His eyes narrow on mine, knowing Ashtyn wasn’thangingon him like Ijust accused him of. But the situation will at the very least put doubt in Charlotte’s mind. A woman can only tell herself there’s nothing there so many times before she stops believing it. And she knows about their past. That’ll make her doubt him faster than anything.
I don’t want to see them fail.
And I can’t stand for a woman who pushes boundaries when she’s aware he’s with someone who isn’t her.
“Never know who might be watching.” I remove my sunglasses from my hair and put them over my eyes. “Like your actual wife.” Then I turn and exit the Carnage doors as my cell vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to read the text.
We need to talk. My office downtown.
The message from my dad instantly ruins my mood. Can I just have one good day? I feel like that’s not too much to ask.
KASHTON
Lunch. I’ll be at your house to pick you up at noon.
I send the text to Eve. It wasn’t a question, so I don’t need a response. Setting the phone down on my desk, I lean back in my chair and smile.
Haidyn enters the office with a sour look on his face, and Saint also seems tense. The past twenty-four hours with my girl have made me feel much better.
“So, Eve?” Saint says. “Sure that’s a good idea? I mean…more than once?”
Obviously, they know that I’ve been seeing her, but they don’t know the extent of it. They have no clue I’m going to marry her. “The best decision I’ve ever made.”
Haidyn grunts and Saint just chuckles.
“She’s the one.” I smile and Saint looks skeptical.
“The one?” he asks slowly.
I nod. “I’m obsessed. She’s like crack.”
“How would you know?” Saint asks. “You’ve never done crack.” I open my mouth, but he continues. “She’s a founder?—”
“So is your wife,” I counter.
“Yeah, but…” He trails off and looks at Haidyn, who softly shakes his head.
You better not fucking say it.“But what?” I bait Saint.
“Nothing.” He decides to not say what he was originally thinking—she’s useless. I already beat the shit out of a few guys for calling her that, and I won’t treat my brother any differently.
The door to the office opens and Ashtyn enters. She gives a smile as she walks over to Saint. Her eyes scan the room, looking for someone else in here, and her smile grows when she realizes it’s just the three of us Spades. “What is everyone up to today?”
“Working,” Saint answers. Haidyn puts his attention on his computer, so she looks at me at his dismissal.
It’s pretty fucking obvious he’s distancing himself from her. I’ve had my head buried in the fucking sand for far too long, so now I watch everything. Too much went on, and if I had just opened my eyes and paid attention, I would have seen what was happening.
All thatI was blind but now I seebullshit.
I get it, though. Haidyn has a wife, and Saint isn’t going to tell Ashtyn to step back. Saint isn’t like that. He knows we’re not going to fuck her. She’s back here at Carnage and belongs to him. That’s all he cares about. And now, with the babies on the way and her brotherdead, he’s going to let her do and have whatever she wants. She’s his wife. I can’t say I’d do it differently, because I’m not in his shoes.
Ashtyn has been a big part of our lives for as long as Saint has. Now things have changed for Haidyn, but not for Ashtyn. She still wants to be hisbaby girl. And I don’t know Charlotte all that well, but I can’t imagine she’d put up with that. Haidyn is her husband and she’s not going to share him.
My phone vibrates, and I look down to see it’s a response from Eve.
Can’t. I’m busy today.
I chuckle and type back.
