Fever (Breathless #2)(112)

“Sure,” he said, walking farther in. “Going to have a cup with me?”

She smiled, relaxing under his easy charm. “Yeah, go sit and I’ll grab us both a cup.”

She puttered around the kitchen, heating two cups and mixing in the chocolate. She sweetened hers and paused, not sure how Ash liked his. Oh well. She shrugged and made his like she preferred hers.

Then she carried the cup into the living room and handed him his.

“Thanks, sweetheart.”

He stared at her over his mug as she took a seat in the armchair a good distance from where he sat.

“So how you doing?” he asked quietly.

“I’m fine,” she said brightly.

He gave her a look that clearly said bullshit.

She sighed. “I’m good, really. Worried about Jack. Which is stupid, but I can’t exactly control it. I guess I just feel guilty because I have so much now and he still has nothing.”

“I wouldn’t exactly call a free place to live nothing,” Ash said dryly.

Her shoulders heaved. “You’re right. And I think that’s what pisses me off. Jace really went out on a limb for him. And he did it for me. I know Jace hates it. He has every right to. But he did that for me and he did it for Jack because he knew it would make me happy. And it pisses me off that Jack is being so stupid about it.”

She scowled, realizing she really was angry. She’d been so buried in worry and anxiety that she hadn’t really delved into the fact that she was mad at Jack for being so dismissive of all Jace was doing for him.

“He could at least let me know how he’s doing, you know?” she continued, becoming more pissed by the minute.

“Yeah, he could,” Ash agreed. “But, honey, listen to me. You have to stop wasting so much emotional energy on this guy. He’s a big boy. You can’t make his decisions for him and, furthermore, you damn sure shouldn’t feel guilty because you straightened out your life and he refuses to do the same.”

“You’re right,” she murmured. “I know you’re right. But it’s hard. Really hard to just do a complete one-eighty when for the last several years he’s all I’ve known. It’s natural for me to worry about Jack because I’ve always worried about him.”

Ash cleared his throat. “There’s actually something else I wanted to talk to you about. Now is as good a time as any since we’re alone. You and I have only seen each other a couple of times since that first night, and it’s not exactly a topic I wanted to get into around other people.”

Heat suffused her cheeks. Oh God. He was going to bring up the night of the threesome. Mortification seized her and she couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Honey, look at me,” Ash said gently.

She shot to her feet, leaving her mug on the coffee table and turned away to stare out the window over the city. Outside, lights twinkled as day faded to night.

“Bethany.”

She jumped when she heard his voice directly behind her. He’d followed her to the window and now she had no choice but to face him.

He touched her shoulder and she slowly turned to meet his gaze. There was warmth and understanding in his eyes.

“I know you probably don’t think I’m good enough for him either,” she said in a low voice. “Especially with how we met. That night . . .”

He put his fingers to her lips. “That’s bullshit,” he said bluntly. “I owe you a huge apology and I’m going to say it now.”

Her eyes widened. “Why would you have anything to be sorry for?”

“Because in the beginning, I didn’t think you were a good idea for Jace. I’m his friend and I was worried.”

She nodded, her heart sinking. Logically, she’d known his friends wouldn’t have embraced her in his life, but somehow hearing it made it hurt more than thinking it on her own.

“I was wrong.”

She blinked. “You were?”

“I was one hundred percent wrong, honey. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to Jace. And I brought up that night, not to make you uncomfortable, although that’s exactly what I’ve done, but because I don’t want this awkwardness between us to go on. Jace is like a brother to me. We’ve been friends for years. I don’t want that to change. You’re important to him. He’s important to me. Which makes you important to me as well.”

“Really?” she whispered.

He smiled. “Yeah, really. I won’t say I didn’t enjoy that night. That’s a fact. You’re a beautiful, desirable woman. Can’t change it. Don’t really want to. You’re special, Bethany. But I also know Jace loves you a hell of a lot and I can see that you love him too. What I’d like is for us to be able to put that night behind us and move forward. I’d like us to be friends.”

She smiled, her entire face widening with joy. “I’d like that too.”

He reached out and touched her cheek, caressing a line down her cheekbone with his thumb. “There you have it then.”

“What the f**k is going on here?”

Jace’s voice exploded into the living room and Bethany jumped, Ash’s hand sliding from her face as both she and Ash whirled in the direction of Jace’s voice.

Bethany’s eyes widened in alarm while Ash’s darkened with anger. Jace looked . . . furious.