“I flushed them,” I say in response. What is it with me and blurting out random admissions today? “I don’t owe you an explanation, but I’ll give you one anyway. I took them sometimes so I didn’t have to feel. You said you used to feel numb? Well, I’m the opposite. I feel too much, and sometimes I need it to stop. All the memories and the buzzing in my brain. So I drink and occasionally I take pills. Took pills. I haven’t in a little bit anyway. I didn’t have a prescription. I used to get them from my friend Lexi, who has a questionable boyfriend. Honestly, I haven’t even had alcohol since the inn, and I flushed the pills like I said earlier.”
Ashton stares at me, wide-eyed, intently listening to every one of my rambling words.
“You’re right. You don’t owe me anything, but I appreciate you telling me anyway,” he finally says. “So, where does that leave us?”
“I don’t know, but…I forgive you.” Those words are harder to say than any of the things I’ve already admitted today. “Just don’t go through my stuff and don’t keep shit from me,” I add.
He looks deep in thought, then nods his head. “I also want to thank you for taking care of me last night. I realize how hypocritical that was.”
“It’s fine,” I say, curling up again with my blanket from before. “You’re just lucky you had that cute-ass bunny to make it worth it.”
He chuckles, his eyes lighting up as his body relaxes into the cushions. “So I didn’t completely fuck everything up?”
“Not yet.” My eyes lock on where his hand is resting on the edge of my blanket, his fingers splayed out. “We’ll just have to see how things go.”
“Good,” he replies, his voice dropping to a low rasp. “Because I’m not done apologizing.” He grips the blanket, pulling it off my legs and tossing it onto the side of the couch. “There was something I really wanted to give you last night, but you said it had to wait.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He twists his body, placing his hands on either side of my hips. His face is so close to mine that I think for a second he’s going to kiss me, but instead he slowly stands, holding eye contact until his legs are fully straight. Then he turns on his heel and walks toward the kitchen. My heart rate accelerates with anticipation. What could he possibly be getting in there? My belly tightens, blood flowing straight to my clit. I’m so turned on that I almost shove my fingers into my underwear.
Before I can, Ashton walks back into the room holding two bowls with spoons shoved in the middle.
“I have a request,” he says, setting the bowls down on the coffee table and taking a seat next to me.
I sit up a little, eyeing the ice cream as it melts on the bottom of the bowl. “Do you really think you’re in a position to make demands right now?”
“Not a demand,” he says. “A request. And no, I don’t think I am, but I’m going to do it anyway.”
“Let’s hear it, then.”
“I have to go to this benefit thing next weekend. It’s going to be stuffy and pretentious, and I don’t want to go, but I made a commitment. I would love it if you went with me. I know it sounds like a relationship thing, but I promise it’s not. It’s just dinner. We don’t even have to stay the whole time.”
“Like Emory’s gala?” I kick myself internally for bringing that night up, but the way he’s describing it feels too familiar.
“Yes, like that,” he answers carefully.
“Okay.” I know I should yell and fight and deny him. I should make him beg. But thinking back on what I did that night.How I left him. Maybe we deserve a do-over as far as galas are concerned.
Ashton stretches out his legs, a wicked grin spreading on his lips. “In that case, I can give you your birthday present now.”
I assume he’s talking about the ice cream when he reaches out for it. But instead of grabbing the spoon, he dips a finger into it and brings it to my lips. I instinctively open my mouth, but he moves it up to my top lip, painting it with the cold liquid. Then he moves it down to the bottom one, repeating the same process. My tongue darts out, licking my lips, and I hum as the sweetness touches the roof of my mouth and slides down my throat. Ashton smirks and turns back, picking up the bowl and handing it to me along with the spoon.
“You’re going to eat your dessert,” he says as he shifts off the couch and sinks to his knees. He slides his index finger into my boy shorts, and I lift my hips to allow him to pull them down to my ankles. Gripping my thighs to gently push them apart, he settles his face between my legs. “And I’m going to eat mine.”
25
ALLIE
A black SUVpulls up in front of my house, and this already feels too similar. It was a limo that night, but it’s all the same. I tell myself tonight will be different. No one is going to threaten anyone’s life. My best friend won’t look at me with disappointment in her eyes. I won’t spill all my secrets. It’s just dinner, like Ashton said. We’ll get stuck talking to investment bankers and tech moguls. We’ll have canapés and champagne. Then I’ll choke down dry chicken and under-seasoned vegetables because even with all the money in the world, these people would rather starve themselves than risk not fitting into their bikinis this summer.
The car comes to a stop and Ashton exits from the back. I’ve barely seen him this week. It’s been pretty hectic at the paper. I’m officially out of my probationary period and the interns have started, which means I’ve been training them, along with writing my usual articles. It also means I’m no longer Ashton’s bitch. If I’m being honest, I haven’t been for a while. He’s been taking on a lot of the menial tasks so that I have more time to research and write. He thinks I haven’t noticed, and we’ve never discussed it.
I open the front door as Ashton walks up the path. He’swearing a fitted navy suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, tan oxfords, and his light brown hair is gelled off to the side. He looks every bit the part of a wealthy heir. Which is exactly what he is. It’s just another reminder that we would never work together as an actual couple. Which is good. Reminders are good.
Of course, that reminder goes out the window as soon as he gets close enough for me to see his smile. I never thought someone’s smile could make me feel like I’m floating, but that’s what his does.
