Page 127 of Starcrossed Colorado

I’d been fan-girling about Ayla earlier, but she was a genuine person. Sweet and kind. She deserved to have people around her who loved her, and who she could trust.Everyonedeserved that. Money and fame couldn’t buy it.

Ayla shuffled her feet in the doorway. “I hope you don’t mind me bringing this up. But it’s not right what happened with your ex. How you were treated by the school. They should’ve done more to defend you. Maybe there’s some way I could help.”

I didn’t see how she could, but I appreciated her offer. “Thanks. Ifyouneed anything else, please let me know.” Ayla’s life was so much more uncertain than mine at the moment. Her world tour was on hold. She probably had a manager, agent, and countless others demanding to know when she’d be back at work. What she needed was some peace and rest.

“You’ve done so much already. I’m glad we got the chance to meet. And I’m sure it won’t be the last time.”

“I hope not.”

Ashford rested his hand on my lower back, his expression carefully neutral.

When it was time for me to go, I gave Ashford another kiss goodbye. One turned into three.

“Tick, tock,” Judson reminded us.

I grabbed my scarf and sunglasses. No pink lipstick, though. Which was a good thing, because Ashford would’ve been wearing it too.

We’d already switched off all the lights. Judson and I went to the kitchen and climbed out the window onto the fire escape. He extended the ladder leading down. Once we’d climbed to the ground, he pushed the ladder back up, and Ashford secured it into place.

The creaking of the metal ladder had created just enough noise to draw the few remaining reporters’ attention. Behind the building, Judson rushed me into his truck while the reporters dashed around from the front, snapping pictures and shouting questions.

Judson slammed the door shut on the passenger side. Seconds later, he jumped in, and we took off. The reporters dashed toward their vehicles to follow.

In the rearview, I watched the Big Blue Monster disappear into the darkness.

THIRTY-ONE

Ashford

The last ofthe reporters followed Emma and Judson, just as we had hoped. Which left me and Ayla in a dark apartment. After all the life and excitement here just a few hours ago, it was depressing as hell.

Or maybe that was just me.

I hated that Maisie and Emma weren’t with me. Even if that was irrational, I still felt it. And that wouldn’t go away until I’d met up with them again.

A text came in from Teller, letting me know they’d arrived with Maisie at Elias’s place. About half an hour later, Emma texted that Judson had dropped her off. I tried calling her just to hear her voice, but the call didn’t go through. Reception outside town could be spotty though. I figured she was busy with Maisie.

Grace and Callum had arrived at Judson’s a while ago. Judson himself had gotten held up for some reason and hadn’t gotten to the ranch, but aside from him, everyone was in place.

Something irked me. A feeling that not everything was right. Yet I couldn’t put my finger on it, and I didn’t have time to spend pondering it.

I went to the living room, where Ayla was resting, and said, “We should go.”

We left the building as quietly as possible, not daring to turn on any lights. My truck was parked about a block away. Ayla kept her head down and her arms wrapped around herself. She was wearing some of Emma’s clothes, as well as a baseball cap. No big sunglasses or scarves to make it look like she was hiding.

We didn’t see a single person on our way. Once we were in the truck, I pulled away from the curb. Her car was still here in town, but she’d said she would deal with it later.

A few minutes later, we passed the boundary of Silver Ridge and drove along the deserted highway.

The moon was bright tonight. Just like the night Lori had died, which was a morbid thought. Especially when we drove past the white cross marking the scene of the accident.

Emma had driven this way over an hour ago with Judson.

“That’s it?” Ayla asked softly. She’d noticed the cross too.

“Yep.”

“I really miss her.”

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