder. My parents had taken so much time off that they kept getting assigned to places for longer and longer periods of time. When I was sixteen, they got sent to Afghanistan." Asher's shoulders slumped.
"They've only been back once since then. For a few days last Christmas. I get letters from them sometimes, but it's not really the same."
I wanted to say something to comfort him, but I couldn't think of anything that would.
"Katie and I were living with my aunt and uncle for a while, until my uncle got a new job. He was planning on moving back to Hawaii in January, but I didn't want to wait. They helped me move here with Katie, and get this house. That way neither of us had to start school in the middle of the year."
"You're way more responsible than I thought." I murmured, making him smile.
"My parents are coming back sometime after graduation, and when they do, they are coming back here. It was easier to make me Katie's guardian until they get home." He paused. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about all this before, I just didn't want to freak you out. An eighteen year old caring for a four year old is a lot to handle."
"Asher Williams, you are really freaking strong."
"I already know that." Asher joked, flexing his biceps. I laughed lightly in response.
"No, not in that way. I mean, yes you are strong in that way, but that's not what I meant. I don't know how I could get along without my parents, especially while caring for a little kid, too."
"It's not that bad. Once my aunt and uncle move back it will be a lot easier."
"I'm always here to help, you know. I'm a fantastic babysitter."
"Good to know." Asher chuckled. "I'm kind of relieved to tell you that. I don't know why I kept it a secret anyway."
"Yeah, me neither." I teased him. "But I'm glad you can trust me."
"Speaking of trust," Asher wiggled his eyebrows, the serious mood already broken. "We never finished 20 Questions."
"You really want to keep playing?" I asked him. It seemed like he had brushed off our previous topic too quickly.
"Yep." He popped the end of the word. "My turn."
"Ask away."
"Are you actually a good babysitter?
I groaned. "Yes, I am. I promise" My voice trailed off as an unpleasant memory surfaced. "Okay, once I lost a kid."
"What?" Asher exploded in a fit of laughter.
"I found him like thirty minutes later, he was just hiding! Everything was fine!" I protested, but I couldn't help laughing too.
"You're never babysitting Katie."
"No, please let me! She's so cute. I would even do it for free."
"Fine." He relented. "I might have to put a tracker on her first."
"Asher!" I laughed again.
"Okay, it's your turn." He choked out over his laughter.
"First crush?" I asked.
"You." He smiled unabashedly, making my heart pound.
"Wait, really?"
"Yes." He chuckled. "I had a major crush on you in third grade. I'm surprised you didn't notice." I probably didn't notice because I was busy crushing on him myself. Third-grade me was thirsty.
"Who was yours?" Asher asked me.
"Thomas." I lied, but he saw right through me.
"I thought we said full honesty."
"Yeah, we did." I tried to act natural.
"That was definitely a lie. I know you liked me back. Even nine-year old me had game." The smirk was back.
"I remember you crying over a stuffed animal. Is that what you call game?" I teased him.
"I'm pretty sure you hugged me afterward, so yes." Asher grinned.
"Touché." I paused to think of another question. I'd already lost track of how many I asked. "Do you play any sports?" I was surprised that I didn't know that already. He was clearly athletic and extremely in shape, so I assumed he did.
"Soccer."
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
He laughed. "Of all the things you've learned about me today, I feel like that should be the least surprising."
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
"It's my turn." Asher stated. "Where is your favorite place?"
"In Hawaii or in the whole world?" I asked.
"Anywhere."
I didn't need to think about this one. "The beach. Whether I'm surfing or just laying there, I always feel calm."
Asher stared at me, a smile in his eyes as I talked. We continued on like that, asking questions back and forth and joking around until we finally fell asleep. I was still sitting on Asher's makeshift bed on the floor when my eyes drifted shut, and I felt his arms wrap around me like a dream and carefully put me in the bed. I was half-asleep, though, so I may have imagined it.
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