Page 30 of The Moment You Know

“You know, that wasn’t even remotely believable.”

“I’m sorry,” she said again, this time sounding somewhat convincing. “But, honestly, your track record when it comes to Paige in the past several years hasn’t been very good.”

The circular conversation was killing him and he rubbed the back of his neck wearily, feeling like Napoleon right after Waterloo. She watched him, her expression leveling out and losing some of its edge.

“I appreciate that you stayed with Paige. I really do, but you don’t need to stay any longer now that I’m here. You know I’ll take care of her.” She then bent down and picked up the bag at her feet. “And you should know that if I ever see Ashley again, even if it’s in the organic produce section at Trader Joe’s, it won’t end well for her. You have my fucking word on that.”

Chapter 11

It had been a very long and shitty night, and it wasn’t even over yet.

Almost numb, David took an Uber home. As he stared out the window he kept thinking about everything Jules had said to him in regard to Ashley—how she’d been talking shit about Paige, then going on and on about his dick, both of which pissed him off. But it was one of the last things Jules said to him that had him utterly confused … about his opportunity to hear ‘all of that’ having come and gone. All of what?

After arriving at the house, he went directly into the kitchen and grabbed a Voodoo Ranger IPA from the fridge. Uncaring that it was just after 4 a.m., he opened it quickly and drank half of it, not even bothering with a glass. He was just leaning back against the island when Ashley came in. With sleep-tousled hair and her usual bedtime attire of a camisole and minuscule panties, she looked hot as fuck. But for once, it did nothing for him.

“I texted you several times,” she said.

She sounded like a bratty child, which only stoked his simmering anger. “I know.”

“You could have responded at least once.”

He took a drink while she glared at him. “I know.”

“So, why didn’t you?”

He gave her the obvious answer. “Because I didn’t feel like it.”

“David—”

He set his beer down on the counter, harder than he’d intended, cutting her off. “Are you even going to ask how she is?”

She crossed her arms under her boobs, raising them practically up to her chin; normally that would’ve been something he’d appreciate, but not tonight. “Well, I’m assuming she’s fine, since you’re home.”

“You assume wrong,” he told her coldly. “She has a concussion—a fairly bad one, too. You really hurt her.”

She sighed, but it seemed more aggravated than remorseful. “I’m sorry. I didn’t do it on purpose. I just … reacted badly.”

“No shit?” He picked up his beer again and took another drink.

“Look, I know you’re upset with me, but I honestly think …” she trailed off for a second. “I think I did you a favor.”

Had she come home and gotten high? “What kind of favor?”

“Well,” she said, drawing out the word as she crossed the kitchen and attached herself to his side. “Now Paige knows everything.”

“But the thing is, she didn’t need to.”

“Yes, she did. And I’m not sorry I told her.”

“I know you’re not, and that’s part of the problem. Christ, Ash, it was bad enough she found out we were together by running into us at a random restaurant, but she didn’t need to find out about Jacob. Not right then, and especially not by being blindsided like she was. She didn’t deserve that.”

“And I didn’t deserve to be told to shove my ‘Hello’ up my ass when I was being polite.”

He blinked at her, incredulous. “Grow up. That was no reason to go scorched earth on her. Fucking her up on purpose was a total cunt move, and you should cross your fingers and hope she doesn’t press charges.”

“It was an accident.”

He took another drink of beer and then just stared at her. She stared back for several moments before starting to fidget.

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