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Great.
Here we go…
Chapter Sixteen
It had taken all of three minutes after Reid walked out of the salon for Ashlynn to realize what a ridiculous drama queen she was being.
Well, her sister pointed it out before slapping her upside the head, so…
When she ran up the stairs to wait for him, she honestly had no idea how long he’d be or if he was even coming straight home, but luckily he did.
Although, she had been prepared to pretty much camp out here for as long as she needed to because she hated how they were essentially living in limbo right now.
He looked like a deer caught in the headlights right now, but he nodded somberly and stepped around her to open the door for her. Ashlynn stepped inside and went directly to the living room to wait for him.
“Can I get you something to drink?” he asked, and everything in his tone told her he was simply waiting for the bad news.
“No, I’m good,” she replied as she began to pace, and watched as he slowly made his way into the living room and sat down. “What the hell were you thinking today, Reid?” There was no heat behind her words, just general confusion.
“Like I said, I wanted to give the people of Sweetbriar something ridiculous to focus on so they’d leave you alone! I was in the coffee shop on Saturday and Billie mentioned how many people were hounding her about everything that went down with Becky and Sandy. Then she said how she wished there were some other gossip for people to focus on.”
“So you decided to be the gossip?” she asked incredulously. “Why?”
This time he sighed loudly. “I just told you…”
“You could have saved a kitten from a tree! Or posted a hot picture on Instagram—one with your pants on!” she added. “I just…I can’t believe you would do something so over the top!”
Now he got to his feet. “Well clearly it was the only way to get you to talk to me!” he snapped.
She snorted at his tone. “Don’t you dare try to be all righteous. It’s only been a few days and I’ve been busy! We texted the other night and you said you’d give me time! I guess that was a lie since you couldn’t even wait before planning a town-wide spectacle!”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Okay, yes, I could have waited longer, but…why? I’m taking responsibility for everything, Ashlynn. I behaved like a damn child and I’ve apologized. I’ve told you I love you. I mean…what else do you want from me?” he demanded. “If we’re not on the same page—if you want to break up—then please just say it!”
“Why? Planning on taking your show to a bigger stage?” she asked, and even though she was trying to sound serious, she couldn’t help but start laughing.
Hard.
Next thing she knew, Reid was laughing with her and honestly, it was the perfect tension-breaker. When she caught her breath, she straightened and did her best to be serious.
“I think we can both agree that the entire situation with the fire put pressure on us in ways we never expected,” she began. “And there was no right or wrong way to react or respond to it because it was all just so freaking weird.”
But Reid shook his head. “There was a right way,” he countered, “and that was for us to talk to each other about all of it. You were struggling with things and keeping it to yourself or talking to your family or Avery about it and never really talking to me.”
“Yeah, but you…”
“I know, I know…I kept a lot of it to myself too because I was selfishly only thinking about my career and you have no idea how ashamed I am of that.” Stepping in close, he took both her hands in his. “I’m sorry. I know I keep saying it, but I’m going to keep on saying it until you tell me you forgive me.”
“I do forgive you,” she said softly. “I was really hurt and…like I told you the other night…you leaving was a trigger. So a lot of the way I was reacting really wasn’t about you. I’m working on it.”
He reached up and cupped her face in his hands. “You don’t have to work on it. You’re entitled to feel the way you feel. Just know that I would never intentionally hurt you and I want to do whatever it takes to make things up to you.” Resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I love you, Ashlynn Donovan. And maybe dancing in a pair of Olaf shorts was a little over the top, but…”
The giggle was out before she could stop it. “It was perfect.”
“Well, now we’re kind of even,” he teased. “Back in high school, everyone only heard about your underwear; I’m pretty sure the entire town has officially seen mine.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure more than the whole town has seen it by now. I have a feeling you’re going to go viral.”
His only response was to groan.
