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Now, he’s telling me to put the family matters off to the side and focus on Ashlynn? This has my mother written all over it.
“Is mom threatening you?” I ask in disbelief, making him erupt with laughter again.
“No. Has nothing to do with her. Just follow my orders. I’ll call you later,” he chuckles. “Also, Chance?”
“Yes?”
“You aren’t moving, so don’t mention it again to Max.” With that, he hangs up on me.
“You sly son of a bitch,” I laugh, setting my phone on the coffee table. “If only it was that easy, Dad. If only.”
Chapter Four
ASHLYNN
My head barely touches the pillow and I’m already tossing and turning. Thoughts of Chance haunt my mind. How things were and how they could have been played out in my mind. No matter if my eyes are open or closed, the images are there. There’s no escaping.
“Damn, you!” I yell, hoping that no one but Chance hears my loud words.
How the hell did we end up in the same apartment building? There are thousands, if not millions, of places to live in this city. Why did we both end up here? Was fate being cruel, or was someone else up to this?
None of it made sense. My dream job magically finding me. This apartment falling within my budget. Great things like this didn’t happen to girls like me. We were meant to work hard and suffer our entire lives so who the hell was responsible for this? This all seemed a little too orchestrated to blame fate. Maybe it was Chance’s dad to repay Chance for everything? Even that seemed too far-fetched. The man didn’t like me, and he clearly didn’t give a damn about his son’s well-being, or else he never would have let Chance go to prison.
Maybe it was my parents? They were always big fans of Chance. He may have been the son of a mob boss, but he always treated my parents like royalty. Or maybe they simply got tired of all of my crying and moping around and thought Chance would make things better.
“Ugh. I hate you,” I groan, wishing Chance could hear me. A single tear trickles down my face. “I really hate you.”
Why did I have to see him again? My heart ached when I heard his voice. My stomach knotted when our eyes met. My fingers itched to touch him. It was all too much. First thing in the morning, I needed to look for a new place to live. There was no way I could live here knowing he was right across the hall. No fu–
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone knocking at my door stops my thoughts. I glance at the clock.11:43. Who the hell would be knocking this late at night?
My heart skips several beats, and I gasp for air. Chance?
Don’t answer it. Whoever it is, they’ll go away,I tell myself, wrapping the covers around me tightly to keep me from getting out of bed.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Stupid hope floods me, and I jump out of bed. I quickly make my way through my apartment and to the door. I look through the peephole. I take a sharp breath when I see Chance standing there.
Like you expected anyone else,I groan.
“Who–” I begin to say, but I know he’ll reply loudly and disturb the other neighbors. I unlock my door and open it. “Yes?”
“I needed to see you again,” he whispers, breaking my heart even more than I thought possible.
“Ch–” My words are lodged in my throat, and tears threaten to explode.
“Baby, please, don’t cry,” he says, stepping toward me and wrapping his arms around me. I instantly melt like butter in his arms. My knees start buckling, and he picks me up into his arms as though I weigh nothing. He shuts the door and carries me over to the couch with ease.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispers, rubbing my back and sitting on the couch. He kisses the side of my head, and I come unglued. All of the tears that were meant for him flood down my face.
I cry and cry and cry some more. I’m not sure for how long. I was lost in all of the pain and hurt, yet comforted by Chance’s soft words and gentle touch. When I finally stop crying, I wipe my face with my sleep shirt.
“Sorry,” I say faintly and try to move off his lap. His arms tighten around me.
“Please.” It’s all he says. A single word coated with so much pain and sadness.
