Page 57 of Sweet Like Whiskey

“I didn’t mean—”

“You did,” Ash says. “You always liked being needed, Nicholas, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I’m not your boyfriend anymore, or your patient, or your…your houseplant. I’m notyours, period.”

Nicholas heaves a breath, but Ash goes on.

“Look, I’m sorry you came all this way, but nothing has changed for me. We’re done, and I’m not coming back.”

There’s a prolonged pause before Nicholas seems to deflate. Ash sits back, too, leaning into my touch.

“I might stick around a while,” Nicholas says, making me tense.

Ash only chuckles. “You always did want to vacation in the mountains. You’re overdue.”

Nicholas nods tiredly, wiping his hand down his face. “Yeah. This is the first time in two years I’ve taken time off. I assume there’s a hotel in this town?”

“Right down the street,” Virginia answers tightly, shooting Ash a look. He doesn’t seem to notice.

Nicholas stands, hesitating. “I guess…I’ll see you later then?”

Ash smiles a little sadly. “Take care, Nick.”

He nods, eyes flicking to me once before he walks off. The door closes slowly in his wake, and then Virginia spins Ash’s way.

“Really?” she says. “Inviting him to stay?”

“I didn’tinvitehim,” Ash replies, practically slumping against the table. “Telling him to get lost wasn’t going to accomplish anything, Ginnie. Whatever he’s doing here, it’s not about me. Not really.”

“Uh,” Virginia says slowly. “Did you miss the part where he said he misses you and wants you back?”

Ash shakes his head, picking up his glass of whiskey and taking a small sip. “He doesn’t. Something else is going on. Maybehe’sthe one having a midlife crisis.”

Virginia clicks her tongue. “Well, I sure as shit hope you’re right, baby boy. ’Cause otherwise, I’m pretty sure Jackson here will be showing him the door. Likely with his boot.”

I try to temper my lingering scowl, but by Ash’s huff of laughter, I don’t think I managed it.

“Yeah, about that,” Ash says, turning in his chair to face me. He wings up an eyebrow. “Partner?”

“And on that note,” Virginia sing-songs, standing swiftly and grabbing her and Nicholas’s empty glasses, “I’ll just be, uh…watering the flowers.”

She walks off, her heels clacking against the hardwood floor, and Ash waits. I reclaim my arm, rubbing my hands on the tops of my thighs.

“Yeah,” I say, voice a bit gruff. “Uh. Sorry.”

His eyebrow lifts higher. “Sorry?”

“About the, uh…”

“The dick-measuring contest you had with my ex?” he fills in.

“I didn’t—”

“Jackson, you practically whipped it out and pissed on me.”

I groan, butfuck, he’s not even wrong. “I just thought… I don’t know what I was thinking. Like I said, sorry.”

“I never asked you to apologize,” Ash says, downing the rest of his drink before setting his glass on the table.

“But—”

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