“It still doesn’t change anything,” I tell him.
“Why not? Ashlyn, knowing who was responsible for all the hell we’ve been through means we can fix it. We can press charges and–”
“You don’t get it,” I say while shaking my head. “It doesn’t matter who it was. Nikki or some other girl or a rival magazine. What matters is that I told you the truth, that I didn’t do it and never would do anything like it, and you didn’t believe me.”
“Your boss asked you to do it–” he says, and I cut him off.
“And I said no. I told you I said no. And I quit my job, Zane. I quit because I am done with jobs like that,” I say as tears fill my eyes.
“I didn’t know,” he says quietly.
“Because you wouldn’t listen to me. You wouldn’t let me talk. And now, I have nothing left to say to you. So please leave,” I tell him.
“Ashlyn…”
“Zane. When you asked me to leave, I did. Now I am asking the same,” I say.
Zane stands up and stares at me for a long moment before walking back to his car.
Once he is gone and I am sure of it, I break down for a solid two minutes. Then I go back inside and tell Hannah that I’m going to take her advice and go home.
Chapter 42
Zane
Rumors Sports Baris on the outskirts of town, a place that I never frequent. It’s not a terrible area, but I wouldn’t call it good either. I feel a little uneasy pulling up in a Corvette. I also feel uneasy knowing that if Nikki works here, she probably lives close by, which means that up until recently, Bentley did too.
I shove those thoughts to the back of my mind. Bentley is safe with Natalie. On the legal side of things, I knew it was better not to bring him.
I walk inside and it’s exactly what I expect: a rundown dive bar with TVs displaying an Angels game and two pool tables off to the side. It’s neither busy nor dead; mostly men and smells like old grease and cigarette smoke from back when indoor smoking was legal.
“Take a seat wherever and I’ll be with you shortly,” Nikki says from behind the bar. She’s counting cash and hasn’t looked up yet, though everyone else is staring at me.
“That your Corvette out there?” some guy in a Ford hat with a mustache asks me, nodding towards the window.
“Yes, it is,” I answer, and that’s when Nikki’s gaze graces up to meet mine.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
“I came to talk to you,” I say gently.
“Why?” she asks.
“Because I think we have a lot of things to talk about, don’t you?”
“Where’s Bentley?” she asks.
“With a babysitter,” I answer, and she nods.
“Is this guy bothering you, Nik?” a guy from the kitchen steps out. He’s larger than me, though I could probably take him if I needed to.
“No, it’s fine, Jason. He’s my ex,” she says, and Jason’s scowl only deepens.
“Alright, well, you just let me know,” he says before slowly heading back into the kitchen.
“Thanks, Jason,” she says, and I make my way over to the bar and take a seat at the end.
For a minute, I just stare at her, saying nothing.
