Page 125 of Sloane

Tammy eyed me suspiciously, but grumbled, “Let me talk to her.”

Ryan asked, “Can I go with you?”

Chapter Forty-Six

Ashley

“Absolutely not,” I said, shaking my head.

“He said he just wants to meet her. That’s all. He was lying about talking to a lawyer,” Tammy said. I was surprised she was defending Sloane, even a little.

“But he threatened it,” I insisted.

“He’s an idiot,” Ryan interjected. “He’s so out of his element right now, Ash. He doesn’t know his ass from his elbow.”

“And that’s my fault?”

“No! Of course not. Just give him a chance to explain and apologize. I promise, he’s not going to get a lawyer.”

Tammy added, “At least let him apologize. You’re owed that. You can still say no about him meeting Millie.”

The last thing I wanted to do was try to go into hiding, especially since I didn’t have the first clue how to even do it. Hell, it was going to be a big enough pain trying to find an apartment without having to use an alias.

Still, I hesitated, so Ryan said, “You have my word.”

“You better be right,” I said before taking a deep breath through my nose and standing up.

“He’s in his room,” Ryan offered.

I opened the front door and took another breath.

This apology better be good.

****

Sloane

I thought it was safer to wait in my room while Ryan was upstairs talking to Ashley. Crash and Stu were ready to kick my ass.

My phone buzzed with an incoming text.

Ryan: She’s on her way to hear your *apology*.

G-R-O-V-E-L jackass!

Yeah, that was probably a better plan than whatever the fuck I’d just done.

There was a light knock on the door, and it opened the minute I called out, “Come in!”

When she appeared in the doorway, it hit me square in the solar plexus. She was so fucking beautiful, and I’d missed her more than I’d let myself admit.

It was then that I realized her birthmark was gone.

“Hi,” I said in a contrite tone. “Please, come in.”

She walked in further and closed the door behind her, which I was grateful for. We’d already given Crash and Stu a real-life soap opera show, there was no need to continue the episode.

Still, she put her hands behind her and leaned back against the door.

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