“I’d never…” She stops herself from saying she’d never cheat on her husband, because she’s done that. They were already married when she was on the run in Vegas. I know a part of her thought Saint was dead, and this life was behind her, so she had convinced herself it was okay. “I’d never do that to Charlotte,” Ashtyn says instead and adds, “And Haidyn would never do that to his wife.”
I rub my hands on my jeans and stand. “I’m sorry for bothering you.” Stepping into the bedroom, I’m walking toward her door when she stops me.
“You’re right.”
I turn to face her as she steps inside.
“It’s hard to have the life I had and then give it up only to be brought back.” Her watery eyes scan the bedroom. “And it be…different.” She rubs her hands together. “But that’s no excuse for my behavior.” She swallows and it looks like she wants to say more, so I stand where I am and wait.
“I, uh…there was this couple in Vegas…they would come into Glass while I was working. I always thought she was beautiful and she was usually high on drugs.” Ashtyn sighs. “She would offer me some, and of course, I never turned her down.” She rolls her eyes at herself. “There were a couple of times I went home with them.” Tears fill her eyes, and she sniffs. “It was you.”
I shake my head. “I never…”
She gives a rough laugh when I trail off. “Saint told me that you had an identical twin and that she had been following you.”
“You thought it was me in Vegas, but…”
“It was her,” she whispers. “Vivian.”
Of course. It all makes sense that my twin was there because she fucked Adam. That bitch had been pretending to be me for years. Well, I guess she was me. She picked and chose when she wanted to play my life. She wanted to replace me. All because of Isabella.
Ashtyn continues at my silence. “When I saw you walk into Bill and Janice’s wedding reception, I panicked. I asked Saint who you were, and he didn’t know, but I thought I knew. So I was mean to you. I thought you were here to sabotage me and Saint. Using Kashton to do it.”
“I love him,” I tell her, and she nods, the first tear running down her cheek.
“He told me he’s known you for six years.”
I nod, wondering when they had that conversation. “I was in Las Vegas,”I tell her, and she glances up at me with her tear-filled eyes. “I was there helping Adam spy on you.”
She swallows.
I sigh. “Your brother was worried about you. After everything that happened and your mother being killed.” Ashtyn sniffs. “I followed you to New York because Adam wanted to make sure Saint hadn’t killed you.”
Ashtyn chuckles, though I don’t know why she finds that funny. Maybe he was close a few times. Who knows. I couldn’t and didn’t want to get inside of Carnage to watch her twenty-four seven after he brought her back.
“I’ve been trying to push you away, hoping you’d leave because I was afraid you’d tell Saint what I did while in Vegas. I’m ashamed of who I was. Of what I did to Saint while I was there on the run.”
She had seen my twin and thought that I came here to tattle on her? I mean, I do know what she did, but I’m not that type of person. “That’s not my story to tell.”
It’s not like I know every little thing. I know enough, but even I know that wouldn’t change Saint’s mind. She’s his Lady. Me being a tattletale wouldn’t do anyone any good.
She nods, licking her lips.
“And if he wanted to know, he’d ask you.”
Her eyes meet mine, and her face drains of color. It’s as if she just realized that he hasn’t asked her about those four years she was on the run. Maybe he already knows. Or maybe he’d rather not.
Truth is, no one is perfect, and we all make mistakes that we must live with. You get to decide what you’re going to tolerate and what you will kill for.
She wipes a tear from her cheek. “Then you died, and Kash…he was so hurt. And he left us. I knew Kashton loved you, and I was so mad when you showed back up with my brother.” Her breathing picks up. “He was dead. I…I just want a chance to know him, and here you are, staying with him.”
“Hey.” I take her shaking hands in mine.
“I’m so sorry,” she cries.
I pull her into my arms and hug her. As much as I don’t like her, now I understand why she felt the way she did. I’ve done extremely irrational shit and said some horrible things to people who didn’t deserve it.
“It’s over.” I rub her back. “Everything will be better.”
