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“That is ridiculous, and you know it. I didnotkill Kellen.”
He lifted his hands, motioning for me to calm down. “That’s what I told them, and what I told the police too. They reached out to me, for questions. I told them everything I knew, because I want them to catch whoever did this – but I know it wasn’t you. You loved him… even when he didn’t deserve it.”
“Told them everything?” I asked. “What iseverything?”
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. “Just… possible motives and shit I guess. Women, shady business deals, debts.”
“Debts? Whatdebts? I paid for everything, why the fuck would he havedebts?”
“Business debts.”
“What business? Kellen didn’thaveany business besides screwing anything he could fit his dick in. He didn’twork. What business, Ash?!”
“Monica,damn,” Ash said, approaching me to grab my shoulders, holding me still. “Look, I don’t know everything my friend was into, and that’s not a conversation I’m about to have with his widow. I just want you to know, that the police know there are angles other than “mad wife” to explore. Angles that make more sense.”
I pushed out a breath through my nose and shook my head. “Sorry. It’s just that this is a lot.”
Ash nodded. “I know,” he said, stepping in closer, and moving his hands from my shoulders to my face. “I’msorry. For everything you’re going through right now. Anything I can do to help?”
Again, I shook my head. “No. Not that I know of, anyway.”
“Come on,” he grinned. “There has to be something.”
I chuckled. “Ummm… do you have a spare time machine lying around? Cause if I just go back and change a few things around…”
“Reallynow,” he said, walking away to take a seat at the counter, and motioning for me to follow. “That’s a line of conversation I’ll bite. What would you change?”
I scoffed. “Man, too many things to name. So many mistakes.”
“Ah, don’t wimp out on me Monica. At least one thing. Come on.”
Wrinkling my nose at him, I fought – and lost – the urge to smile. “Well, I definitely wouldn’t have gone to that frat party Junior year.”
“Which party?”
“Boy youknowwhich party,” I laughed. “Me, you, Kellen, Amanda, drunk as fuckingskunkswalking home in the snow, no coats, stopping every five minutes because somebody had to puke?”
Ash’s eyes went wide. “Yooo.Yes. Yeah. Yep, all that. Definitely take that one back. That wasnota good look for any of us.”
“Not at all. Whatever happened between you and Amanda? I never really understood why you two broke up?”
He sighed. “Just… grew apart I guess. Shit happens. What looks good in college looks a little different once you’re grown.”
“I sure do know all about that,” I said, then closed my eyes. “Anyway… what about you? What would you take back?”
“Ah, shit,” he said, crossing his arms as he sat back in his high-backed bar chair. “Uh…. Shit. Okay, so… I had this little work-study job freshman year, right? So, one day I stayed up all night studying, took the test the next day, and then I was so exhausted that I just couldn’t keep my eyes open. So I called in, and they called somebody else to take my place. Wellthatdude ended up getting an opportunity that should have been mine. I regret that shit to this day.”
“What was the opportunity?” I asked, and Ash shook his head.
“See, now you’re all up in my business.”
I laughed. “Oh, is that it?”
“Yes, it is. You don’t see me telling you how to run your little press-on nail company.”
“Oh my God,noooyou didn’t!” I shrieked. “My “little” company, that’s what you’re doing right now?”
He shrugged. “I mean, I call it like I see it. Not like you’ve been on magazine covers, lists of entrepreneurs to watch, signing exclusive deals with major cosmetic stores, anything like that.”
