We make our way in, and it doesn’t take me long to decide that sleeping in the flooded cabin is a no-go.I don’t know why the swamp smells like something rotten, but it’s so badthat I’m bound to wake up in the company of vultures.
“It does have sustenance.”I point at the giant bottle and the jar that’s exactly like the ones in his cabin.Walking over, I grab a few pieces of the trail mix.“The food is dry.”
“I told you, we have plenty already,” he says.“Now can we leave before we suffocate from the stink?”
“Yeah.”I let him lead me out, and we walk slowly, enjoying the fresh air and the atmosphere once again.
“See?The boat seems fine.”He gestures toward the pier.
“Let’s hope the one they left on is doing just as well,” I say, not convinced.
He clasps my hand in his big palm, sending zings through my veins.“All will be well.I promise.”
“You can’t know a thing like that.”I know I should pull my hand away, but I can’t bring myself to do so.It just feels too nice.
“Can we talk about something else?”he says.
“Sure.Like what?”
He lets my hand go and faces me.“Like the big question…”
My heartbeat picks up.“What question?”But I think I know what it is.
His blue-gray eyes glint with steel as he confirms my hunch.“Why did you ghost me?”
Chapter22
Ashton
She steps back.“Is now really a good time to talk about this?”
I gesture around us.“We’re not going anywhere anytime soon.When would it be a better time?”
She sighs.“We might be stuck here for a while, and discussing this will only make us more at odds with each other.”
“We’re already at odds with each other,” I say.“Especially you with me for some unfathomable reason.”
“Fine.”She bites her lower lip, making my cock twitch.“The morning after we first… met, I learned how much you cat around.”
I furrow my eyebrows.“Cat around?”
She scowls.“I learned how much you fuck different women.Is that clearer?”
Shit.Thatwasone of my leading theories.But… “How?”
She shrugs.“Spoke to one of your ‘conquests.’Her reviews were glowing, by the way.Five stars all around.”
Fuck.Must be someone from college.“I wish you’d talked to me instead of just disappearing.”
“Oh?”She lifts her chin.“Why is that?”
“Because I would’ve told you that it’s all long behind me.”
She folds her arms across her chest.“Yeah, right.”
I put my hand over my heart.“After that time with you, I haven’t been with anyone else.”
She gapes at me, then snorts.“Bullshit.There’s no way.”