“A cabin opened up? Mia never said anything,” she says.
“Declan just told me after practice. I guess it was a sign, huh?”
My lungs are tight, but I can’t stop now.Press on, press on.
“A sign that our time together was coming to an end anyway. Works out well for your career dreams.”
“Sure.” Her eyes lose that light I love so much.
Now she just looks…vacant and far away, almost like she did after Aaron died.
“Ash…” I want to reach for her, but she recoils like she doesn’t want me near her.
“We…we should go to the cabin now and skip lunch. I’ll help you pack.”
My plan feels like it’s in free fall now.
But I have to see it through.
For Ashley.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
* * *
Packing up my stuff takes less than an hour. Ashley moves at light speed, especially when it comes to Louie’s items.
“You can come visit her. And me.” I hold Louie up in her cat carrier, and she meows. “I’m only a ten-minute walk.” I hold up my phone and show her where on the ranch Cabin twelve is. “It’s right near the barn.”
“Great. I hope you’re happy there.”
She turns me toward the door and practically herds me outside.
My heart is breaking, and as I’m walking out the door, I feel like my plan was a terrible mistake. But Ashley’s expression is blank when I turn back to kiss her.
“Goodbye, J.” She kisses me fast and shuts the door.
And just like that, the best days of my life are over.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
Ashley
I wait until Jared drives off in his truck with Louie before I sink down to the floor, lean my back against the closed front door, and burst into tears.
What the heck just happened?
One minute, I was telling him about the potential job in New Orleans—and the next, I was helping him pack to move out of our cabin.
Our cabin.
Not anymore. Now it’s just me.
I already miss them.
I miss Louie and her insistent meows and the way she would lead us proudly down to bed for the night with her tail in the air.
I miss Jared and his cocky half-grin followed by his sweet compliments and the sexy way he’d saunter into a room.
