Page 14 of Selfless

I take a deep breath as I approach the door of Bradley’s hotel room in Brooklyn. The long cab ride made me nauseous. I really regret selling my car. I’m pretty sure I won’t survive another month of these cab rides.

Closing my eyes, I let it out and lift my hand to knock on the white door. My eyes spring open when it’s opened before I even get the chance. My hand falls to my side when I see him standing there wearing a pitiful look on his handsome face. His brown hair is disheveled, and he has dark circles under his eyes.

He moves to the side and gestures for me to enter. “Please?” He says the single word softly, and it just reminds me that this isn’t going to end well.

I step into his hotel room and turn to face him as he shuts the door. I wanna get this over with and then go home, drink a bottle of wine, and pass the fuck out! “What was so important that I needed to come see you?” He opens his mouth, but I continue. “Or better yet, why are you still here, Bradley?” I’m mad at him. For doing this to me. To us. For ruining our friendship when he didn’t have to.

“I … uh, well … I needed …” He stops blabbering and just stares at me.

The silence in the small room makes me nervous and uncomfortable. “Spit it out, Bradley,” I growl.

I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows and then he falls to one knee while pulling a small white box out of his jeans pocket.

I stumble back a step. “What the hell …?”

“Please marry me, Ash …”

“You can’t be serious!” I gasp.

“You can’t be this surprised, baby,” he says with a smile forming on his face.

The way he calls me baby makes my stomach turn. I open my mouth but then shut it—unable to form a word.

He slowly stands as his eyes drop to my stomach then meet mine. “After I left your apartment, I came back.”

“What? When?” I ask, trying to process everything.

He looks down at the open box sitting in his hand. “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t walk away from you. Jaycent answered the door and wouldn’t let me in.”

I shake my head. He has to be lying, right? Jaycent never told me this. “He actually took up for Ryder. Said he just needed time.”

I wish that would have been the case.

“I’ve thought about it, and maybe he was right in a way. It’s you who just needed time.” I start shaking my head. “I told Jaycent I would propose.” What? “I told him that Ryder doesn’t deserve you. That I would never walk away from you like he did, and I’m a man of my word, Ash. Here I am, still fighting for you. Please, give me a chance.”

“A chance to what?” I can’t help but ask.

“To show you that I’m the one for you. And that I’m the one you love,” he says simply.

“All this time …” I can’t finish the words.

He gives me a big smile and takes a step toward me. “I’ve loved you all along, Ashlyn. How did you not see it?”

My stomach knots at how wrong I have been all this time. “I … I love …” His smile widens, and I hate that what I’m about to say will destroy him once again. “I love Ryder,” I whisper.

The smile falls off his face, and he looks away from me, licking his lips. Then very slowly shuts the box. He gives me his back and runs a hand through his hair.

I take a step toward him as I say, “I’m sorry …”

“Sorry?” he snaps, spinning back around to face me.

I let out a sigh. “I am, Brad. I’m sorry I can’t love you like you love me,” I say truthfully. My throat tightening. “You were my best friend—”

He throws his head back and lets out a dry laugh, interrupting me. “You’re not even trying!” He growls. “Three years you’ve known me, Ash. You’ve known him for three weeks. And you choose him over me? Why? ‘Cause he has money?”

My lips thin. “It’s not about money!” I snap. “You know I don’t care about that shit!”

He holds his hands out wide to his side. “Apparently, I don’t know you at all,” he shouts. “I mean, I’ve stood by while you’ve whored around …” I gasp. “But to fall for one of the bastards …”

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