Chapter 26
Ashley shrugged. “Hey, I thought I was being a culinary genius. And, of course, I had to taste test them. So I popped one in my mouth, and it was like… like I had just eaten a spoonful of ocean water. Salty, disgusting ocean water. But instead of admitting defeat, I decided I would just fix it. So I grabbed the frosting from the fridge and piled it on top. But… the frosting? Totally expired. Like, severely expired. It was this weird gray color. It tasted like old rubber.”
I couldn’t help it. I burst into laughter, clutching my stomach as I imagined her little self, determined to salvage what she thought were gourmet cookies.
Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “So, after all that, I still had to present them to my mom. I put them in a nice little tin, acting like they were a masterpiece, and when she came home, I couldn’t wait to show her.”
“Oh, no. What happened?”
Ashley shrugged again. “I told her I made cookies all by myself. I was so proud. And she, being the sweet and oblivious mom she is, took one bite. Her face froze, then she slowly chewed… and then she smiled. Smiled, Kyle! Like they were the best cookies she’d ever had.”
I was about to reply but my phone buzzed, cutting through the calm like a cold gust of wind. up.
“What did I say about tonight?” Ashley’s voice broke through my thoughts, the teasing edge in her tone matching the glint in her eyes.
JI shot her a sheepish grin, my hand hovering over the phone. “No phones,” I muttered, my fingers already reaching to silence it. “I won’t take it, I swear.”
Ashley paused, her fingers tracing light patterns over my chest, a hint of concern creeping into her gaze. “No, take it,” she said softly, her tone shifting. “I have a feeling it’s important.”
I sighed, knowing I couldn’t ignore it. Reluctantly, I pulled away from her and grabbed the phone. “Alright, freckles,” I said with a wink. “Won’t take long, I promise.”
I answered the call, and the conversation dragged on longer than I had hoped. When I finally ended the call, frustration weighed on my shoulders.
“Shit, I need to leave now.”
Ashley’s face fell, surprise and sadness flickering across her features.
“I’m sorry, freckles, but the investor I’m working with is only in town tonight.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice steady. “He heads one of the biggest insurance companies in the country. If I can get him onboard…”
Ashley didn’t interrupt, but her expression softened, and she leaned in to give me a gentle, reassuring kiss. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “I get it. You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”
Guilt gnawed at me, but her kiss was like a balm, easing some of the tension in my chest. “I will. I promise.”
It was the first time I’d missed our anniversary night. I hated letting her down, but this was important. I had a dream that felt just within reach. One day, the world would know the name Kyle Blackwood, and I wouldn’t be a failure like my father. I would have everything I’d ever dreamed of, and when that day came, I’d make it up to Ashley a thousand times over.
“We have another date next week, then.” Her voice was playful, but there was an edge to it. “If you miss it, though, we’ll have a problem.”
“I won’t.” I grinned, pulling her into my arms, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “Thank you for understanding,” I murmured. “This is just a one–time thing. It won’t happen again.”
Except it had. Just one time turned into two, then three. And before I knew it, our “once in a while” had become the new normal.
I drained my cup in one quick motion, the bitter burn doing little to dull the self–loathing coursing through me. I had hurt her. Badly. And I hated myself for it. Before I even cheated, I had hurt her with my neglect, my disregard for what really mattered.
But this wasn’t over. I wasn’t going to let it be over.
I wasn’t just going to win her back. No, this time would be different. I was going to show her I could be the man she deserved. I wasn’t going to keep assuming I knew her, that I already had the answers to win her heart again. This time, I was going to earn it. I’d start by truly getting to know this new version of Ashley–the one I’d let slip through my fingers.
