Ash is in love with me.
I don’t know why she’s never told me before. Then again, maybe she did. Not in words, but with her actions. Ash is always there for me, always has been. Nothing I do upsets her, or pushes heraway. Except bull riding, and that’s only because she worries so much about me. Because she loves me?
I drop my head forward, staring at the carpet.
‘I think you should go.’
It’s like having her dig her fingers into a bruise. Pain on pain. Dealing with the fact Ash probably does love me, at the same time as Bailey’s pushing me hard out of her life.
I stare at Bailey, hold up a hand for a moment. ‘I just need to get my head around this.’
‘That sounds like something you can do on your own time.’
‘Jesus, Bailey, why are you being like this? I swear to you, I had no idea Ash felt that way.’
Another snort.
‘I’m telling the truth.’
‘Oh, no, I believe you. I can well believe you, of all people, missed it.’
I ignore the barb. ‘I’ll talk to her.’
Bailey turns away from me, walks back to the fridge, tops up her wine. Every movement of hers is graceful—a ballerina who can’t dance anymore, but still moves as though she’s on stage.
‘I don’t care.’
That’s a clear lie. If there’s one thing even I know right now, it’s that Bailey cares a hell of a lot about this. I can’t blame her. She’s told me what the situation with Kirk was like. She’s beensingle for three years, processing that betrayal, and now, here, she thinks I’ve betrayed her too.
‘I’m not Kirk.’
Her shoulders straighten. ‘Aren’t you?’
It’s such a soft whisper, I almost miss it. But somehow that makes it even worse. So does the fact she’s said that—it’s like a lash, whipping my side.
‘Fuck, Bailey. That’s low.’
‘Don’t you talk to me about low.’ She whirls around to face me, her eyes wild. ‘Don’t you dare.’
‘What have I done wrong?’ I respond, holding my hands wide, asking for an explanation. ‘I didn’t invite Ash. I didn’t ask her to run across to me. I can’t help it if she wants more than I do.’
‘Yeah, you can’t help it,’ she snaps sarcastically, taking a gulp of her wine.
I dig my nails into my side to stop from telling her to slow down. Bailey James is a big girl; if she wants to drink her ass off, that’s her choice.
‘Do you think I’ve led her on? That I’ve lied to her?’
She opens her mouth to say something then clamps it shut. ‘I know you didn’t lie to her,’ she surprises me by saying. ‘Just like you didn’t lie to me.’
‘Damn straight.’ I stand taller, finally feeling like I’m back on solid ground. ‘I make it a point of pride toalways,always be up front with the women I sleep with.’
The solid ground gives way. She stares at me with an expression I can’t fathom, but it’s a look I will never, ever forget, because I swear there’s hatred in her eyes. She stalks toward the door, still lithe and beautiful, and pulls it in.
‘Get out.’
My jaw drops. ‘What?’
‘Get the fuck out.’
