Ashley's Bend (22 page)

“Jared.”

His eyes looked to me. His face was expressionless, deadpan. His eyes held no shine to them and his skin looked pasty and pale.

“I wanted you to know I had to sell the house,” he said, his voice vacant of any mood or feeling.

“Hang on. Let me deliver this food and I will be right back,” I replied. I took my time delivering the food to the customers staying as long as I could to ensure they had everything they needed just to stall and not have to confront Jared who was still sitting at the counter.

When the customers assured me more than once that they had everything they needed, I unenthusiastically made my way back over to Jared. I didn’t even have time to breathe when I had gotten there before he spoke.

“Did you even hear what I said? The house is gone. Everything is gone, Ashley. Everything. Even you.”

I sighed. “Jared this is neither the time nor the place to discuss this. I am working. But as far as the house goes, I gave that to you in the divorce. I didn’t want it. Any of it. Keep the money I don’t care,” I said as quietly as I could to keep the customers from hearing. I glanced around the diner to look at the customers. I wish Jared would stop choosing to confront me at work.

“
Dammit,
Ashley!” he snapped. “I don’t want the fucking house, I don’t want the money, none of it matters if I don’t have you.”

Not this conversation again.

My eyes scanned the diner in nervous trepidation trying to see if anyone noticed Jared’s outburst. I was pleased to see that everyone was going about their business and enjoying their own conversations and food.

“Jared, we have been through this. We are not going to get back together,
ever
. You were unfaithful and that is unforgivable to me. I’ve moved on and so should you,” I tried to say as gently as I could. His appearance told me he was already in a fragile state to begin with and I didn’t want to push him further to the edge. Did he actually think the divorce was easy on me? I loved him and he broke my heart.

“Oh, I know you have moved on. Don’t think I haven’t seen you slutting around with that club owner boyfriend of yours, Ashley. A sex club, really?”

“You have been following me! I saw you the other day when Kelly and I were eating. You are sick you know that? You need to get out of here before I call the cops, Jared, I mean it.”

His laugh was sardonic, taunting. “I have lost everything since you left. You did this you bitch. I wouldn’t have even had to go fuck someone else if you weren’t so cold and calloused. Fucking you was like making love to an ice cube. How would your bosses like it if they knew their sweet, innocent Ashley was actually a fucking whore with a sex club boyfriend huh?”

I was taken aback by his words. Jared never used to be this vindictive and cruel.
How could the man in front of me be nothing like the man I once loved? What happened to him to cause this paradigm shift in his demeanor?

“You wouldn’t?” I cried.

“Oh, sweetheart, I would. You deserve to know what it feels like to lose everything just like I have, you just wait…”

“Is there a problem here?” a familiar voice said interrupting Jared. I looked up and my eyes meet a six foot, very large, very pissed off looking Knox.

“No, no problem here,” Jared said as he held his hands up and got up from the stool. “I was just leaving.” Jared turned and strode out of the diner, but not before glancing back at me over his shoulder with a sardonic smile.

“What are you doing here, Knox?” I asked him stunned by his sudden appearance as I watch Jared leave the diner. I could tell he was hesitant to answer me by the look on his face. Something told me that I probably wasn’t going to like the answer.

“I was instructed by Dominic to keep an eye on you. He was worried that Asher could turn up and try to get to you−again. It was a good thing I did. What was Jared doing here?”

What?
Dominic sent him to look after me? I’m not some child that needed supervision. I can more than take care of myself. Besides, who would want to mess with me with Big Tony in the back? Big Tony was a massive, six and a half foot tall brick house of a man. Rumor has it that his family was connected with the Mob, but those were just what they were−rumors. He was the nicest, sweetest guy, but mess with one of us and he went poppa bear on you. Mr. Clarke liked that he was protective over the girls in the diner. It also helped that the man could cook.

“I…uh…Jared just came by to tell me that he had to sell the house,” I stammered.

“He couldn’t have called you or emailed? Dominic is going to be pissed when he finds out he has been at your work harassing you again.”

“I truly don’t think that is any of his business. Dominic has no claim to me. I am not his girlfriend, Knox. Hell, I don’t know what we are,” I snorted. Knox was quiet for a moment before he finally spoke, but he looked like he struggled with what he wanted to say to me.

“Ashley, look, Dominic−he went through some shit at a young age. He has never been able to have a relationship with women outside of the bedroom, but you? He is different with you. Hell, I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. You have gotten inside of his head and he cannot shake you. Trust me I have seen him try,” Knox revealed. His demeanor told me that he felt a little uncomfortable airing out information about Dominic’s past.

So, Dominic refuses to have a relationship with someone because of something that happened to him at a young age? What happened that was so horrible, that he couldn’t let himself have feelings?

“Can I ask what happened?” I asked cautiously. Knox shook his head and placed his arms on the counter clasping his hands.

“Not my story to tell. If he wanted you to know, he would tell you although I doubt that he will. He hasn’t told anyone before.”

“He told you,” I pointed out to him.

“Nic and I have known each other a long time.” I thought Knox would elaborate a little more as to the reasons he knew Dominic’s secrets when no one else did, but I was disappointed when he remained silent.

It seemed that I was not going to get any information out of Knox about Dominic. He stood up from the counter and started to make his way to the door before he turned around to speak to me one last time.

“Be patient with him, Ashley. I believe you are the one to help him escape his demons, only he will probably put up one hell of a fight before you do so.” And with that Knox walked out of the diner leaving me standing behind the counter in my own thoughts.

You are the one to help him escape his demons.

I was exhausted from being on my feet all day by the time I got home from work. Working a double shift, I was able to earn a pretty good amount of tips. I sat on the couch with my feet propped up looking at the same newspaper that had the ad about the art classes. I had decided that I was going to enroll, only I needed to save up enough tuition to be able to pay for the courses. If I worked really hard the next couple of months, I would have enough to apply.

Kelly came home a little after ten pm. She had an event that her company sponsored that required her to work after hours.

“I am so glad to be home. I love coffee and all, but it isn’t exactly an exciting event to moderate,” she said as she plopped down on the couch next to me. She laid her head on my shoulder and sighed.

“Are you still thinking about enrolling?” she questioned as she gestured toward the now worn newspaper in my hands.

“I am. I just have to save up for the tuition and I am good to go.”

“That’s awesome, Ashley. I am happy for you,” she said with a wide yawn. I giggled. She was exhausted, but I knew she wanted to be a good friend by trying to talk to me.

“Go to bed, sleepyhead. I’ll see you in the morning.” Kelly just nodded her head, kissed me on the cheek, and dragged her weary body down the hall with as much effort as she could. I was just about to rise from the couch to go to bed myself, when my phone chirped. Not knowing who would be texting me this late at night, I walked over to retrieve it from my purse on the dining table. Wonder turned to curiosity as I glanced down at the screen and saw a number I didn’t recognize.

Unknown: How are you doing?

My fingers hovered over the reply button. I didn’t know who is was. Should I respond? Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to reply.

Me: Who is this?

The reply came almost instantly and I gasped in shock.

Unknown: Dominic.

Holy crap? How did he get my number? Oh, that’s right, he had access to my file at the club. I was still giddy with excitement that he was obviously thinking about me enough to text me.

Me: I’m fine.

I waited for his response. Nothing. I assumed that he was just checking in on me since the incident on Saturday, and my hopes instantly went down the drain. So much for hoping he was thinking about me. With a big yawn, I decided it was time for bed. I tiptoed quietly down the hallway so that I didn’t wake up Kelly. I plugged my phone into the charger and placed it on my nightstand. Pulling back the covers, I crawled into bed and welcomed the soft comfort of the mattress. Just as I was about to lay my head down my phone chirped.

Dominic: Don’t lie to me, Ashley.

Holy shit! How did he know I was lying? I looked around my bedroom and out the window to see if he was spying on me. When I didn’t see anyone, I turned my attention back to my phone.

Me: Ok. I am still a little upset by what happened. Does that make you feel better?

I knew I was taunting him a bit, but I wanted to continue talking to him. So if I had to get him a little riled up, I didn’t care.

Dominic: Fuck no it doesn’t make me feel better.

Dominic: It never should have happened.

Dominic: I’ve been worried.

He was firing off texts one right after the other. He was worried. Knox had said earlier that he had said he was worried.

Me: Was that why you sent Knox to check on me?

Dominic: Yes.

Well at least he was being truthful. He hadn’t said anything about Jared being at the diner, so I was not sure if Knox told him or not. I didn’t want to poke the bull if I didn’t have to, so for now, I would keep that bit of information to myself.

Dominic: I am worried most that you won’t come back.

My breath hitched in my throat and my heart thudded in my chest as I read his last text to me. He was worried I wouldn’t come back? Does that mean he wanted me to?

Me: I’m still thinking about it.

Dominic: I think you want to.

Oh really, Mr. Michaels
? I thought to myself. No one could say that Dominic wasn’t a cocky bastard.

Me: Why is that?

Dominic: Because you know how great we are together.

Well, he wasn’t lying there. I hadn’t been able to think about anything but. When I was around Dominic my body automatically responded to him. It was uncontrollable. Almost like someone else took over possession of my body.

Dominic: Think about it, Ashley.

He didn’t respond after that. I was slightly irritated that his last text felt more like a demand, but strangely turned on. I rested my head on my pillow and brought the covers up to my chin. I couldn’t help but feel the wetness between my legs. I was turned on just from talking to him. Via text. I was in so much trouble.