Madden took a step toward Ashton, his anger overriding logic. Blue grabbed him by the shoulders, holding him in place.
Ashton swore and gripped his hair with his hands. Allthe things I should’ve been thinking about before the kiss came roaring into my mind. If this got out, I could lose my fellowship. A fellowship that paid my tuition and that Ashton had helped me get. But it would be equally bad for him. He could lose his chance at tenure. At JRC, professors weren’t allowed to “fraternize” with students. Even master’s students.
“I’m getting a two-for tonight.” The man with the camera smiled giddily. “Rocket’s Romance Implodes: Frist's Fiancée Falls for Sibling of Ford Dupree.” He snapped his fingers. “Oh, I’ve got a better one. Slap Shot to the Heart: Frist's Fiancée Scores with Dupree.”
Ford walked over, grabbed the guy’s camera, lifted it above his head, and sent it smashing to the ground. It was uncharacteristic of him. Ford was famous for schmoozing the pap, as the Duprees called them. Prided himself on getting along withanyone.
“That’s a four thousand dollar camera! The lens was three thousand alone.”
“Settle down,” Ford said in a practiced calm voice. “I’ll buy you a new one. And I’ll give you an exclusive. But that,” he pointed to us, “Cannotrun. Do you understand me?” That part was threatening.
“An exclusive?”
“That’s what I said.”
The guy blurted the word, “Deal.” Ford grabbed the man’s arm and walked him around the building.
I caught my breath just long enough to lose it again when I looked at Madden.
“How long has this been going on?” Madden snarled, his fury aimed at Ash.
“It hasn’t.” I shook my head, my tone pleading. “It just happened tonight.”
His expression was dangerous. “Move, Tally.”
Ash tried to step around me, taking it like a man, but I held my arms out, making myself a barrier between them.
“Madden, calm down,” I said carefully as if guiding him off a landmine.
“Move!” he raged.
I took one tentative step away from Ash and toward him. “Hey, it’s not?—”
That's all I got out before he lunged for Ashton, shoving me out of the way, his fist flying through the air like a wrecking ball. It connected with Ashton’s face, causing a loud crunch. I screamed. Anna shrieked. But Ash just stood there, arms at his side, not even surprised. Looking like he deserved it. Everything was silent for half a second before Madden sent another fist flying. Holden and Blue were on him after that, pulling him back. He roared like a crazed lunatic, saying he was going to kill Ash.
And then my six foot-five man, my gentle giant, broke down, hands on his knees, crying like a little boy.
But he wasn’t mine anymore and he never would be. And it was no one’s fault but my own. I wanted to reach out and comfort him but that would make it worse.
Ash looked at me, his beautiful eyes full of hurt. I couldn’t let them think he’d done this.
“It’s my fault. I initiated everything.” I finally felt the shame I should’ve felt earlier. But that only made Madden cry harder.
“Tal,” Anna said softly, disappointed, but that was it. No one else spoke a word.
Ashton, whose nose was bleeding, gave me a curt nod before walking away. My lungs felt like they were full of hardened concrete as I watched him disappear around the corner.
I looked at Madden, his chest heaving, the pain of my betrayal all over his face. He would hate me forever. I’d hate myself. I was so screwed up.
But I already knew that. Some wounds simply leave scars that never heal right.
I slipped off the ring I never should’ve let him slip on in the first place and put it into his hand. “I’m so sorry. You’ll thank me one day. You deserveso much betterthan me.”
I gave him one last look, and then I walked in the opposite direction of Ash, completely alone.
Which is exactly what I deserved.
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