“Ashton—” He steps in my direction, and I take a step back, holding my hand up to stop him.
“But I’ll never forgive you for what you did to Shane. All I ever wanted was to be loved.” I exhale, biting my top lip. “I don’t know what happened to you that you didn’t know how to do that, but I don’t hate you. I just don’t ever want to see you again.”
He nods, running his tongue over his top teeth. I think he might say something else, but he doesn’t. Instead, he stalks away.
“Here,” I say, walking toward him.
As he turns back to me, I hold out the small jewelry box. It’s been in my purse since I found it.
His eyes flick to the box and back up at me.
“Take it, and don’t contact me or Shane again.”
He grabs the box before walking away.
Tears well in my eyes, and I stand in the parking lot, watching him leave.
I mean it. I don’t hate him. But I can’t forgive him for almost taking my brother from us.
I hadn’t noticed but JT stands behind me, watching.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t let you come out here with him alone.” He holds out his arms.
I crash into his chest, laughing through the tears rolling down my face. “It’s okay. You really weren’t lying about being a good friend.”
“I know my strong suits,” he murmurs, a grin spreading across his face. “You alright?”
I pull back. “I always am, aren’t I?”
His mouth turns down. When I waltz back into the club, Shane’s sitting at a table with his face in his hands while Nik talks in his ear, and Gabriel’s nowhere to be found.
I saddle up at the bar and wait for everyone to leave so I can help clean up. There’s no way I can get through the rest of this weekend sober.
“Hey, where’d Gabe go?” JT asks, coming up to sit beside me.
I shrug.
“Are you kidding me? You guys are so annoying. Make up already.” He laughs.
“I can’t. This life—” I let out a long exhale. “I can’t do this.”
He narrows his eyes at me, opening and closing his mouth before finally saying, “He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
His brows raise. “Gabe quit the club.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Right before the bachelor party. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you. I mean, it’s not official yet, but once the club decides who’s taking over, he’s done.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Are you really asking me that?” He stares at me like I’m dumb.
I shake my head in disbelief.
“If he’s president, he can’t have you and Maggie. He made his choice.”
