Page 75 of Selfless

“Ryder?”

“What?” I snap, turning around to see my father’s assistant, Jackie, flinch from my harsh tone. “What?” I demand again when she just stands there staring at me like a deer in headlights.

She holds out her hand. “I got some more information on that business for you ...”

“At least someone is doing their job around here,” I growl, yanking it free of her hands, storming into my office, and slamming the door behind me.

ASHLYN

I walk into the apartment and sit down. The silence of the room is deafening. I got a text from Ryder earlier that he would be working late just as I expected.

Harry meows as he jumps on my lap, and I rub his back. My phone lights up, and I pick it up to see a picture from Becca. It’s a bottle of wine and a plate of spaghetti.

Becca: Hungry?

I let out a laugh and reply.

Me: Be there in two.

“I’ll be back.” I kiss him on his wrinkly head and place him on the ground then make my way down to my old apartment.

“Hey,” I say as she opens the door for me.

“Hey,” she says softly, and I hate that she too is still upset.

“How are things? Better?” I ask with hope.

She hangs her head as she walks over to the couch. “Not really.”

I blow some blond strands off my face as I plop down beside her. “It can only get better,” I say with a smile.

She laughs at me. “Since when did you become so optimistic? I don’t remember you being that way.”

“Since I had no other choice,” I say truthfully.

“What do you mean?” she asks slowly.

I pick up the bottle of wine and pour some into one of the glasses already sitting on the coffee table. I hand it to her and then fill the other. “Since I lost my job,” I say, lifting my glass in salute to her.

Her eyes widen. “What? When?”

“Today was my last day,” I tell her.

“Oh, my God, Ashlyn. I’m so sorry.”

I shrug. “I’ll find another one.” Then I tip the glass back not really sure I believe that statement.

I don’t know how much time passes, but Becca and I are currently on our third bottle of wine. After we finished off her second one, I had to go up to my and Ryder’s apartment to get another one.

We lie on the floor of her living room—why, I don’t know—laughing when we hear the front door open. I know it’s not Ryder because he doesn’t have a key.

“Found them.” I hear Jaycent’s voice.

Becca and I both sit up and look over the coffee table to see Ryder and Jaycent both standing in the entryway.

“Hey,” I say, raising my glass in salute. And Ryder surprises me by smiling at me. Maybe he ended up having a good day after all.

He walks over to me. “Having fun?”

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