Beholden (The Belonging Duet, #2)(76)

“I’m going to miss you too but I’ll be back to visit.” I return her hug and try to stifle my own tears.

“You’ll come back for the wedding, right?” Taylor asks.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

We embrace again and I leave my office for the last time. When I close the door a part of my heart breaks while another part comes to life at the new adventure I’m embarking on.

Now I have to go home and somehow manage to leave Ashton behind.





On my train ride home, I think more about Taylor’s question. I don’t regret anything because it’s brought me to where I am, but it makes me sad to think I would’ve given up an opportunity like this for anyone. I don’t believe Jackson would’ve asked me to, but I probably would’ve wanted to stay with him. Which I probably would regret later on and possibly would’ve resented him instead.

When I get home, Ashton is sitting on the couch in her pajama pants.

“Aren’t we going to dinner?” I ask.

“Nope.”

What in the hell?

“Okay? I thought that was our plan.”

She shuts the television off and stands with her hands on her hips. “I’m mad at you, Biffle.”

“For what?”

This should be good.

“I don’t know. I just want to be mad at you!” Ashton cries out and falls on the couch.

I sit on the couch next to her and lay on her lap. “I’m going to miss you too. This is so hard, Ashypoo. These goodbyes suck.”

Ashton runs her fingers through my hair and her lips purse. “I’m sorry. I know this is hard for you.” She puts the mask I know so well up, making sure she protects herself.

After a few moments of silence, Ashton starts up again, only this time her tone is light and playful. “I’ve decided what I’m going to do with your room.”

“Oh, what did you decide? A pottery room or did you decide to make a home gym that you’ll never use?”

The first time we talked about what to do with my room I almost peed myself. She had the most insane ideas, but then again, it’s Ashton. Last we talked she was leaning toward a meditation room.

“Nope, neither. I’m going to make it into a library!”

“I feel as if you want me to react so I’m just going to say … okay then, to the girl who doesn’t read,” I say, shaking my head.

“Jealous much?”

I laugh and snuggle into her. “You’re nuts but I love you. Tell me why you look like a homeless person instead of dressed to go out?”

She lets out a long sigh and pats my head like a cat. “I want to spend our last night as roomies drinking wine and eating pizza. You know you won’t be able to get Jersey pizza in Cali.”

I smile and nod, “I know.”

“I still can’t believe you’re leaving. You’re lucky I haven’t tied you up so you can’t go.”

“I might like it.”

“You probably would, freak.”

“You know it.”

“What kind of kinky shit did you and Jackson do?” she asks laughing and sounding slightly scared.

“He didn’t need to tie me up.” I look up and wiggle my eyebrows.

Ashton smiles and swats my ass while laughing. “Yeah, I wouldn’t willingly leave that man’s bed either.”

I flush thinking of some of the things Jackson and I did together. The way his body was made for mine, the way he could drive me to the end with his words alone. He was my other half in every way. I miss him already. Every night since the memorial he’s starred in my dreams. My mind drifts to him during the day, and then he haunts me in my sleep. I close my eyes and hold my arms over my chest. One day. One day it won’t hurt so much.

“Hey,” Ashton nudges me. “I’m sorry. Let’s enjoy our night with fattening food and then tomorrow hopefully you’ll be so hung over you won’t be able to fly.”

A laugh escapes me at the logic in her plan and I decide I need to keep my thoughts of Jackson at bay. I made my choice, now I have to live with it.

“Okay, let’s eat so I can be bloated.”

“Deal.”

The pizza gets delivered and we spend our night curled up on the couch talking about all the things I have to do in California. She demands that if I meet any Hollywood A-listers she’s the first to know. Also if I start dating any of them she’s agreed to quit her job and become my personal assistant.

Reluctantly we clean up and return to the couch.

“Let’s have a slumber party like we did when we were kids,” Ashton suggests.

“Okay,” I reply and grab the blankets off the couch.

We turn the lights off and wrap ourselves up. I have to be up in a few hours and Ashton promised she’d take me to the airport.

“I’m going to miss you, Biffle.” Her voice is quiet but I hear her.

“I’ll miss you more,” I whisper, but she doesn’t respond.

A few minutes later, right as I’m about to fall asleep, I hear Ashton sniffle as a tear rolls down my cheek.



“Let’s go!” I yell to Ashton as she drags her feet. We woke up and had coffee and a lot of tears. But now you’d think she just got out of bed. She’s moving slower than normal. I swear she’s doing this on purpose.