I’m wrong again. For the past several years, I have been hiding. I was pushing everyone away. I had lost everything about myself.
Until Ashton.
He had brought me back to myself, even if it was briefly. I didn’t hide with him. I let myself be me.
“Will you watch Sadie for a moment? I need to run an errand.”
He chuckles. “Don’t go down without a fight.” He winks at me, and I spin on my heels, running to the front of the house.
Crap.
Tiff’s car is blocking me in.
“Need these?” I turn to the jingling of keys, and Tiff smiling back at me.
I hug her tightly. “I’m so sorry.”
“Well, you are a dumbass at times, and sometimes you need a swift kick in the head to remember that we all love you no matter what.” She hugs me back.
“You’re the best, Tiff.”
She pulls back. “I know that already, but will you please go make up with Ashton so we can get back to normal?” Tiff puts the keys in my hand.
I run to her car, and even though I want to race to Ashton’s house, I need to remember that there’s snow on the ground. I feel like I’m driving to a whole new life. It’s a new beginning for me. I want this. I don’t want to walk away. I want to be crazy, and I want to do it with Ashton.
I pull up to the stop sign, and his house is in my view, but there’s a strange SUV in the driveway. I’ve never seen it before. Ashton’s front door opens, and a beautiful blonde comes out, and he’s behind her. Her blonde hair is in a high ponytail and is quite puffy. She’s somewhat pear-shaped, from what I can tell through her black trench coat. Ashton throws his head back in laughter, and she’s touching his arm.
I shake my head.
Crap.
Instead of driving straight to his house, I make the right turn to leave.
I’m too late. He’s already found someone else. I should have known better. He’s a great guy, and he’s not going to sit around waiting for me. The cr
azy one. The tears come faster when I pull back into my driveway. This time, they make me realize that I’ve lost my second chance on life.
I’ve lost Ashton.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ashton
The meeting with Kinley Wright from LSMP lasted longer than I thought it would. She even brought Carson Lee along. I still didn’t give her a definite answer, either. As soon as I follow her out my door, with Carson following behind me, I lock up the house and head to Lexie’s house.
I knock on the door, waiting until a man answers. “Hi, I’m Ashton, Reed’s dad.”
He steps aside for me to come inside as he replies, “Nice to meet you. I’m Sadie’s grandfather.” He leads me to the dining room where everyone is sitting around the table, eating, talking, and laughing over something Sadie just said. “Sadie, someone else came to see you,” he says, getting everyone’s attention.
“Mr. Ashton! I thought you weren’t coming.”
“I told you he would,” Reed reminds her with a shake of his head.
“Sorry I’m late, Sadie.”
“It’s okay,” she shrugs.
I finally look around at everyone, seeing Lexie’s parents, Tony’s parents, Tiff, Brooke, and Lexie. She doesn’t glance my way as I fill the empty seat next to Brooke.