Page 39 of Punt

I wasn't sure how to take that. Was he accusing me of moving on too quickly, or was he jealous? Or both?

"Oh, I do?" I said, as if I had no idea what he was talking about. "Are you stalking me?" Now I was back to teasing.

"I don't need to stalk you," he replied, still blunt. "It's all over the internet."

"Ohhh, you mean today's fashion parade. It went really well. Thanks for showing an interest." I couldn't resist the dig. He hadn't shown an interest in it yet, why start now?

"That's not what I'm talking about," Kris said. "I'm talking about Chase and his hand on your ass."

I rolled my eyes toward the ceiling. Of all the things to pick up on, or see, he'd found the photo Harvey Danbury took.

"Wow, Kris. It's almost like you care," I said sarcastically.

He exhaled into the phone. I pictured the frustration on his face.

"I do care, Ash," he said finally. "I'm worried about you. I know I screwed up."

You think?I thought.

"If there was anything I could do to make it up to you, I would," he went on. "I wish I could take back that night. It was stupid."

"Yes, it was," I agreed.

Then he had to throw in the classic line. "She didn't mean anything."

"I'm sure she'd love to hear that," I said coolly. I was no fan of Brandi, but brushing her off like she was nothing wasn't cool.

"She won't hear it from me," he said. "Or anything else. I wouldn't even know how to contact her if I wanted to."

"I'm sure Chase could give you her number," I said. "Remember him? He's supposed to be a friend of yours. Did you know Brandi was his girlfriend?"

"I— Kinda," Kris admitted.

I reached a window and leaned against it to look out at the city lights. If it could open, I might throw my phone out right now. That would only ruin a perfectly good phone, and it was Kris I was mad at.

"It just happened, okay," he went on. "It won't happen again." He breathed into the phone again. "I didn't call to talk about this."

"I'll bet you didn't."

"I wanted to warn you about Chase. He's a player, Ash. I know what I did was stupid, but he'll do the same ten times over."

"You know this for a fact?" I asked. For a guy who cheated, he was quick to throw Chase under the bus.

"He's with a different woman every time I see him," Kris replied. "He's never with anyone for long. If you don't believe me, look it up. Or ask him. He talks about it enough."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were jealous of his lifestyle," I said coldly. "Luckily you don't have to worry about being tied down now. You can do whatever and whoever you like." I felt as if he'd torn my heart out a little more.

"I don't want that," he insisted. "I wantyou. I messed up, and I'm sorry, okay? Please, can you give me another chance? I'll prove to you I can be faithful. I won't so much aslookat another woman. If I do, you can… You can poke my eyes out."

"As tempting as that is," and it was, but I was pissed at him, "I don't want to poke out anyone's eyes."

"Of course not. You're nice," he said graciously. "Nice enough to give me another chance, because youknowwe belong together."

"All of that is quite a stretch," I said.DidI know that? I thought I did, but now I wasn't sure. I thought forever stretched out in front us. Marriage, kids, a house in the suburbs someday. The whole package.

Because ofhispackage, put in the wrong place, I didn't know what I saw for us anymore. If anything.

Until now, I assumed hearing his voice would feel like home. When I closed my eyes, all I saw was him with her.

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