Page 42 of Selfless

“I’m not going!” I say, interrupting her before giving her my back and making my way to my room.

She barges in behind me before the door can shut all the way. Harry meows at me as I flip on the light while he lies on my pillow. “Just hear me out.”

“Nope,” I say, shaking my head.

“Please, Ashlyn. Just give me a second—”

“What the hell is that?” I ask, interrupting her again when I see a black garment bag hanging on the outside of my closet door. It’s not mine.

“That’s the dress you’re wearing tonight to the play,” she answers.

I turn to face her and go to open my mouth to refuse when she beats me to it. “You’re going, Ashlyn!” I arch a dark brow. “He got these tickets for you three days ago.” I roll my eyes. “I know what happened in the restaurant, and I know how badly you wanted to forgive him when he came over to our apartment.” I let out a huff at her argument. I should have never told her that I almost slept with him. “It’s clear you still want him.”

“I do not—”

“Yes, you do!” She’s the one interrupting now. “I see you moping around here. Hell, I spoke to Thomas today, and he even said that you’ve been moping around at work.”

“That’s ‘cause I’m losing my job soon.” Not a total lie.

She places her hand on her hip. “Thomas also told me that has been a rumor for years.” Well, hasn’t Thomas been a little chatty Kathy. He and I need to have a talk. “Maybe it won’t happen like my father thinks it will.” She takes a step toward me as her hand falls from her hip. “Please go.” I shake my head. “You don’t even have to talk to him.” She shrugs. “It’s a play. Just sit there and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

“And then what?” I ask.

“Then you’re the better person,” she adds. “He’s sorry. Just like you were sorry when he caught you half-dressed with Bradley.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “That isn’t even the same situation.”

“It is. You just don’t want to admit that,” she says softly, and we both know she’s right. “Get dressed up. Go to a play and enjoy a night with the man you love.” I snort. “What do you have to lose?” she asks.

I look away from her and sigh, looking at Harry. He rolls onto his back and stretches. “If I go, then he wins,” I say as my shoulders fall.

“Wins what?” she asks.

I look back at her. “We both know what will happen if I go tonight.” I don’t need to tell her that I love the man. That going with him to the play will put me back in the same place I was just a week ago. And that it will take more willpower than I have not to sleep with him.

She gives me a soft smile. “You could be doing much worse than spending time with the man you love, Ash. He loves you too, and he’s sorry. Let him prove it.”

**

Two hours later, I hear the doorbell ring, and I go to answer it, silence filling the apartment. Becca left after she talked me into going with Ryder tonight. She told me she and Jaycent were staying at his house for the evening, and then she winked at me. Not sure if that was for her or for me.

I take a deep breath and square my shoulders as I turn the doorknob. And my knees buckle at the sight I find once I open it. Every reason I wanted to say no earlier is now screaming yes. I spent a week crying over him, and now all I want to do is smile. At times, it was hard to breathe, and now I feel like I can fly. He does this to me, and at this very moment, I wonder why I was ever scared to fall for him.

Ryder stands there in the hall, wearing a black and white tuxedo that fits him like a glove. He’s slicked back his normally spiked dark hair and sports a five o’clock shadow, just how I like it. A bouquet of red roses in his right hand and a box of chocolates in his left.

“Hello.” My voice is breathless, and a smile spreads across his face at the sound of it. I don’t even have the power to be mad at his cockiness.

“Hello,” he says, looking me up and down. I’m wearing his usual overly large t-shirt. I had just gotten out of the shower when the doorbell rang, and I grabbed the nearest piece of clothing to slip on. My hands go to the hem of it, and I tug it down a little, hoping to shield myself from him, and he chuckles. “You don’t seem surprised to see me.”

“Becca told me your plan,” I say and clear my throat. Why do I sound so affected by him? How does he have so much power over me?

“I figured she’d pick your side.” His eyes land back on mine. “That’s why I decided to show up early.”

“Why ring the doorbell? Trying to be a gentleman now?” I ask, and I can’t help the smile on my face.

He grunts. “Becca took my key away,” he says, and I frown. When did she do that?

“May I come in?” he asks.

---