Page 40 of The First Spark

I grab my purse and head for the main entrance of One More Page. “Can you watch the store for an hour? I’m going home to change.”

Mina ducks her head out from behind a shelf of books, a smile splitting her face. “Not until you tell me everything, and I meaneverything.”

Time to play the events of last night off as nothing because let’s be honest, at the end of the day, that’s all it was. An interesting way to pass the time.

Still, it sure rates higher than arguing or ignoring one another for twelve hours.

I shrug, digging for my keys in my bag to avoid Mina’s heady stare. “Nothing to tell.”

“Well, that’s not true, is it?”

I raise my gaze and meet her smirk, a flush climbing my cheeks as she motions to my neck.

It’s then I remember the souvenir Ash gifted me the night before. A souvenir I’ve half a mind to parade around his shop, just to watch the man squirm.

Petty? Absolutely, but I’m not too concerned with hiswell-being at the moment. Especially not after I asked him out, and he shot me down.

He didn’t even have the decency to agree to a date and then renege on it later. No, he flat out refused another go with me.

Bastard.

Mina strolls closer, her smile widening with each step. “And what a story you must have, my friend.”

I huff out a breath and shake my head. “Don’t start.”

But Mina has no intention of letting this discussion lie. “Be sure to wear a turtleneck … unless you want to show off his handiwork to the world.”

Mina means well, but I’m in no mood this morning.

“Is that a yes to watching the store?”

She shrugs, shoving a few books into their proper space on the shelf. “Is that a yes to telling me all the juicy details from last night?”

I rub my hand against my chin and bite back the rising frustration. “We survived, okay? End of story. Please don’t ask me about it again.”

The smile slides from Mina’s face, replaced by a look of concern. She rarely sees this biting, dour side of me, and I can tell she’s none too fond of it. “Are you okay? Did he do something to you?”

Where to begin.

But all I manage is a shake of my head, as the tears back up on me again. I need to leave now and collect myself.

Wash all reminders of Ash away.

I reach out and give Mina’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t mind me. I’m just grumpy from no sleep or coffee. Ash did nothing wrong. No worries there. I’ll be back andget that damn window decorated. Otherwise, it might stand vacant until New Year’s.”

Of course, my friend knows I’m full of shit, but lucky for me, she lets the matter drop. “I’ll get started on the window. Drive safe. It’s icy out there.”

Much like the interior of my heart now.

I force a smile and dash out the door. Only when I’m safe in my vehicle do I dare peer through the windows of Black Lotus, but there is no sign of their fearless leader anywhere.

No doubt he’s well acquainted with the morning after walk of shame.

Then it hits me. How many other women have spent the night with Ash below our stores, snuggled together on that old couch?

Biting back the nausea, I shake my head, determined to clear it of any lingering thoughts of Asher Hammond.

Back to reality, and one thing is clear. His reality and my reality will never intersect, save for one night when I foolishly believed differently.

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