Page 90 of Devoured By You
“Because I haven’t finished saying what I came to say yet.”
“Lucky me. Get on with it, then. I’m busy.”
She glowered. “You didn’t have to say such horrible things to Jill, Blaize. You could have broached it in a kinder way. She didn’t deserve that.”
A vise clamped around my chest. The longer Aspen was here pointing out Jill’s hurt and my culpability, the harder I found it to maintain the illusion that I gave zero shits. “I don’t appreciate my ex’s running off to my family, crying victim.”
Aspen made fists with both of her hands and brought them down on my desk with an almighty crack.
“She didn’t, you asshole. I called her because I wanted to see how you were doing, and as the decision on whether you pick up your phone blows with the fucking wind direction, it made sense to reach out to Jill. When she told me she was back in England, I almost had an embolism.”
“And you got on a plane from New York just to come tell me I’m an asshole?” I forced a smile. “Wasted journey, cous. I already know.”
“Jesus Christ, Blaize.”
She shook her head, her shoulders bowing in defeat. Good. Maybe she’d leave soon and I could go back to wallowing in self-pity and beating myself up on the regular. Anything was better than thinking about Jill back in England, alone and smarting from how I’d ended things between us.
“I know something’s wrong.” She pierced me with that fiery gaze once more. “I don’t buy this bullshit. Are you somehow trying to play the hero because of those trolls who went after Jill?”
I hadn’t a clue how I kept my composure. My heart froze midbeat, then galloped. Beads of sweat gathered on my forehead. It was freezing in my office, the A/C at full blast given the ninety-degree heat outside.
“Because if you are, it’s bullshit. Today’s headlines are tomorrow’s trash.”
Jill had said something similar. I disagreed. Scandals such as the kind my family and I were caught up in took far longer to dissipate. Jill’s career might not last that long. And even if it did, why put the woman I loved through that much trauma? Now that made me an asshole.
“I’ve already told you why I broke things off. Fuck’s sake, Aspen. When did my love life become your business?”
“When you broke my friend’s heart, jerkface.”
“Oh, so because you’ve collected another bestie, I can’t move on?”
“I already told you that’s not what I’m saying. Don’t twist my words. You’ll fucking lose. The way you told Jill it was over was unnecessary and cruel. I guess this is what happens when a serial one-nighter like you gets embroiled in something that lasts longer than a dog’s fart.”
“Nice,” I drawled.
For the first time since she’d entered my office like a Category 5 hurricane, her lips twitched.
“I can do better, but I won’t. You’re not worth it.”
“Praise the Lord.”
“Asshole,” she muttered.
“Nosy bitch,” I retorted.
I received a proper smile for that one. She rose to her feet. Oh, good. She’s going.
“Thanks for coming. On your way out, grab me some arnica cream for the welts your tongue has left behind.”
“I’m not leaving.”
My eyebrows flew up my forehead. “Excuse me?”
“No, I won’t fucking excuse you. You haven’t earned it. I told Uncle Jameson that I’m sticking around for a few days. See if I can’t talk some fucking sense into you.”
Using my desk to help me to my feet, I stood. “You’re not staying here.”
“I think you’ll find that I am. Renata has already unpacked my things. It’s not like you don’t have room. Oh, and I’ve met Mara and told her to take a couple of days off. You’re virtually self-sufficient now anyway.”