Chapter Six

Quinn

I held my breath as Ashton opened the door to her hotel room. The oxygen tore from my lungs and I struggled to continue with basic bodily functions. It felt like all available air had been sucked from the room. She looked so fucking amazing in that little dress, it made me want to throw her on the bed and tear it off.

Self-control, Quinn. We’ve already seen what happened when you lost it earlier today.

I’d already resolved to be the perfect gentleman tonight and treat Ashton like a princess. Like she deserved. I wanted to make up for what happened to us ten years ago, but right now, all I could think about was holding her in my arms again.

Ashton was just plain fucking incredible. Her curvy body, that long, blonde hair, and intelligent, gold eyes made her irresistible. She was also smart as a whip. The way she’d strutted into the conference room earlier today, exuding confidence like I had never seen in a female exec before.

But what I found most appealing was that she still possessed the same glimmer of sweetness in her eyes that she’d had when we were growing up. That vulnerable side that made her feel real and me go crazy. With an overwhelming desire to protect her. Keep her safe. There were too many girls these days that walked around with a superficial air about them, that no matter what they did or said, you couldn’t tell if they truly cared about anything or anyone at all. I’d seen more fake tans and tits here in Florida to last me a lifetime. But Ashton Jansen, she was real.

I greeted her with a peck on the cheek, a pathetic excuse to inhale her signature scent and handed her a dozen spring flowers that I picked up at the florist on the way to the hotel. I hoped we could get some alone time tonight after our dinner with Albertson. More blasts to her brick defenses. But non-physical this time.

“Thank you,” she said, taking the flowers and laying them down on the hall table. “I’m almost ready. Come in and have a seat.”

I was glad to see that our company had splurged on this nice suite at the hotel. The Flamingo was dressed to impress and I imagined it was all part of Albertson’s grand scheme to make her comfortable so he could better slide in for the kill. Complacency bred mistakes and this suite screamed relaxation. I wasn’t quite expecting to see her in the honeymoon suite, but it must have been the only upscale room available.

The suite boasted an opulent living room bathed in hues of gold much like her unique eyes, a separate kitchen area, and a luxurious bedroom with a massive bathroom attached, complete with Jacuzzi tub. I’d been in the suite previously when Albertson’s daughter had been married in the lush gardens. There’d been a little pre-reception party held here for the bridal party. Albertson’s son-in-law had become a good friend over the years.

Ashton made an impromptu vase from the coffee pot and arranged the flowers inside. Crap, I didn’t think she wouldn’t have a place to put them. Maybe chocolates would’ve been a better idea. I’d just felt the need to offer something. A gift.

“So what’s this dinner really about?” Ashton asked as she stuffed some small items in a black handbag.

I raised an eyebrow and answered carefully. Ashton was on a fishing expedition just like I’d be if the roles were reversed. “Albertson just wants to see the plans. I think it will put his mind at ease once he knows for certain that Henri’s going to put that land to good use.”

Ashton laughed. It was nice to see her in a happy, playful mood. “Are you sure that’s all?”

“Well, no.” Why lie about his intentions now?

She raised one eyebrow. “What does that mean?”

I tried honesty to see how far the new tactic would bring me. “Albertson isn’t stupid. He wants to see us mend fences.”

Ashton froze. “He knows about us?”

“He knows that we grew up together,” I admitted. “He knows that I had a massive crush on you growing up. The tension between us this morning was so thick, he called it out. I can’t lie to a man I respect that much. So, I withheld in order to protect you.”

“Wait a minute,” she’d stopped listening after his second admission. “You had a crush on me?”

“Wasn’t it obvious?”

“Not really,” she sighed and spun away to futz with the flowers again. I could relate, I had to fist my hands to keep from taking her in my arms. “I had a crush on you.”

“Well, I guess it went both ways,” I admitted softly.

“But I was the annoying little sister who followed you and Griffin around,” she argued, like doing so would take away the words that had just revealed my true feelings. Then, she could continue to ignore them. Ignore me. “I was the one who drew hearts on my notebook and wrote our initials inside them. I was the one who made the move on you the night we finally hooked up.” Ashton slipped on a black jacket and sat down on the couch beside me.

“Ashton, is that how you think I saw you? As Griffin’s annoying little sister? A hook up, for the love of God?”

“Well, yeah. Kinda,” she looked down at the fingers twined in her lap. “I always figured that you were just drunk and used me all those years ago.”

“Ashton, I saw you as the prettiest girl in school. Probably the entire Universe. You were the one I always dreamed about at night. But you were untouchable. I couldn’t make a move without a large shot of liquid courage. In spite of what I wanted.”

“Because of Griffin?” she asked, lifting her turbulent eyes to mine.

I nodded because I couldn’t speak past the sudden lump in my throat.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me that?” she whispered. “Before now. It would have meant so much to me to know. It would have meant everything.”

“I wanted to…” I started but the words stalled. Every rational explanation I came up with on the fly sounded trite and uninspired. I had planned on telling Ashton that night. I wanted her to be my girlfriend, but Griffin had ruined it all. Kind of like he’d ruined my whole life.

“But you didn’t because…?” Ashton clutched the sides of the couch.

Scotch. Neat. Four fingers burning a trail down the back of my throat. I glanced past her towards the mini-bar. I hadn’t planned on telling her this side of the story until after dinner. Obviously, the fates had other plans.

“Other things happened that were out of my control,” I said weakly. It was the best answer I could give her at the moment.

“Something happened between you and Griffin, didn’t it?” she pressed. “After that night, you weren’t around anymore and no one would tell me what happened. I know my mom was hiding something. So was my brother. You missed graduation. You were gone the entire summer. All I knew is that you went to the beach with your grandparents, and you never returned.”

I looked at my watch. Now was not the time for this conversation. “It’s almost seven. We need to leave now if we’re going to meet Albertson on time. He always impresses upon me the importance of punctuality in business.”

Ashton grabbed my arm. “What are you hiding from me? Please tell me the truth, Quinn. Don’t keep shutting me out.”

I looked into her sweet hazel eyes, afire with sparkly gold flecks. “I promise after dinner we’ll talk. Okay?”

To my relief, she nodded and dropped the subject, even though she worried her lower lip with her teeth and her brow furrowed into tense lines.

Outside, I guided her to my car, a luxury Mercedes ‘S’ class. My first splurge when I’d gotten the high-paying gig with Albertson. I wished the buttery leather seats would swallow me whole. I hated disappointing her again. Knowing I’d crush her later with the sordid truth. First, I had to power through this dinner. I glanced to my right and drank in her stunning beauty. I’d fortify myself on her scent.

“Wow, nice car,” she said as I pushed the start button while stepping on the brake so I could back out of the parking space. “I’ve always wanted to drive an S series. Do the headlights really have their own wipers?”

I handed her the keys. “Let’s institute the Chinese Fire Drill.”

“Really?” She looked like a kid in a candy store, dangling the keys and practically salivating.

“Sure,” I said, with a nudge and a smile. “I’ll be the navigator.”

She got out, trotted around and slid into the driver’s seat that I’d vacated. “I never would have expected this from you, Quinn.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked, a little affronted. It was just a car. A metal box on four rubber tires.

“Remember when you had that Jeep?” she asked with a teasing punch to my forearm.

She had a point. “The one that you wrecked?” I laughed outright, thinking back to that day. I’d thought it was the end of my teenage boy world.

“But it wasn’t my fault!” she exclaimed playfully. She slid her hand down my arm to my hand in a light caress and I swore my heart stopped.

“I know. I was just teasing you,” I assured her.

I remembered Ashton wrecking my Jeep like it was yesterday. She’d come over to my house looking for her brother after he’d spent the night at my house. We were both sound asleep and she was upset that she was going to miss cheer practice. Her parents were gone and Griffin was supposed to take her, but we were both a little hung-over.

She woke me up and I threw her my keys after I extorted her solemn promise that she would be careful with my metal baby. She’d just received her driver’s license and didn’t have a lot of experience on the road. I should have known better.

An hour later I got a call from a frantic Ashton. She said that someone had rear-ended her at a stop sign. Griffin and I rushed to the scene of the accident. My throat was practically in my stomach because I was so worried about her. She turned up with minor bumps and bruises, but the Jeep was a total loss.

“You were mad at me for a long time,” Ashton said, cranking up the Mercedes.

“No, I wasn’t. I was concerned about you,” I countered, feeling the loss as soon as her warm hand left mine to grip the steering wheel. “I thought you had been hurt.”

“You didn’t talk to me for weeks afterwards.”

That was true. I hadn’t talked to her for a while after the accident, but it wasn’t because I was mad. “After your accident, I realized how much I really cared for you and it pissed me off that I had to hide it. I made the stupid mistake of telling Griffin. Luckily, he didn’t beat the shit out of me. But he did make me promise that I would never make a move on you. I broke my promise.”

Ashton had almost pulled out of the parking lot of the hotel when she suddenly hit the brakes and slammed the gear back in park. She looked shocked. “Are you serious?”

I used my fingers to make a cross. “Cross my heart.”

“Wow…” She trailed off in thought. She put the car back in gear and focused her attention on the road.

But I didn’t miss the huge smile on her face. The one I hadn’t seen in years.

During the ride to the restaurant, Ashton filled me in on the last ten years of her life. She’d enjoyed her time at Stanford, moved to Atlanta, and landed her dream job working for Henri as his main real estate negotiator.

Hearing her talk, I realized how much I’d missed her these last ten years. I missed everything about her. The way she crinkled her nose when she laughed, her unabashed love for Adam Sandler movies, her funny commentary during weird commercials for male enhancement drugs, and her soft heart for abused animals.

I tried my hardest not to stare at her too much while she drove but with her eyes on the road, mine could wander over her body and drink her in. All of her. Every subtle nuance and plane of her face. She was so beautiful that it was hard not to touch her. I loved the way she kept running her hands over the buttery leather of the steering wheel. I was actually jealous of the steering wheel, wishing it were me being caressed so gently. I could almost feel her soft hands running over my hard chest. And lower.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“Oh yeah.” I forgot that I was supposed to be navigating. “Take a right at the next light. Seven Palms will be three miles down on your right after you turn. It’s on the beach.”

I couldn’t help but wonder what things would’ve been like for us if I hadn’t gone away that night. Would we have become a couple? Dated throughout college? Married by now with a couple of kids and the white picket fence? It was hard to comprehend.

My mother always told me that things happen for a reason. If we had gotten together, maybe it wouldn’t have worked out back then. Maybe there was a good reason why we didn’t connect again until much later in life when our feet were firmly on the ground underneath us. When we both had something to offer.

No matter what, I wished I could take back how things had gone down between us. I liked to live my life with no regrets. This one I’d take to the grave. Because I’d broken Ashton’s heart. Probably changed who she was and how she moved forward in her life. And I was a major douche bag for doing it.

Ashton guided the car to the front of the restaurant where a valet parking attendant dressed in a Seven Palms wind suit waited.

“This looks very nice,” Ashton said. “Mr. Albertson must have good taste.”

“The best.” The college aged Valet took the keys from Ashton and slid behind the wheel. I held out my arm for her to take.

“Wow. You are quite the consummate gentleman tonight. Kind of like a new and improved elder version of Quinn Andrews.”

“I want you to have the best night possible,” I said. “I mean it, Ashton.”

“Well you’re starting off strong, Quinn,” she replied. “I loved the drive over. So much better than my stinky rental.”

She took my arm and, with weak knees, I led her inside restaurant. This woman could floor me with a single touch and she didn’t even know it. But that might be the best part of all.

I gave my name to the hostess and she checked the computer. “Ah, here we are.” She pressed a few buttons and then studied the screen. “Let’s see…” she started, “Mr. Albertson asked that we inform you that he won’t be able to make it for dinner this evening, but he wishes for you two to have a nice time in his absence.”

Could the elder gentlemen be any more obvious? Good grief. I smiled. Somehow I guess I expected this, especially after my talk with Albertson earlier. Now, I just had to keep Ashton from getting pissed about being hoodwinked and leave me.

“Follow me,” the hostess requested. “We have the best table in the house for you and the bill will be taken care of by Mr. Albertson.”

“I wonder what happened to Mr. Albertson.” Ashton whispered as we walked to our table.

Mr. Albertson wants me to have a shot with this perfect girl.

I wasn’t going to tell her that, though. “I’m sure he’s okay. I’ll call and check on him after dinner. He’s getting up there and he still runs five miles a day. He’s been complaining about his knees lately.”

We were led to a table taking up prime real estate in a quiet corner that overlooked the Gulf of Mexico. Lazy waves lapped at the shore as the moon lit a sparkled pathway from the sugary sands to the water’s horizon. Breathtaking. The view never got old, no matter how long I’d lived here. I pulled out the chair with the best view and offered it to Ashton.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile. I wasn’t sure if she was thanking me for the chair or the view for its beauty. “This place is amazing.”

“How’s Griffin doing these days?” I asked. I already knew the answer, my mother kept my ear full of information about the goings-on back home. The small talk was just a selfish ruse used so I could hear her sing.

“He’s getting married in a couple weeks, but I’m sure you already know that.”

I nodded. “My mom’s mentioned it a few times. Do you like his fiancé?”

Before she could answer, the hostess returned with a basket of hot rolls, glasses of ice water, and a wine list. She went over the dinner specials and told us that our waiter would be with us shortly. I felt bad for being curt with her, but I could only focus my attention on Ashton. Everyone and everything else was an unwelcome interruption.

“He got engaged to a girl he met in college,” she explained, reading the wine list. “Her name is Sara. She’s sweet, I guess.”

“Do your parents like her as much as they did Caroline?” I asked.

Caroline and Griffin had been high school sweethearts. Everyone thought they would end up together, married with ten kids. However, the fateful night of the senior party, Caroline and Griffin broke up. I suspect I knew the reason why, but would never tell Ashton.

The waiter swung by and took our order. I requested a bottle of Spottswoode Cabernet for us to share, and Ashton ordered the scallop linguine. I got the dinner special of blackened grouper, but with how excited and nervous Ashton made me feel, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to enjoy it as much as usual. Being this close to the ocean afforded a spectacular selection of fresh fish.

“I guess they thought Griffin and Caroline would be together forever. But he seems happy with Sara.” She picked up a piece of roll and slathered it with butter. “She is a little more settled and family-minded than Griffin. I think she’ll be good for him though. In the long run.”

I let my eyes roam over her dress, appreciating the neckline and the way the lace skirted around her ample cleavage, lifting it as if it were on display for my hungry eyes. I imagined trailing a finger down the line of her collarbone, hooking it inside the fabric and pulling. Baring her perfect breasts for my eyes and tongue.

I found myself wishing we were having dinner at her hotel room instead of out in public. I wanted some real alone time with Ashton. Privacy, where we could talk candidly and tell each other what was really on our minds. Her words were like birdsong, and soon I wasn’t even making sense of them. I got so lost in the beat and rhythm of her sweet voice.

“…a bridesmaid at their wedding. It will be interesting to see if Caroline shows up. I know she’s invited.” Ashton took a sip of her wine. “You and your family are invited, you know?”

While I hadn’t received an official invitation to Griffin’s wedding, my mother had reminded me about it a million times. During our last conversation she told me that it was time for Griffin and I to mend fences and move forward with our lives. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to forgive Griffin for what he’d done to me. Not only had it sent my world into a tailspin, it had destroyed any chance I’d ever had of being in a real relationship with Ashton. One where I was allowed to cherish and adore her other than in my own private thoughts. However, if I wanted a relationship with her now, then I needed to make amends with her brother too. It was something that I would definitely consider.

“How are your parents?” I asked.

“Dad is retiring next year,” she said with a smile. Her parents were the best. So kind and loving. “They are still talking about the Keys.”

I laughed. “Your mother never liked the beach. If I remember correctly, she was more of mountain girl. How did he win that war?”

“Yeah, she’s not convinced yet.” Ashton shrugged. “So he hasn’t raised the victory flag yet. I think they’ll compromise and end up in Arizona or something.”

“My parents will probably stay in Georgia forever.” They liked their routine that was for sure.

“I love the beach. I wouldn’t mind waking up to sand and sun every morning.” Ashton winked at me.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of Ashton moving to Destin. Thoughts of us cuddled together on the beach, basking in the warm spring sun, floated across my mind.

“The beach definitely has its perks,” I agreed. “Except when you get sand in your underwear.”

“I won’t ask you to elaborate on how that happened,” she said with a fake scowl. “What do you love most about living here?”

“Everyone is on island time, for one. No rush. Just laid back and casual.” I clicked off more reasons on my fingers. “Two, the weather is almost always sunny here. Three, you get this view every day,” I said pointing out the window and leaning back in my chair. “The defense rests. What more do you need? Heaven.”

“It is very nice here,” she said, taking as sip of her water. “I’ve always loved coming to the beach on vacation.”

I grabbed a piece of roll and took a small bite. To occupy my mouth before I shouted out how much I wanted her to stay. I needed to hear more reasons why Ashton loved it here. If she could see herself living here, then half of my battle was already won. She just needed to forgive me and learn to trust me again. No problem, right?

“How is your grandmother?” Ashton asked.

“Nanna is doing pretty good. You know that my grandfather passed away right before I graduated college?”

Ashton reached across the table and touched my hand. “I heard about that. I’m so sorry. I know you were close.”

I stared at the spot where our skin was intimately connected. The place electrically charged.

“Thanks,” I said. “It’s been hard on my grandmother. That’s why I moved back here permanently. Nanna was diagnosed with dementia shortly after Papa passed away. My mother wanted to put her into full time care, but I couldn’t do that to her. I convinced my parents to let me move in and take care of her.”

Ashton’s eyes started to well up with tears. She wiped the corner of her eyes with the cloth napkin.

“While I’m at work or out of town on business,” I continued, “I have a full-time nurse that takes care of her. It’s heart wrenching when I’m with her and she doesn’t remember who I am. She is always confusing me with my dad or Papa. I guess it’s good she doesn’t think I’m a stranger. She still knows I’m family, just not her favorite grandson.”

Ashton put her hand on top of mine again. “It’s so sweet to see how much you care for your Nanna. She’s lucky to have you.”

The waiter came back with our dinner orders and set them down in front of us. I was a bit disappointed the food had arrived to distract us from each other, but damn, did that food smell delicious. My stomach rumbled.

Ashton dug right into her scallops, swirling the pasta with her fork. “This is really good,” she said, stopping to savor each bite. “Too bad Mr. Albertson missed it.”

I had a feeling Mr. Albertson was just fine with the fact that I was alone here with Ashton, enjoying his restaurant of choice. Taking a bite of my own dinner, I agreed. “They only serve the freshest seafood.” I held up a bite of grouper. “This big guy was swimming along earlier today, happy as can be, until a fisherman came by and hooked him.”

Ashton giggled, holding up another scallop on her fork. “Just like this little guy?”

“They were probably best buds,” I teased her.

I glanced up and caught her eyes with mine. It felt so right. So natural to be here like this enjoying a meal and conversation. Like we’d never been apart from each other. Ashton was nothing like the usual pretentious women I’d dated since living in Destin. Most of the women here were trust fund babies or divorced divas looking for another sugar daddy. All they wanted to do was sit on the beach and collect an allowance. No determination. No drive. Ashton was hard-working and fun-loving, used to having her own thing going on. And that was hotter than hell. I watched her lick her lips before taking another bite of the creamy pasta.

I wanted to kiss her so badly. Lean across the table and capture those luscious lips, brush them against mine.

“How’s work?” I asked, trying to snap out of my persistent daydream. It niggled at me constantly like a gnat swirling my head.

“Well, let’s see,” Ashton started, “I work way too many hours and spend more time on the road than in the office, but I’m sure you do the same. I’m up for a promotion, especially if this deal goes through. I never thought I would make this kind of money at my age. Most of our childhood friends are waiting tables or bartending,” she said, face glowing with pride.

“You deserve it all,” I said. “You’re fantastic at your job and I can tell you love what you do. It’s written all over your face.”

She blushed. “Thank you. That means a lot, Quinn.”

I poured the last bit of wine in her glass. “Should I order another bottle?” I wondered if Ashton was getting a little drunk. We’d each had three glasses of wine and she’d never been much of a drinker. At least then. He realized as much as he wanted to know everything about this new version of Ashton, it would take time. And I was at war with the clock.

“I think I should quit while I’m ahead,” Ashton answered. Her cheeks were flushed as she loosened up even further. But I didn’t want her getting too inebriated. I wanted her to remember tonight.

“Probably a good idea,” I said.

She pushed her plate away. “That was the best dinner I’ve had in a long time.”

“Same here,” I agreed.

The busboy came by to take our plates away. We declined dessert when the waiter offered. We finished off the wine and Ashton finally dropped the bomb. Even though I’d been expecting it, part of me had hoped she’d forgotten.

“I want to know why.” She met my gaze and held it until I answered.

“Why?” I stalled. I knew what she wanted to know. I just wasn’t ready to answer. It was the one thing standing between us, the night that had ruined everything. “You want to know what happened that night?”

“Yes.” Her eyes never left mine.

If I was going to earn her forgiveness I knew I needed to finally tell her what happened. Even at the cost of tearing her family apart.

“I will tell you everything,” I said and looked around. Couples were dining within a few feet of us and what I had to say was private. “But not here.”

She nodded. “Okay, where?”

“Let’s go back to my house. Nanna will be asleep and I need to relieve the day nurse. It’s a beautiful night to chill on the patio.”

She narrowed her eyes at me and fidgeted, but in the end she agreed. We rode back to my beach cottage in silence. I only lived a few blocks away, so at least the ride was short. After checking on my grandmother, I made a pot of fresh coffee for us.

“I love your place,” Ashton said.

An old Florida beach cottage that was built in the 1970’s had been home to my grandparents for years. My grandfather had it renovated a couple years before he died. My grandmother lived in the main cottage and I resided in the guest cottage, which sat at the rear of the property by the swimming pool.

It was nothing special, but it met my needs for the time being. The beach was a five-minute walk, but close enough for us to hear the waves collapse against the shore and feel the salty breeze. We sat on the edge of the pool, our feet hanging in the cool water. I handed Ashton a cup of coffee.

“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” she said, dipping her toes in and out of the water. She took a careful sip from her mug. “I always sensed there was more to your leaving than you just being a typical male asshole satisfied with getting laid.”

“I made a mistake.”

She huffed. “Which part? Sleeping with me or leaving me without as much as a goodbye?”

“First off, I don’t consider sleeping with you a mistake.” I tried to put my arm around her, but she scooted away from me, almost upending her coffee into the blue waters of the swimming pool. “I’ve told you how much I cared for you. Ever since we were kids. However, I broke the Bro Code when I had sex with my best friend’s sister.”

Ashton gave a sarcastic laugh and rolled her eyes. “Who gives a shit about the bro code? Really? We’re talking about a real connection. People’s feelings and futures. You can’t tell me that this is what it’s been about all this time. My brother didn’t even know what we did.”

I squeezed my eyes shut in humiliation. After baby monitor gate, I’d been afraid to have sex without sweeping the bedroom for bugs. “Yes, he did. That’s what started all this. Your brother heard us on the baby monitor.”

Ashton’s pale skin turned rosy everywhere it was exposed and her hand flew up to cover her shocked expression. “Oh my god! What? Are you serious? I’ve never been more mortified.”

“After it was over, when I left to get us a drink … Griffin came after me, screaming that he’d heard us on the baby monitor. I tried to brush it off and pretend it was sex with someone else but he’d heard your voice, Ashton. We had an argument that almost turned into a fistfight. He threw me out of the house by the collar. I didn’t want things to escalate, so I figured I would just drive around until Griffin cooled off. I ran into Caroline on my way out and she asked me for a ride home. Apparently, they hadn’t been getting along and she wanted to leave. My plan was to come back later and tell you what happened. But …”

“You decided to run away from your feelings?” Ashton asked. “Never come back and face the music?”

My voice caught, tears burned the back of my eyes but no way was I going to cry in front of her. “No, I would never run away. I’m not the type of person to run from my problems.”

“Then what happened?”

I hissed out a breath and steeled myself for what I was about to admit. Shame washed over me in waves. “I was arrested.”

“What?” she asked and stilled. “I don’t understand. Arrested for what?”

“While I was driving toward Caroline’s place, the police pulled me over. I was pretty damn sober by then, so I thought it was just a routine traffic stop.” I blew out a breath. “Then they found a few ounces of marijuana in my car on top of my blowing over the legal limit. A felony number of ounces of weed.”

This was harder than I’d ever thought it would be. The censure and fear in her eyes as they swept over me in judgment. I’d done a good job to not relive that night until now. Putting all that mess behind me and moving on felt like the right thing to do at the time. Now I know that wasn’t the best decision. I probably would have benefited from some therapy to work it through.

My arrest had ruined my relationship with Griffon and any possible relationship with Ashton. If I’d known the hurt it was going to cause her, I would’ve made a different choice and owned up to what happened. Nothing was worth losing her respect. However, I still struggled with telling her the reason why Griffin and I never spoke again. I didn’t want her to fault her brother for the things that had happened.

“I knew that you and Griffin toked up sometimes at parties, but why take the chance of having that much in your car? Transporting it?” Ashton asked. “Sorry, but that seems really stupid. And unlike the smart man I know.”

“It wasn’t mine,” I said, softly, looking out on the sun dropping like a giant orange ball below the horizon.