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It was a small thing for some, but a big deal for me. My childhood consisted of winters wrapped in blankets in front oftiny heaters. We'd all sit in the same room, to save money. My parents did their best, but we still had hard times. Now I paid their bills too, so they could be comfortable in retirement.
The air smelled of stew cooking in the slow cooker. It would be ready in another couple of hours, according to the digital display on the front. The smell was so good I was tempted to open it and start eating now. Knowing how these appliances worked, it would be worth the wait, so I resisted.
I thought about having a soak in the tub—jetted of course—with a good book. Then I remembered I dropped the last book in the water and hadn't ordered a new copy. Damn, I really wanted to know what happened with the rock stars in the story. I'd have to?—
The doorbell rang. I immediately froze. Several reporters came around earlier in the day, but Bernice chased them off. I should have known they'd come back.
No way in the world would I answer the door to them. I glanced at the screen before I headed upstairs.
Ashley stood on my front doorsteps, arms wrapped around herself. My first instinct was to pull her inside and warm her up. My second was to keep walking and pretend I wasn't home.
Since both of those were bad choices, I unlocked the door and opened it just wide enough to look outside.
"If you're selling girl guide cookies, I bought ten boxes the other day." That wasn't a lie. I have a mild addiction to the things, and a bigger addiction to good causes.
"Do I look like a girl guide?" Ashley asked.
She wore a knee length skirt, light coloured blouse and a leather jacket that made her look like a low key badass. If she was a girl guide, she was a hot one.
"Not like the ones I used to know," I admitted. "But times have changed. Their recruitment method might have too."
She snorted. "Well you're no boy scout, that's for sure." Her eyes snapped with anger. Yep, she was pissed. I should close the door and back away slowly.
Instead my dumb ass opened the door further and said, "You wanna come in?" I stepped back and almost tripped over the section of floor where entry tiles met carpet.
Ashley didn't laugh. Either she was too nice to laugh at my clumsiness, or she was too pissed to find it funny.
I closed the door behind her after glancing around for paparazzi.
"I don't think I was followed," Ashley said.
I grinned because it suddenly felt like we were in a spy movie. My smile faded at the look on her face.
"Good. Everything is messy enough without them drawing you into it." I gestured toward the kitchen. "Coffee?"
The moment I said the word, I wanted to kick myself so hard I'd fly over the try line.
"Nowyou feel like coffee?" She narrowed her eyes at me.
I sighed. "About that."
She crossed her arms over her chest and raised one eyebrow slightly. The expression on her face clearly said,'Yeah, this better be good.'
I toyed with a few different replies, several I had rehearsed just in case we had this conversation.
"I figured it would be better if I don't go," I said finally.
She blinked slowly. "That's it? You weren't too busy to make it, or even let me know you weren't going to show up? You just—" She waved a hand in the air. "Just didn't show."
That was exactly it, but her tone put me on the defensive.
"Making plans like that was a stupid idea," I said. "Almost as bad as us sleeping together."
She looked hurt, but I was on a roll now. "I shouldn't have kissed you. It's my fault, all of that." It took two to do what we did, but I'd take the blame anyway.
"I decided it would be easier on you if I stayed away," I said finally.
"Easier onyou, you mean," she snapped.
