Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
He had every right to be angry. Every right to be saying the things he was, but it didn't stop the pain that radiated through my chest with every word.
None of this would have happened if it wasn't for me. His night wouldn’t have been ruined if my parents hadn't found us, and I hated being the cause for so much frustration, so much embarrassment.
I thought I'd moved past that situation in my life. The one where I was worried about embarrassing the people I was with just because of where I came from.
I'd been wrong.
I'd been so fucking wrong.
“I'm sorry,” I said, and absolutely meant it.
My heart was already breaking into pieces, instinct understanding the situation better than my mind did.
“None of this would have happened if it wasn't for me,” I continued, letting the tears roll down my cheeks.
Crossland finally looked down at me, confusion fluttering in his eyes. “Aspen,” he said, almost apologetically. “None of this is about you.”
“Of course it is,” I said, trying my best to swallow the shame making me feel two feet tall. “Don't you get that? Don't you understand that if you were here with somebody like Brynn or Daisy or any of your other socialite friends that none of this would have happened? The night you’ve been building toward for years came crashing down because of me.”
Crossland stepped toward me, and I stepped away.
My parents would never stop. Especially now that he'd paid them off to keep himself out of jail tonight. They would never stop coming after him for as long as I stuck around.
And I loved him too much to do that to him.
“Aspen,” he said, worry lining his eyes. “I should have asked you how you were. I should have checked in with you before going off on that tangent. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it about me—”
“You didn't,” I cut him off, feeling like I was ripping my heart to shreds. “It's me. It's always been me questioning how I managed to be lucky enough to be in your world, how I managed to fit into your extravagant lifestyle. Always me questioning if what I'm doing was okay, if it's up to standard. The thing is, I would never be asking those questions if I hadn't been put into those situations.” I shrugged. “But it doesn't matter right? Our time is up anyway, isn't it?”
“Is that how you want to play it?” Crossland asked, looking equal parts shocked and hurt.
I glanced over at the glass door of the hospital, seeing Brecken waiting patiently for me. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks.
“If that's all you have to ask,” I said, my entire body shaking. “Then it looks like it's already played out.”
Crossland flinched at my words, and I hated that his pain radiated right alongside my own. And it took all of the strength I possessed to walk over to the door, grab Brecken, and leave.
CHAPTER 18
Crossland
Ithrew in my chips, some muscle memory inside of me checking the cards I’d been dealt.
I couldn't believe I was sitting here, that Aspen wasn't in the spot she should be, resting in that open space near Daisy, Alex, and Brynn. The girls chatted quietly across the room, everything so incredibly familiar and yet so different at the same time.
It’d been two weeks since Aspen had left me at the hospital. Throwing the contract in my face in what was no doubt a defense mechanism after the scene her parents had caused.
I’d tried to talk to her several times since, but every time she insisted she needed space.
And while I respected that, it hurt like hell.
She even blocked the transfer of the money she was owed per our contract when I tried to send it. She texted, saying she didn’t want it.
Everyone in the hand folded except for Doyle, and I nodded to myself, more than happy to battle against him. If there was anyone who deserved the anger boiling in my gut, it was this asshole.
Asher delt the flop, giving me the nut straight. With the flush draw too. I had a strong as hell hand, but I wasn't about to show Doyle that, so I checked.
Doyle shook his head, throwing in a bet that I quickly matched.
Asher dealt the turn.
I checked again, wanting to give Doyle all the rope to hang himself.
“You know,” he said. “I've watched that clip of you knocking that guy out over a dozen times. It gets funnier every time. It’s all anyone is talking about.”
“You're crossing a line, Doyle,” Ethan said in a warning tone.
Doyle laughed. “How am I crossing a line when I'm just stating facts?”
Weston parted his lips like he was about to get in on defending me, but I raised a hand to my friends. I knew what he was doing, and it was working.