Ashton’s face softens. “I knew something was up. He walked in here like a hurricane. What happened?”
I lean against the counter and tell him everything, from how I had sex with Esteban, to the real feelings, to Noah's explosion ten minutes ago.
When I’m done, Ashton’s eyebrows are halfway to his hairline. “Wait. Are you telling me that you and hottie contractor Esteban areactuallya thing?”
Despite everything, I let out a tiny laugh. “Yeah. It happened. But I have to confess, he triedreallyhard not to let it.”
Ashton gasps. “What a saint. Resistingthis?” He gestures dramatically at me. “Poor man didn’t stand a chance.”
My laugh is louder this time. “I mean, I do have deadly seduction skills.”
“Obviously. One flick of that hair and he was doomed.”
We both giggle for a moment, and I feel some of the pressure in my chest loosen.
“But for real,” I say, quieter now. “He wants something serious. He told me that he wanted to talk to Noah, but I said no. I wasn’t ready. I just wanted to be happy for a while. Just us. No drama.”
Ashton nods, his voice softer now. “That’s valid, babe. But… you had to know your brother was gonna flip.”
“I know,” I sigh. “I’m mad at myself. I should’ve told him. But I didn’t want Noah’s attitude to mess everything up. And now everythingismessed up. And all because of Brandon, that slimy little?—”
Ashton holds up a finger. “No need to finish. I know exactly what you were about to say, and yes, accurate.”
“I just feel like I’m stuck. Like no matter what I do, I hurt someone.”
“Listen,” Ashton says, nudging my arm. “You fell in love. That’s not a crime. And from what you’ve told me, Esteban sounds like the real deal. Maybe Noah just needs time to stop seeing red.”
I nod, wiping at my eyes. “I hope so.”
“Hey,” he says, tilting his head. “You’ve always been the smart one. You’ll figure out how to fix this.”
“Wow, so now I’m the smart one?”
“Well, today you are,” he smirks. “Until you do something dumb again.”
I laugh again, and this time it sticks around a little longer. My phone buzzes on the counter as Esteban’s name lights up the screen.
“He’s here,” I say, heart picking up.
Ashton gives me a wink and a little shoulder bump. “Goget your man, babe. But if he breaks your heart, Iwillslash his tires.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
I pack my things in a daze, mumble a goodbye to Ashton, who blows me a kiss and mouths, “Go get him, lover girl” and walk out of the salon, my heart pounding in my chest.
Esteban’s truck is parked at the curb, engine humming softly like it’s waiting for me too. I open the passenger door and climb in, already bracing for the wave of emotions building behind my ribs.
The moment I turn to look at him, my breath catches.
“Please tell me it wasn’t Noah who punched you?”
Esteban glances over at me. His bottom lip is split and swollen, a faint bruise already starting to color his jaw. He lets out a low chuckle as he pulls away from the curb. “It was him. But it’s okay. I deserved it.”
My heart clenches. I lean toward him and gently brush my fingers along his cheek, inspecting the damage. “I’m so sorry. We should’ve talked to Noah… but I just wanted more time. Just the two of us.”
He doesn’t say anything at first, just drives in silence. I notice that the hand resting on the gearshift has knuckles that are red and raw, and I wonder who he punched. When he finally pulls into the small park near town hall and kills the engine, he turns to me. Then he leans in and kisses me softly, gentle, and careful, like he knows I’m one breath away from falling apart.
When he pulls back, his voice is steady. Certain. “I’d take all the punches in the world if it means I get to be with you. You know that, right? I won’t let anyone keep me away from you.”
