Page 87 of Redemption

“I’m not joking. Lex told me before we got back together that there would come a day when I’d have to choose between you and my dream job. Turns out, it wasn’t just my dream job but my actual job.”

“Back up,” she says and waves a hand in the air. “What happened?”

“I returned to work, and Julian and Travis broke the news to me. Getting shot made it clear I was a liability with confused loyalty because I’m in love with you. They let me go.”

Taking a deep breath, she blows it out slowly. “We’ll sue. This can’t be legal.”

“I already talked to Lily. There’s a clause in my contract that allows it. We could probably sue for wrongful termination due to discrimination, but I couldn’t go back even if they offered. No one would trust me, so I have to decide if I want the headache.”

“You talked to both Lily and Lex before telling me?”

He closes his eyes. Damn it. “I talked to Lily as a lawyer, Ash.”

“Okay, but then you sought out Lex? Really?”

“I thought you two were friends.”

“We are. But… you know what? Never mind.”

Rubbing his hand over his face, he groans internally. “I want to know.”

“She’s a sore spot for me, okay?”

“Why?”

She gives him the same glare Lex did, telling him he’s an idiot. “Because you were in love with her, Grayson. She’ll forever be the one who got away.”

Goddammit, hasn’t he been through enough today? “No, I was in love with the idea of her.”

“Same thing.”

“She’s the reason we’re together. You really think she’d go through all that just to make a move now? That I’d make a move after everything we’ve built?”

“I never thought she and Colt would split up, but it happened. And you have to try and see it from my side. You dressed women up to look like her and pined for years. It’s not unreasonable I’d be jealous, so don’t make me feel like I’m crazy.”

He has to admit she has a point. No one thought Lex would be single again as long as Colt still breathes. And part of him feels a little happiness to know she’s jealous. Just a little part. Okay, a really big part.

“You’re not crazy. But you have to know how crazy I am about you, Ash. And how much I love you. Lex is just my friend, I promise.”

“Just tell me things first sometimes, okay?”

He nods. “Speaking of Lex and Colt, do you know what happened? I know they fight and all, but she admitted to being more broken than she’s ever been. And then she started talking some nonsense about not being everyone’s savior.”

“All I know is there was a bunny in Black Valley harassing Lex, and then Colt just stopped coming home. She had a choice to make, and she left him. Pulled away from the club, too.”

“What do you mean ‘away from the club?’ She was at the wedding.”

“For Shep. There’s a shift when an old lady and member end things. The issue with her is that she’s not just an old lady. She’s a daughter, and one we relied on for a lot. Probably too much.”

He sighs. “Things are just falling apart around us, aren’t they?”

Her hand cups his face. “Grayson, it’ll be okay. We’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll bring you to your car.”

“Where are you going?”

That’s an excellent question. “I just need to clear my head a little.”

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