AllFreeNovel
Share Us
This man couldn’t find my clitoris if an OBGYN was giving him an anatomy lesson over his shoulder, but sure, whatever makes you feel better about yourself, asshole.
“I told dear old Dad if I didn’t get what I wanted, I’d go public about all the dirty business he does.”
All I can do is laugh and shake my head at the first words out of Asher’s mouth that actually make sense.
“So that’s why my father was suddenly calling me and demanding I come home and make nice with you. Because you were blackmailing him.” I scoff, not even hurt that my father would put his business before me. I’m used to that as well. “I think you’re forgetting I give zero fucks about what happens to that company. It can go down in flames for all I care, and you can go with it.”
“Don’t be so obtuse.” Asher laughs, giving me a placating smile. “I just made that threat to scare him a little. Like I really want to shoot myself in the foot and ruin what should be mine. It gave me the upper hand to make a deal with him. I bring in a big fish so my promotion looks legit when I get a stake in the company, and I keep my mouth shut about your dirty-dealing daddy. And Summersweet Island is the biggest fish of all, a cash cow the likes of which your father has never seen, which will have the board eating out of my hand. I want it. And you’re going to get it for me, by getting Teddy-boy to sign that contract.”
“Good luck with that.” I laugh. And I laugh, and laugh, and laugh, until I have to swipe tears away from my eyes. “Listen… it’s a good joke. It’s a great joke even, but I need you to stop.”
Asher completely ignores my hysterical laughter, but Melanie comes rushing over to make sure I’m okay, standing quietly behind the counter when I wave her away to let her know I’m fine. I might have only spent a few disastrous minutes with Ryan’s father, but I know damn well he is way too smart to fall for Asher’s bullshit. Besides, I’ve already told Ryan all about Brewster Development. There’s no wayhe’dlet his father fall for it. And there’s no way in hell I would ever help Asher out with anything, especially doing something that would in any way harm this beautiful island.
I continue laughing right in Asher’s face, until he reminds me just how low he’s willing to go when he wants something.
“Get me what I want, and I’ll stop fucking with your new boy toy’s head.” My laughter immediately dies, my blood runs cold, and all of my worry about Ryan comes back tenfold when he continues. “Get me Summersweet Island, or I will make his life a living hell. And you know I can do it. Look how much hellyou’regoing through right now, wondering what I said to him, wondering if he believed it, wondering if your magic pussy is enough to make him trust you, orme. And I’ve only spent thirty minutes with him at his daddy’s house. Imagine what I could do in a week, a month, or even a year? The possibilities are endless! I really thought he was going to throw up right there at the table when I told him I knew about him not wanting to be mayor and knew about your little romp in the tattoo shop bathroom, and the breaking of trophies. For some reason, he thinksyoutold me all those fun little details. Isn’t that wild?”
There’s no way Ryan would believe that. No fucking way.
My hands start shaking, and I glance over at my phone and recall all my unanswered texts. I cling to every piece of hope I have that after what I did this afternoon, and after all the time we’ve spent together, he knows me, and he trusts me, and he believes in me and inus. Ryan is stronger than he even knows, but there aren’t many people who are strong enough to handle Asher’s bullshit.I’mbarely keeping it together, and I know him, and I know the kind of devastation he likes to leave behind just for fun. He once spread a rumor about a girl in college that she had sex with one of our professors, and she wound up getting kicked out of school. All because his rowing team’s practice got cancelled, and he was bored.
“I might have even made up ateensylittle lie about us doing that sex painting thing together too. Splendid idea, really. Maybe if you would have been a little more adventurous with me, I wouldn’t have strayed.”
“Melanie?” I shriek, my head whipping around to my friend, theonlyperson I shared all of this stuff with. I don’t understand how Asher knows any of it, and I want to scream at the top of my lungs if he really did say this shit to Ryan.
Because I really don’t know right now if Ryan would believe me… orhim.
Stop it! Ryan would never think I’ve been talking to Asher behind his back or that I actually trusted Asher enough to make a fucking sex painting with him! That’s just ridiculous.
“I didn’t say anything! I swear to God, Danny! Who in the hellisthis dick?”
I immediately feel bad that I yelled at Melanie. I know she would have never betrayed my trust. Asher is a snake. God only knows how he found out all these intimate details and then used them to hurt Ryan.
Nope! Ryan is not going to be hurt, dammit!
He’s going to be fine, because I love him, and he knows it. I’m sure he took one look at Asher and called him a douchebag. In his head, of course, because he’s a fucking gentleman.
“Asher Montgomery. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He leans over the counter with his hand out to Melanie.
“Get fucked.”
Asher just laughs when she crosses her arms in front of her and refuses to shake his hand. Sliding it back into his pocket, he turns his head back to me, and a slow smile spreads across his face.
“You really shouldn’t speak so loudly when you’re on the phone while grocery shopping, Tins.Anyonecould overhear you.”
Everything inside me curls up and dies, and my heart breaks right in half when I realize I reallyamthe one who shared all those intimate details with Asher, without even knowing it. This motherfucker followed me around the grocery store and listened to everything I said to Melanie this morning. I feel like an asshole and such an idiot. And I don’t know if Ryan will ever believe me or forgive me.
Shut up, Danny! Of course he will! Once you explain everything to him, it will all be okay, and you’re both going to laugh about how ridiculous it all was.
I really wish I had the power to reach over, grab my fork from the counter, and stab it into Asher’s smug face, but I suddenly can’t move, and I can’t breathe, worrying about Ryan and what he must be thinking right now. I should have prepared him better. I should have warned him more about what an awful human being Asher is, but who the hell wants to talk so much about their loser ex, when they have the most perfect man in the world right in front of them? How in the hell was I supposed to know he’d do something like this?
Calm down. Ryan could just be cooling off. None of this means he actually believed anything Asher said to him. He’s good, and kind, and smart, and I know he loves me even if he hasn’t said the words either. This will be okay. Ithasto be okay.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep the part about him not wanting to be mayor to myself. For now. Until I just don’t want to anymore. Get me what I want, Tinsley, or this hell is just beginning.”
“Get out of this diner before I stab you with this fork.”
Thank God for Melanie.
