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“Have you said goodbye to everyone you want to Stephi?”
She nods but I know she’s lying. I can do this for her. We can cross over the street and go knock on her door. I can stand face to face with the woman I love and pretend it’s not killing me being apart from her. I can see her again. Talk to her again.
“Don't even think about it, Anderson.” The deep angry sound of Ashleigh's kickboxing brother causes the hair on my neck to stand to attention.
I study the hard features glaring at me from the counter. I don’t doubt for two seconds that even with a drink holder with two hot coffees in one hand Ryder could hurt me without spilling a single drop.
“But she's my wife, Ryder,” I say. “I should be allowed to see her.”
Fire flashes through Ryder’s smoky charcoal eyes. His jaw works slowly as he grinds his teeth.
Why did I have to go and say that? Sure, it’s pleasurable to say it aloud. Ashleigh is my wife. She’s still my wife four months after our weekend in Las Vegas. She’s also my own personal torture. I dread answering ever knock on my door because one of these days, she’s going to send divorce papers.
“She’s what?” Anna gasps. “When did that happen?”
“In Las Vegas,” Stephi murmurs. “But they broke up because of me.”
“It wasn’t because of you,” I correct Stephi gently. “I fucked up, Ashleigh won’t forgive me.”
“So now that you know it was Mimi sleeping with Ramirez all along and not Ashleigh you want Ashleigh to be your wife again.” Ryder snarls. “She might not be strong enough to kick your ass Anderson, but believe me, I'm just waiting for an excuse.”
“Don't play the protective big brother with me, Ryder.” I leap up from the booth and step straight into Ryder’s space. The only thing between us is the coffee cups in the holder. “Where were you eighteen months ago? Where were you when that bastard bullied and tormented her? You didn't give a damn about the fact she even existed. It was me who was there for her and me and Darryl who put her back together.”
“It’s a martial arts thing.” Ryder casts a glance over my shoulder at Stephi before his eyes return to me. “Be grateful your little girl's here but if you ever come near my sister again—”
“You’ll do what?” I’m not going to be bullied by him. No way! “It may have escaped your notice Ryder, but your sister is not that innocent here. She didn’t contact me for three months!”
Ryder launches forward and grabs my throat. “What did you want her to do, telepathically connect to you? She was in a fucking coma, you moron!”
My heart drops into my stomach. The blood rushes from my face so quickly I feel dizzy. Or that might be the lack of oxygen. What is he talking about? Ashleigh hasn't been in a coma. I’d have known. Julia would have told me!
Mimi needs to talk to you about Ashleigh.
Have you spoken to Mimi yet?
What if something happened to Ash and you never saw her again?
I really think you should answer Ashleigh's call.
For God’s sake Sean, this is the woman you love, don't ignore her.
I shake my head as my chest squeezes. Oh God! Julia had been trying to get me to talk to Mimi about Ashleigh. Mimi knew. She knew everything and she’d just acted like Ashleigh and I were old news. Is there anything that bitch isn’t capable of?
I don’t fucking believe you, how could you do that to Ashleigh?
You’re a heartless bastard, Sean and you don’t deserve her.
I glance at a newspaper discarded on the table next to us. Krystal Valentina quits Hollywood following 100ft death plunge.
There’s a freeze frame from a video of dark blob falling through the blue sky of a Swiss mountain backdrop. They claim it’s Krystal. The photograph covers the entire front page with only three small columns for an article. The story is continued on pages four, five and six.
It’s a hoax!
It has to be.
I’d know if something like that had happened to Ashleigh. Someone would have told me!
But the date stamp on the video footage is from nineteen months ago. The day before the television awards where I caught Krystal and Justin kissing. She left me a voicemail asking me to call. When I tried to call her back, she didn't answer. I’d assumed she was already on the plane. When I saw her with Justin, I knew what the conversation was about.
