Page 6 of Selfless

Her eyes widen. “What does he want?”

“He’s staying at a hotel and wants me to come and see him.” Why won’t he give up like Ryder did? It would be easier if he did. I hate to hurt him twice.

“Are you going to go?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I need to talk to you,” she says, and I can hear the turmoil in her voice.

I turn to face her. “Okay. What is it?”

“I spoke with Ryder toda—”

“Please tell me you didn’t do it for me,” I interrupt her. “Honestly, I’m fine, Becca,” I lie. I should have never called him last night. It was another mistake. I can’t seem not to make one.

She runs a hand through her hair. “It wasn’t for you,” she says softly. “I had heard something and needed to find out for myself.”

“What was it?” I ask, wondering what could make her this upset.

She takes a deep breath. “O’Kane’s Enterprises is buying Talia’s.”

I frown, not really understanding what she is saying. “What do you mean buying Talia’s?”

“I don’t know the specifics; I just know they are buying it.”

Ryder is buying the company I work for? What does that mean? Why would they want a gallery? And then it clicks, stinging like salt to a wound.

I look down at the wood floors and ask, “When?”

“I’m not sure. I’m sorry I don’t know much. Ryder wouldn’t give me much information about it. He said it wasn’t any of my business. But I guess it’s been in the works for a while.”

I nod, still not looking up at her. Complete and utter failure is what I’m feeling right now, and it burns like a bitch. “Thank you for telling me.”

She reaches out and grabs my hand. “I know this is hard to hear, but it’s going to be okay.”

I nod again and then remove my hand from hers. “Maybe it’s just better if I go back home.” Those words are hard to say, but the truth is never easy to hear.

She stands quickly. “No. That’s not why I told you. That’s not the answer.”

“Then what is the answer?” I look up at her. Tears start to burn my eyes.

“You’re not a quitter,” she says. “I know you, and the Ashlyn I know wouldn’t let a man dictate her life.” I sigh. “Ashlyn, you are tough. You are the woman I’ve always wanted to be.”

The first tear falls down my cheek. “We have time. I will help you find another job. I know you left your family in Seattle, but I’m your family here. And I’m not going anywhere. Please tell me you’ll stay. Tell me that you will not let Ryder get the best of you. Because he doesn’t deserve that.”

I look around my fancy bedroom. The four-post bed up against the far wall. The white down comforter that feels like a cloud is rumpled and hanging half off the bed from all my tossing and turning last night. The floor-to-ceiling windows have my handprints on them from looking down over the city last night, and the clothes and throw pillows cover the floor. And the truth hits me like a bag of bricks. “I never belonged here,” I say truthfully. It was all a big fairy tale from the beginning. Being with Ryder. Coming to New York. I should have never left what I knew just to start over.

“Please don’t do this,” she begs as a tear runs down her cheek as well. “If you leave, I leave.”

I give her a soft smile as another tear rolls down my face. “I won’t let you give up on what you have.” She’s crazy if she thinks I’ll let her pick me over all this that she has here in New York. She’s finally away from Conner and happy with Jaycent. I don’t wanna be responsible for someone else’s happiness.

“And you think I’ll let you give up on what you have?” she asks with a sniff.

“What is it that I have?” I ask with a careless shrug. Everything I own can fit in three suitcases.

New York was a mistake. But it’s one that I can fix.

“You have me,” she says with another sniff.

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