Chapter 44

Ashley.

I started to talk but I glanced at the clock on the wall and my heart sank. It was so late. I couldn’t believe I had lost track of time like this. Panic set in as I gathered my things, my brain working with excuses for Logan.

“Ashley, you okay?” Aiden’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“I… I didn’t realize how late it was,” I admitted, fumbling with my bag. “Logan’s going to be worried.”

Aiden stood up, his expression softening. “I can drop you home if you want.”

I hesitated, shaking my head. “No, Aiden. Logan… he wouldn’t like that.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “How about I drop you off near your place? That way, you can get home quicker and Logan won’t know.”

I bit my lip, weighing my options. It did make sense. I nodded slowly. “Okay, near my place. That should be fine.”

We walked to his car in silence, the tension between us palpable. Once inside, he started the engine, and we drove off. The city lights blurred past us, and I found myself relaxing a bit, though my heart still raced.

“So, how has work been?” Aiden asked, breaking the silence.

“Busy,” I replied, staring out the window. “Work’s been hectic. And Logan… well, you know how it is.”

He nodded, glancing at me. “Yeah, I get it. I’ve missed you”

“Me too,” I admitted softly. I took myself by surprise when the admission left my lips. I was tired of tiptoeing around the situation with us.

"Ashley..."

"Please don't, things are so different between us,"

“They don’t have to be,” he said quietly.

I didn’t respond, unsure of what to say. The rest of the ride was filled with small talk, neither of us wanted to acknowledge the elephant in the car.

We reached the destination, a few blocks from my apartment. He pulled over and turned to face me.

“Thanks for the ride, Aiden,” I said, reaching for the door handle.

“Wait, Ashley,” he said, grabbing my hand. I turned back to him, and before I could react, he leaned in and kissed me.

His lips were soft, and inviting. Just like my dreams, my thoughts and earlier, I kissed him back.

My hand tugged on his shirt to pull him closer to me as I deepened the kiss. I don't know when I will have this opportunity again to taste him.

Then reality crashed down on me, and I pulled away, my heart pounding.

“Aiden, I can’t,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “I’m with Logan.”

He looked at me, his eyes full of longing and regret. “I know. I’m sorry, Ashley. I just… I had to.”

He took the fall, even when I was the one who deepened it. He blamed himself.

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes. “I have to go.”

I got out of the car, not daring to look back. As I walked the few blocks to the apartment, I tried to arrange my appearance so I didn't look like sin.

By the time I reached my door, I had no idea what I was going to tell Logan, but one thing was clear, my feelings for Aiden were far from over.

When I finally reached it, I was surprised to see the lights on through the window. Logan usually worked late, and I wasn’t expecting him to be home.

I mentally panicked because I was supposed to shower first and calm myself before meeting him.

I took a deep breath and unlocked the door, stepping inside. The smell of alcohol hit me immediately.

My eyes widened, I scrunched my nose as the scent became stronger once I walked further. I narrowed my eyes at the sight in front of me.

Logan was slouched on the couch, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. His eyes, bloodshot and glassy, locked onto me as I entered.

“Where the hell have you been?” he slurred, attempting to stand but wobbling unsteadily.

I closed the door behind me, feeling a knot form in my stomach. “Logan, you’re drunk. We can talk when you sober up.”

He stumbled toward me, his face twisted in anger. “I asked you a question, Ashley. Answer me!”

"The better question is why you are drinking, you never drink. Did something happen at work?"

Something must have happened to make him freak out and resort to a bottle. I suddenly felt bad for not being there while he was going through something like this.

"It's none of your business. If you were here then you would have known what was wrong with me in the first place so I am going to ask you again, where the fuck were you?"

I took a step back, trying to keep my voice calm. “Logan, please. Let’s just talk about this when you’re sober.”

He let out a bitter laugh and hurled the whiskey glass at the wall, shattering it into pieces. “Don’t tell me what to do!”

"I am not...What is going on with you?"

"Stop asking me stupid questions and start answering mine. Where the hell were you?!" he yelled.

I flinched, my heart racing. “I was with Keisha,” I lied, she just got back from Scotland and came to see me in the office," I shook my head,  “We were just catching up and time ran away from us, she has my car."

“Liar!” he shouted, advancing on me. His breath reeked of alcohol. “You think I don’t know? I’m not stupid, Ashley.”

My back hit the wall, and I realized I had nowhere to go. “Logan, you’re scaring me. Please, just calm down and sober up.”

He ignored me, getting even closer. His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, squeezing it painfully. “You think you can just run around behind my back?”

“Logan, let go!” I cried, trying to pull away. “You’re hurting me!”

His eyes narrowed, and he slapped me hard across the face. The force of the blow sent me stumbling into the wall, my vision blurring from the impact.

“Don’t you dare lie to me!” he roared. “If you ever think about leaving me, I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I’ll kill you!”

Panic surged through me, and I managed to push him away, scrambling toward the bedroom. My hands were shaking so badly I could barely turn the doorknob.

I flung the door open and rushed inside, slamming it shut behind me. My fingers fumbled with the lock until I heard the click.

I pressed my back against the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear Logan shouting and banging on the door, but I blocked it out, trying to steady my breathing.

Tears streamed down my face as I slid to the floor, my body shaking. How had it come to this? Logan had never been violent before, but tonight had shattered that illusion.

The banging on the door continued, and I slumped down. I cried till I fell asleep.