“David.” I took a deep breath, forcing a
lightness I didn’t feel.
“Yes?”
“I’m going back to DC. Tonight.” My hands,
hidden beneath the blanket, clenched into fists.
My thumb absently rubbed the scar on my ring
finger, a dull ache spreading through me. I
couldn’t stop.
I looked at him, forcing a smile. “What we did…
it was consensual. Neither of us owes the other
anything. Let’s just pretend it never happened.”
I stood and headed for the bedroom, afraid that
if I stayed a moment longer, I would break
down.
David grabbed my wrist. “Ashley, what’s wrong?
Tell me.”
But I couldn’t. How could I tell him that my
mother, who had worked for Ethan’s family, had
an affair with his father? How could I tell him
that she’d been blackmailed by one of their
drivers, and when she refused, he’d drunkenly
run her over and killed her? Ethan’s parents had
almost divorced. I’d become an orphan. But
Ethan’s mother had taken me in, raised me,
<
paid for my education. She’d even hired the
lawyer who had helped me put the driver away
for manslaughter. She’d shown me kindness
when I deserved none. And Ethan, despite
everything, had always been good to me. If it
hadn’t been for our secret relationship, we
could have been friends forever. But now, there
was no going back.
- 11.
I pulled away from David’s grasp, feeling his
gaze burning into me, a mixture of heat and
pain. I couldn’t look at him. “Nothing’s wrong. I
just need to go.”
“Go where?” He placed his hands on my
shoulders, then let them slide down my arms,
finally pulling me into a tight embrace. He
buried his face in my neck. “Don’t go, Ashley.
He doesn’t treat you right.” He held me close,
as if trying to absorb me into his being.
“Don’t go back to him,” David whispered, his
voice thick with emotion. “Even if it’s not me,
don’t let it be him…”
Tears spilled down my cheeks, soaking his shirt.
“David…” I choked out, unable to explain. It was
over between Ethan and me, but the tangled
mess with his family would always be there. I
didn’t want to hurt David, didn’t want him to
know the ugly truth about my past. It was too
much, too shameful.
“It’s late. I need to catch my flight,” I said,
pushing him away gently. His eyes were red-
rimmed, mirroring my own tear–filled ones. I
managed a weak smile. “Take care, David.”
He didn’t speak, just wiped the tears from my
cheeks. “If you’re not happy back in DC…let me
know.”
I nodded, trying to smile again, but the tears
kept coming.
