Makenna chuckled. “I love those girls. Hey, Corbin, you still taking Dawn to the movies tonight?”
The grizzly frowned. “Why?”
Aspen laughed. “You always get so self-conscious and weird whenever anyone asks about you and Dawn. Don’t worry, we’ve all agreed to pretend that we don’t know how much you like her.”
He only grunted.
Right then, Bailey casually walked out of the staff room and approached their group. “I’ll swear you live to spoil my fun, Havana.” She shot a haughty look at Ginny, who stalked off with her friends—Havana couldn’t tell whether the girl had found her purse or simply given up searching for it.
Corbin put a hand on the mamba’s shoulder. “Look, I know Jackson’s betrayal stung, and I know it stung worse that he cheated on you with someone you so strongly dislike. But, considering you’ve punished her in several ways over the past month, could you not just let it go?”
Bailey flicked something off her tee. “Forgiveness is for losers.”
“Neither Jackson nor Ginny are worth the emotional energy you’re giving them right now,” Corbin insisted. “You’ve made your point to both of them, and I’m pretty sure they regret crossing you. Take pity on them.”
“Pity is for losers,” said Bailey.
“Just leave it be, Corbin,” Havana advised.
Madisyn returned and puffed out a breath. “Sorry about that. The girls are going to behave themselves now. Oh, hi, Camden.” She smiled at the approaching male.
He merely nodded before passing Aspen a takeout cup. “Got you that vanilla shit you like.”
Aspen’s mouth curved as she took the latte. “Aw, thanks.”
“Didn’t you get us anything?” Bailey asked him.
“Thought about it,” he said. “That was as far as I got.”
Bailey shook her head. “Tigers are just rude.”
He gently tapped Aspen’s earlobe. “I’ll see you at six.”
The bearcat’s brow furrowed. “You will?”
“We agreed we’d have dinner at the steakhouse tonight.” He sighed, looking away. “How quickly she forgets me.”
“I remembered,” Aspen claimed. “I was just testing you.”
He snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“Die, Thing, die!” shouted Yasmin, throttling her sister.
Madisyn cursed. “This is not cool, kids! Not cool at all.”
CHAPTER SIX
As a familiar female stepped out of the coffeehouse up ahead, Tate’s cat bared a fang and sat up straight. Wearing a deer in the headlights look, Ashlynn froze. Tate had heard she’d returned last night, but this was the first he’d seen of her. If she was anyone else, he’d have paid her a brief visit to welcome her back to the pride, but she’d have sensed that the welcome was false—there seemed no point in insulting either his intelligence or hers.
She’d changed a little since he last saw her. She’d dyed her reddish-brown hair a bright blonde; it used to hang down her back but was now styled in a blunt bob. She was slimmer. More toned. Carried herself with more confidence. The piercings in her eyebrow and lower lip were a surprise, and both suited her.
She made a pretty picture, but his body didn’t react whatsoever—not even to the alpha vibes she exuded. As Tate stared back at her, the only thing he felt was regret that he’d taken a chance on someone whose feelings for him had been fickle at best.
Tate sensed Luke and Farrell go on high alert behind him, ready to intervene at the slightest signal.
She swallowed and tried for a smile. “Hi, Tate.”
He gave her a nod. “Ashlynn.”
She said a quick hi to both Luke and Farrell, but neither responded. As her gaze slid back to Tate, her tongue flicked out to touch her lip ring. “How are you?”
“Good. You?”
“Better now that I’m home. I missed this place. Missed everyone. Congratulations on ascending to the Alpha position, by the way. I’m pleased for you.”
He inclined his head slightly. Forcing himself to be diplomatic, he said, “I’m sure you’ll settle in fine. If you have any issues, contact Luke.” As Beta, his brother was the pride’s go-to person when it came to minor problems.
“Wait,” she said when Tate started to walk away. “I was planning to come see you at some point today. Um, I’d like to talk to you.”
“About?”
“Not pride business. This is personal. Maybe we could have dinner later? There are things I’d like to say. Things I didn’t get a chance to say after … what happened.”
“We said all that needed to be said the night before you left.”
She shot him a pained look. “I didn’t want to leave. My mother said it would be best to give you some time. I knew I’d messed up and that you needed space. I still kept in touch. Or I tried to. You blocked my number and email address, you blocked me on social media, and you returned all my letters without even opening them.”
“I didn’t want them.”
“I got that message.” Sadness glimmered in her eyes. “I really am sorry, Tate. Sorry about everything. Sorry for letting you down and hurting you.”