nice to you this morning, but now, no. You need to stay the hell away from me and from us, Clayton. I won’t allow you to hurt Alex the way you hurt me.”
I step closer, careful that I don’t startle her. “I know that, Ashley. I live with that regret, and I’ll always be sorry for doing that to you. Please know, I was stupid. So fucking stupid. I let you go. You were perfect for me. You saved me, and I was too stubborn to go after you. I know it’s not much, and I hope one day it will be, but I am here. I am not going anywhere, and I won’t stay away.”
Ashley’s eyes meet mine, and fuck, I’ve missed her.
“I will never forgive myself for letting you walk away and hurting you. It’ll stay with me until the day I die.”
“You didn’t hurt me. You killed me. That’s in the past, and I’m living in the present and for the future. I have a little boy who needs me to be strong. You can’t come back. Don’t come near me again, Clayton. You don’t have any rights to Alex or me. Leave us alone.”
“I can’t do that.” I let her know. “I’ll do whatever you need, but I won’t let this go. I’m back in Seattle, and I’m going to find a way to get you and our family back together. All I ask is if you can find it in your heart, please give me another chance. Another chance to be your friend. To be a father to our son. All I need is another chance.”
When I look at Ashely, it reminds me of a time when we lived an easy life.
We had it all—passion, love, trust, and hope. The passion ignited our souls. The love was pure and true from the start. I trusted her with my life, and she trusted me with hers. The hope was there for us, and I let it go when I watched her walked away. I still saw the girl I fell in love with.
I fell in love with the girl.
And I’m still in love with the woman.
Tears well in her eyes, and I see her bottom lip tremble. Without thinking, I pull Ashley into my arms and hold her against my chest. She fights me for a few seconds before giving up and wrapping her arms around my waist.
“I’m not going anywhere. I know I need to gain your trust again, but I’m telling you the truth. I want another chance. Whatever chance you’re able to give me, please find it in your heart. I’ll take it. I’ll take anything.”
Ashley lets me go and pulls away from me. We stand in the middle of the parking lot, some distance between us, and I watch her watch the pavement below her shoes.
“I need time. That’s all I can ask for right now. That’s all I can give you.”
“And I’ll give that to you.”
“Thanks,” she mutters and walks to her car, and all I can do is watch her drive away.
After she’s out of the parking lot, I get back into my car and head to the grocery store nearby to grab dinner. When I park my car and head inside, I look around to see if there’s anything worth getting.
“You’re really back.”
I turn around to the familiar voice and see a very pissed Gina standing a few feet from me.
“She told me you were back. I didn’t think I’d see you around here. What are you doing, Clayton?”
“Good to see you too, Gina. You’re right. I’m back, and I don’t plan on leaving. I can’t leave her again.” I want to tell her more, but I don’t know how close we would still be.
While I was with Ashley, I became close to Gina. She confided in me about things, and I was there for her.
Gina comes closer and sighs. “You can’t think this is okay. You let her go. You have no idea what she went through when you let her go. She cried every day, and I thought she was going to lose herself. Alex kept her alive and strong. She found the courage to live again, and she’s been doing great. She’s an amazing mother and puts Alex before her own life.”
“I don’t doubt that. I know she’s an amazing mother. She’s an amazing woman, and her heart knows no hate. I’m going to get her back. I don’t care how long it takes. I don’t