borrowed a stethoscope. I was going to ask him if I could listen to Colin’s heart beating and then I was going to go. I had a flight later that night, you have to believe me.”
Gran nodded. “Why’d you stay?”
I gulped. “He was smoking, drinking … he had such a bad attitude, his bar was failing. I don’t know. I guess I thought I could fix him. Do right by Colin.”
We were both silent a moment.
“Love will make you do crazy things,” Gran finally said, and I wasn’t sure if she meant love for Colin or love for Ashton.
I tapped the contract, pushing it across the table. “As soon as he’s discharged from the hospital and can get back to running the bar, I’ll go back to New York.”
To my shock, Gran pushed the contract back over to me. “I think you should stay.”
I shook my head, adamantly. “He wants me to go. He called me a psycho.”
She shrugged. “I was married thirty-four years. My husband called me a psycho more times than I can count. So what?”
I grinned, but then saddened. “It’s not the same and you know it.”
Gran patted my hand. “Ashton does angry really well. Ever since we lost Jenna, he’s been mad at the world. Now he has an actual person he can be mad at and I’m sure he loves that. I’m sure you’ve got a bullseye on your forehead for all of his anger, but he’s not really mad at you, honey.”
I shook my head. “Trust me. He is.”
Gran tapped the tabletop twice. “No. He’s hurt. There’s a difference.”
I shrugged. “Well, either way, I’ll be gone before he comes home.” I slid the contract back to her and stood, just as someone walked in through the doors. It was the perfect reason to walk away from the table and not listen to whatever else Gran was about to say. “Thanks for coming by. I really appreciate it.” I gave her a weak smile and greeted the newcomers.
It was a young couple interested in our nine-dollar avocado toast. A smile graced my lips, and I couldn’t wait to tell Ashton, until I remembered he hated me.
Gran gave me a sad wave, slipping out the side entrance, and I went to work on the avocado toast. After serving that couple, I made a sign that said: One woman show, ring bell.
Two hours later, when the bell rang and I stepped out of the kitchen to see Ashton’s cousin Richie and a young girl with him, I was a bit shocked at their presence.
“Hey.” I didn’t know who knew what, so I didn’t say any more than that.
Richie scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably. “Ashton is closing the kitchen for the next few weeks. I’m gonna bartend and April will cocktail.”
I just stood there, brow furrowed in confusion.
Close the kitchen? Close the…
Oh.
“So, you can go back to New York now,” the girl, April, said, crossing her arms and glaring at me.
My throat tightened with emotion and I had to bite back tears. Was Ashton trying to humiliate me on purpose?
I nodded. “I’ll just go turn off the fryer then and close it down.”
April stepped in front of me. “I can do that. Why don’t you pack your things?” Then she handed me an envelope.
Okay…
Looking down, I recognize the manic chicken scratch that was Ashton’s handwriting. It had two words on the front of the envelope. Good bye.
I thought it might be a long letter, which I’d want to read in private, but curiosity caused me to peek inside and my stomach dropped when I saw the plane ticket.
One way to New York City.
I burst into sobs then, causing both his cousin and the stupid fucking girl to step back a foot, like my sadness shocked them. It was as if they expected me to feel nothing about this complete and utter disgusting send off. I ran from the room, up the stairs and into my apartment, and never looked back.
Ashton
Hospital food wasn’t half bad. It wasn’t nearly good as the devil’s cookin’, but it was decent. The devil was back in New York, thanks to my cousin delivering her plane ticket yesterday, and I was glad. No more pity fucking, no more “save Ashton,” no more psychotic ploys to get close to her ex-husband. I was slamming the door on that shit, no matter what Gran or anyone said. She lied to me, used me. I didn’t care that we’d both lost someone. I wouldn’t go