Ashton Scott

“When have you ever known me not to know what I’m saying?” My tone is arctic. She’s pushed me too far this time. The last thing I need is for someone at this party to have witnessed that kiss and to get the wrong idea about it.

She stares at me like I’ve slapped her. “Why are you fighting this? And why are you being so awful to me? I’m just trying to—”

I cut her off, unwilling to listen to another minute of her delusion. “The only thing I’m fighting is your inability to grasp reality. Listen to what I’m saying. This is over.” With that, I finally leave this godforsaken party I should never have come to in the first place.

54

Ashton

The sound of a ringing phone pulls me from a deep sleep at 4:00 a.m. Saturday morning. My breathing slows when I see it’s Josephine calling.

“Josephine,” I murmur groggily, trying to drag myself fully awake so I can be completely present for this call. “Is Jack okay?”

“I hate to be the one to break the news to you, Ashton, but no, he’s not okay. He had a public meltdown over something his manager said today, and went on a bender that ended with him trashing a restaurant. His assistant called me, and long story short, he’s been hospitalised.” She pauses for a moment, giving my mind time to catch up with everything she’s said. “He’s a mess, and I really think he’s going to need you.”

Leaving the bed, I begin mentally planning the things I’ll need to do in order to get on a plane to LA. “You’ve seen him?”

“Briefly. But he’s been spiralling since he got back and started doing everything his manager told him to do, so I’ve seen enough to know he’s not in a good place.”

She doesn’t need to tell me that; I already know. This happened faster than I thought it would, and as much as I don’t like seeing Jack in this place, at least he can now start getting the help he needs.

“Thanks for the call. I’ll be on a plane today.”

“You can stay with me if you want,” she says, her tone sliding into sexy territory. It’s a familiar place for us and one we easily go to knowing there are no expectations for anything more than a night or a few days together, but things have changed for me.

“I’m seeing someone.” Josephine knows the significance of that to me. While she’s never been strictly faithful to her partners, she understands and respects my stance on cheating. It’s not something I ever do or ever condone in my relationships.

I can hear her smile down the line when she says, “I wasn’t sure if I’d ever hear you say those three words to me again. Tell me about her, and please tell me she’s nothing like Cassia.”

“She’s nothing like Cassia. Now, if I’m going to make it to LA today, I need to get off the phone and book a flight.”

“Yes, you do, but don’t think this conversation is finished. I’ll be calling Jessica and scheduling in dinner with you while you’re over here, and you’ll tell me all about this woman then.”

I have no doubt that’s exactly what will happen because Josephine has a tendency to always get what she wants. Hell knows how I manage to fall into line with her wishes, but I usually do.

We end the call after I find out the details of Jack’s doctor and the hospital he’s in, and I immediately phone Jessica.

“Please tell me this call at this time is for a good reason and not just because you’ve decided to hit me with Asshole Saturday too,” she says.

I unzip my suitcase and start packing clothes into it. “Jack’s in hospital.”

She’s silent for a moment, and when she speaks again, the sleepiness and grumpiness is gone from her voice. “I’ll book your flights, hotels, and cars. What else do you need me to do?”

At a point where I’m trying to push down foreign feelings of inadequacy and powerlessness where Jack’s health is concerned, Jessica’s certainty of my actions is comforting. I don’t understand that emotion or where it’s coming from, but I’m reassured by it. I may not feel any control over Jack’s wellbeing, and I may feel a sense of guilt over letting him fall, but I will move heaven and earth to be by his side and do everything I can to help him get back up.

I give her the information about Jack’s doctor and the hospital before saying, “Research them. I want to know everything t

here is to know about how they work.”

“Do you want me to call Jack’s mother or has Josephine already done that?”

I don’t have to have asked Josephine whether she’s already called Bronwyn Kingsley to let her know about her son. I know she hasn’t because there’s no love lost between those two. Bronwyn refuses to forget the low point in Jack’s life after Josephine broke his heart.

“No, I’ll call her on my way to the airport.” I don’t want to leave that conversation to anyone else.

“Right, you pack, and I’ll send you the flight details. And Ashton?”

“Mmm?” My mind has drifted from this conversation to Lorelei. I need to call her and let her know what’s happening.