She can’t meet my gaze as she starts picking at the sheets. “I just… I’m too tired for visitors right now. I’ll text him.”
“Good, because I think he’s flirting with me via text.” That gets a smile from my girl.
“He’s always had a soft spot for you. You are objectively gorgeous. Not a some-people-agree kind of hot, but an everyone-knows-you-are-hot kind of gorgeous.”
“You don’t seem too happy with me.”
“It’s not you. I’m just processing.”
“I want to help, Aspen. Tell me what I can do for you.”
“You can stop hovering.”
“It’s part of the job description as your Dom.”
“Yeah.” She snorts. “I think we can safely say that’s over.”
“What?”
“I just want to be left alone for a minute. Why is that so fucking difficult to understand?” She’s angry and hurting right now, so I’m going to let it slide.
“I’ll be at Venom if you need me.”
“I won’t.” My heart feels like it’s just been ripped out of my chest.
Without another word, I grab my keys and wallet and head for the door.
I decided to walk to Venom tonight. I need to clear my head. The sidewalks of Manhattan have a way of putting life in perspective. I’m just a face in a sea of thousands.
I make a stop at Dulip first, or what’s left of it. The kitchen has been haunting my dreams these past few weeks. Coming to after being knocked out, seeing Aspen in the fire, letting herself burn to save me. I wake in the middle of the night, sweating, my adrenaline pumping. In the stillness of the early hours, I watch over Aspen, thankful that she saved my life, but gutted that it came at a cost to her. She will forever be marked by her act of bravery.
I remind myself that she loves me enough to run into a burning building because ever since I brought her home from the hospital, she’s been pushing me away. She locks the bathroom door when she showers, puts the lights off before scurrying into bed, putting as much distance between us as she can get in the California king. She won’t change clothes in our closet, instead taking what she needs into the bathroom, behind the locked door.
I fucking miss her. It’s not about sex—I know she needs time to heal. Obviously, it’s hard not to share that intimacy with her right now, but it’s fine. I would wait a lifetime for her. But, more than anything else, I miss her playful side and the feisty, outgoing woman I fell in love with. As much as I try to let her know that she’s still beautiful, without seeming like a shallow prick, it falls on deaf ears.
By the time I make it to Venom, I’m ready for a stiff drink. Everything I built at Dulip is nothing more than ash at this point. It’s devastating, but I’d never say that to Aspen. I walked away with a limp for the next few months and a scar somewhere on my scalp. It’s nothing.
All the usual suspects are in the bar, and it’s nice to see some friendly faces. People who are happy to see me, not shoving me out the door. I signal to Eli for a drink and head over to see my friends.
Flex and Dalton are deep in conversation when I pull up a chair. “Hey.” My tone is flat. Defeated.
“Hey, bro. How is Aspen?” The guys have so much respect for her. Flex saw what she pulled me out of.
“That’s a great question. I wish I knew the answer.”
Dalton’s brow furrows at my observation. “What’s wrong?”
Eli arrives with my drink, clapping me on the shoulder. “It’s good to see you, Ry. The place isn’t the same without you.”
“Thanks. Just keep the drinks coming.”
“Will do. Do I need to take your keys?”
“I walked here, so I can drink until the last few weeks feel like a bad dream.”
“You haven’t answered the question.” Dalton is the friend who doesn’t sugarcoat shit. “What’s wrong between you and Aspen?”
“I don’t even know where to start.” I heave a sigh. “She’s completely shut me out.”
