Page 211 of Prickly Romance

Because of you.

I want to blame her, but I can’t get the accusation to stick. The problems Dejonae and I have would have sprung up eventually.

But if it hadn’t been for Ashanti’s interference, would the consequences have been so severe?

I round the desk and fall into my chair. “Dejonae and I are fine.”

“That’s not what she told me downstairs.”

My fingers tense.

“We had a lovely chat,” Ashanti throws one leg over the other and rests her elbow against it. “She went out of her way to assure me that you two were no longer together.”

“She said that?”

“Not in so many words, but a woman knows.”

My nostrils flare. “I will speak to Niko.”

“And tell her what?” Ashanti shakes her head. “There’s no need to confuse her, Ryo. See, this is why I didn’t bring Rob around her too often. Relationships are so fragile. I didn’t want her to get attached to people who would drop her after a break up.” Ashanti leans back and dusts her hands. “I already told her that Dejonae won’t be a part of her life anymore.”

“Why would you say that?” My voice lashes out like a whip. “You had no right to do that.”

She visibly startles and then licks her lips. “That is best for her.”

“Ashanti,” I rise to my full height, “I have put in effort to be respectful of you. And you are right, the best case scenario would have been for us to stay together and be a family for Niko. But we chose a different path. It is too late to turn back now. Niko will still have two parents who love her, even if they are not together.”

“If you know us being together is the best scenario, then why don’t we try again, Ryo?” She jumps to her feet and stalks toward the desk. Placing her fist on the surface, she leans forward. “How do we know that it’s truly over for us, if we don’t at leastattemptto repair what was broken? Imagine how happy Niko would be to have her mom and dad back together again? Shouldn’t we at least try for her sake?”

I clench my jaw, staring her down.

Ashanti takes my silence for agreement and smiles. She wraps dark fingers around her purse. “Call me when you’re ready to talk. I’m willing to try couple’s therapy, talking with your mom, whatever. As parents, we should do everything we can for Niko’s sake.”

When she is gone, I slump in my chair, staring at the ceiling and turning her request over in my head.

Did Dejonae really agree to the idea of me and Ashanti getting back together?

I thought we were on a break.

But if she thinks like that then…

It means we are truly over.

* * *

Akira opensthe car door for me and steps aside. “Miss Williams is not with you again today.”

“She requested her vacation time. I granted it.”

“Interns do not have vacation time,” Akira points out.

I remain silent.

She closes the door and drives to Niko’s school.

It has been several days since my last conversation with Ashanti. She has not mentioned getting back together again explicitly, but she mentions the marriage therapy books she’s read and the therapists she has been researching.

It makes every meeting strained and frustrating for me.

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