Chapter 40

Ashley.

A few days had passed and I still hadn’t heard from Aiden. It was unusual and made me antsy. Normally, I was the one avoiding him, not the other way around. The silence from his end was unsettling.

I hadn't seen him around and I missed him.

I had another shoot today, and once again, I’d organized it near Aiden’s office. My boss liked the place, so it hadn’t raised any red flags yet. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was tempting fate.

As I set up my equipment, my mind wandered. Where was he? Why hadn’t he tried to contact me? I shook my head, trying to focus. I needed to get through this shoot without any hiccups.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. It was Mr Thompson.

“Ashley, how’s it going over there?” he asked, his voice crackling through the phone.

“Going well, Sir. We’re almost set up and should start in about ten minutes,” I replied,

“Good to hear. Remember, this client is important, so make sure everything runs smoothly.”

“Absolutely, Sir. I’ve got it under control.”

I hung up and took a deep breath, glancing around. The location was perfect, the chic café with large windows and a cozy atmosphere. It was perfect for the shoot. But it also meant being within a stone’s throw of Aiden’s office.

The models arrived, and I started directing them, trying to immerse myself in work. The camera clicked, capturing smiles and laughter. For a moment, I almost forgot about Aiden.

During a break, I stepped outside for some fresh air. The café was on a busy street, and I found myself scanning the faces of passersby, half-expecting to see Aiden’s familiar figure. But he was nowhere to be seen.

“Ashley, you okay?” one of the models, Jenna, asked, coming up beside me.

“Yeah, just needed some air,” I said, forcing a smile. “Let’s get back inside and finish this up.”

We wrapped up the first part without any issues, and the clients seemed pleased. My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from Logan.

“How’s the shoot going?”

“Just finished. Heading back soon,” I texted back, my fingers hovering over the screen. I wanted to ask if he’d heard anything about Aiden, but I decided against it. Logan would get suspicious.

I reviewed the photos, trying to concentrate. But my mind kept drifting back to Aiden. Where was he? What was he planning?

I glanced at my phone again, but there were no new messages. I sighed, leaning back in my chair.

Maybe it was a good thing that Aiden was keeping his distance. Maybe he’d finally decided to respect my boundaries. But deep down, I knew better. Aiden wasn’t the type to just disappear. l

We were just finishing up the shoot when I decided to offer a little treat.

"Hey, everyone," I called out to the team, "How about I grab some snacks for us? It’s been a long day, and we deserve a little break."

June who had been helping out with the packing, immediately waved her hand in protest. "No way, Ashley. You've been spending too much of your own money on these shoots. I'll get the snacks this time."

I tried to argue, but she was having none of it. "Seriously, Ash, let me do this. You've done enough."

"Alright," I relented with a smile, "Thanks. You're the best."

Deep down I was mad she had foiled my plans to see him. I would call her a busy body but I know she means well.

While June headed to the café to grab the snacks, I turned my attention back to packing up the equipment and chatting with the client. The shoot had gone well, and the client seemed pleased with the results.

"We're really happy with how everything turned out, Ashley," the client said, shaking my hand. "Your team is amazing."

"Thank you so much," I replied warmly. "It was a pleasure working with you. We'll have the final edits ready by next week."

As the client left, I continued packing up the remaining equipment. A few minutes later, June burst back into the room, looking excited and slightly out of breath.

"Ashley! You won't believe who I just met," she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Who?" I asked, curious about what had gotten her so worked up.

"That hot guy from before! The we saw in the cafe when he was walking out.  He was there and he actually spoke to me!"

I felt a jolt of surprise. "Really? Are you sure?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes! He introduced himself and everything. He was so charming and... wow, he's even hotter in person."

I tried to process what she was saying, but a part of me didn't want to believe it. "Are you sure it was him?"

"Positive," She insisted.

My heart skipped a beat. "What did he say?"

"He just asked how I was and if I wanted him to buy my coffee,  He seemed really interested."

I was stunned. "I can't believe it."

"Me too, our babies would be so smart and beautiful."

Just then, I saw Aiden exiting the café. He walked with that familiar confidence, and I felt a pang of jealousy. June's excitement over him only amplified the emotions swirling inside me.

It hit me like a ton of bricks, I liked Aiden. I liked him a lot. But with that realization came a wave of relief and guilt. Relief, because at least now I understood why he'd been occupying my thoughts so much. But guilt, because I was still with Logan.

I forced a smile and turned to her. "I'm happy for you, really. But I'm not feeling too great. I think I need to leave early."

June's face fell. "Are you sure? We were going to celebrate the successful shoot."

"I'm sorry," I said, trying to sound convincing. "I think I'm coming down with something. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

She nodded, looking concerned. "Alright, Ash. Take care of yourself."

I gathered my things and left quickly, my mind racing. I needed to get away, to think about everything that had just happened. As I drove home, I couldn't stop thinking about Aiden and the feelings I'd just uncovered.

When I got home, I sank onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. How had things gotten so complicated? I loved Logan, or at least I thought I did. But now Aiden was in the picture, and everything was a mess.

I took a deep breath and tried to sort through my emotions. I needed to be honest with myself, and eventually, with Logan. It wasn't fair to keep this from him, but I needed to figure out my feelings first.

I went to the room and sat on the bed, feeling the fight leave me.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and before I knew it, I was sobbing uncontrollably, collapsing onto my bed. Everything felt so overwhelming , my feelings for Aiden, my guilt about Logan, and the confusion about what I truly wanted.

The sobs wracked my body, and I buried my face in the pillow, trying to muffle the sound. Time seemed to blur, and I wasn't sure how long I lay there, crying and feeling utterly lost. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and my sobs turned into quiet sniffles. I closed my eyes, trying to find some peace.

The sound of the front door opening jolted me awake. I sat up, quickly wiping my tears away, trying to compose myself. Logan was home.

"Ashley?" Logan's voice called out from the living room. "You home?"

I took a deep breath and tried to steady my voice. "Yeah, I'm here," I called back, my voice still shaky.

Logan appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening when he saw my tear-streaked face. "Baby, what's wrong?" He rushed over to me, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking my hand. "Are you okay?"

I forced a weak smile, trying to hide the turmoil inside me. "I just... I think I'm getting sick," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I felt awful at the shoot and it just got worse."

Logan's expression softened with concern. "Oh, babe, I'm so sorry. You should have called me." He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. "How about I make you some chicken soup? That always makes you feel better."

I nodded, unable to trust my voice. Logan gave me a reassuring smile before heading to the kitchen.

I heard him moving around, gathering ingredients and humming softly to himself. His care and thoughtfulness only made the guilt gnaw at me more. How could I be feeling this way about Aiden when I had such a wonderful boyfriend?

A little while later, Logan returned with a steaming bowl of chicken soup. He sat down beside me, gently blowing on a spoonful before bringing it to my lips. "Here, eat this. It'll help."

I took the spoonful, savoring the warmth and comfort it provided before setting it down on the table. "Thank you, Logan," I whispered. "You're such a good boyfriend."

He smiled, his eyes full of affection. "I love you, Ashley," he said, leaning in to kiss me softly.

The guilt surged within me, but I kissed him back, trying to push the conflicting emotions aside. Logan's kiss deepened, and he gently pulled me closer.

I felt his hands start to roam, his touch warm and familiar. But as much as I wanted to lose myself in the moment, the guilt was too strong.

I pulled away slightly, placing a hand on his chest. "Logan, I'm sorry. I really don't feel well," I said, trying to sound as sincere as possible.

He immediately stopped, concern replacing the desire in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you. I just hate seeing you like this."

"It's okay," I said, giving him a small smile. "I appreciate you trying to make me feel better. Maybe we can just cuddle for a bit?"

Logan nodded, pulling me into his arms and holding me close. I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. The warmth of his embrace was comforting, but my mind was still a whirlwind of my own making.

As we lay there, I couldn't help but think about Aiden. His sudden reappearance, the way he stalked me, spoke to me then chose to ignore me.

And then there was Logan, sweet, caring Logan, who loved me unconditionally. How had I let myself get into this situation?

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms. I could feel Logan's breathing slow as he started to drift off to sleep, but my mind remained restless. The conflicting emotions churned inside me, and I knew I couldn't keep pretending forever.

Eventually, I slipped out of Logan's embrace, careful not to wake him. I needed some space to think. I went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face and staring at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red and puffy from crying, and I looked as exhausted as I felt.

What was I going to do? I couldn't keep lying to Logan, but I also couldn't ignore my feelings for Aiden. The thought of hurting Logan tore me apart, but pretending everything was fine wasn't fair to either of us.

I took a deep breath and returned to the bedroom. Logan was still asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed. I crawled back into bed, careful not to disturb him, and tried to find some semblance of calm.

As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, I knew I had some difficult decisions to make. I needed to be honest with myself and with Logan. It wouldn't be easy, but it was the only way to find some clarity and peace.

He turned and his arms wrapped themselves around me, that's when I let loose. I sobbed quietly into my hand till I exhausted myself before drifting to sleep.