Page 10 of Not Until I Found You

“Yup. It’s demo day, and tomorrow will be the cabinets, if the delivery actually shows up.”

“You think they’ll be on time?”

He laughs dryly. “Not likely. So, more like Thursday.”

I chuckle, shaking my head right as the truck’s speakers crackle to life with a loud ringing. The name Maxie flashes across the console screen. Ashton sighs as he taps the answer button after the second ring, not bothering to take it off speaker.

“Hey, Maxie. What cha doing?”

I’ve never actually met Ashton’s little sister, but after years of hearing stories about her, Maxinne hardly feels like a stranger to me. He talks about her in the way most people talk about their best friend, which is why I know the distance between them has to be eating at him, even if he’d never admit it.

“Nothing much.” The words are light, but there’s a strain beneath them, like she’s forcing cheer into her voice.

Ashton tenses beside me. “What’s wrong?”

Her answer comes on a shaky breath. “Ash…”

“What happened?” Ashton’s grip tightens on the steering wheel again.

A sniffle crackles through the speakers. “Derek and I broke up.”

“Wait—what?” Ashton blurts.

I glance over, unsure whether to speak or stay quiet. I shift in my seat, trying not to breathe too loud. It feels like I’ve just walked in on something personal that I was never meant to hear. Except, I have nowhere to escape to, to give them some privacy.

“I left.”

“You left?”

She lets out another shaky breath. “I couldn’t do it anymore.”

Ashton flinches, scrambling for the screen. “Wait—Maxinne, hold on—you’re on speaker⁠—”

She must not hear him, because she continues, “I’ve spent years trying to become the woman he wanted…so much so that I stopped being myself.”

Her voice cracks, and a sob escapes, echoing loudly through the cab. Ashton’s face is tight with panic, color draining from his knuckles as he jabs at the screen like he’s trying to shut down a bomb. I turn to stare out the windshield, pretending to be fascinated by a tractor parked near a barn, but it’s not working. Every word keeps pulling my attention back to their conversation.

Ashton finally stops fumbling with the buttons, giving up on trying to get the conversation to be private. “That isn’t right. You never should’ve had to do that,” he bites out, anger threading through his words.

“He said we clearly aren’t happy together,” she whispers.

Ashton’s entire posture stiffens and the expression on his face would terrify an army. “I’m going to drive up there and punch Derek in the⁠—”

“There’s no need for violence.”

“I beg to differ,” he growls. “Where did you stay last night?”

“I crashed at Piper’s house.”

“Piper’s?” There’s disbelief painted across his face. “Her house is already over maximum capacity. Where did you even sleep?”

“On the couch.”

Ashton swears under his breath. “I don’t want you to have to sleep on somebody’s couch. Why didn’t you go to Mom’s?”

“You know why.” Maxinne’s voice is barely audible. “I didn’t want her to worry. I’ll tell her eventually, and then I guess I’ll have to move back into her place.” She exhales, as if that bothers her.

Ashton grunts in irritation. “I’m sorry, Maxie. I hate this. What are you going to do about work? You’re his secretary and⁠—”