Chapter 82
ASHTON
"Ashton." Demi repeats nervously. I didn’t realize how uncomfortable I make her, since I came clean about our meeting at the Blue Cove, until now. Could Ashley have instilled more fear and hatred in her towards me? She casts sidelong glances, scanning the area, especially the apartment building at the end of the street.
"I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stalk you like this but I needed to meet with you alone. I have a few things to clarify."
"I don’t need clarification, Ashton. That Chapter of my life is over." She begins to walk hastily away from me but my fingers grab her wrist in a vice like grip. She shifts uncomfortably. Again, her eyes keep skirting around like she expects Ashley or someone else to pop out and give us a hard time. "Let me go."
"Are you okay? You’re sweating bullets." She slaps my hand from touching her face and dabs away her own sweat. At the sound of a door cracking open behind me, I follow Demi’s shocked eyes back to the apartment building behind us but before I can make out the faces of the women stepping out, she yanks my arm towards her car.
"Fine! Let’s talk."
"I drove here."
"Then lead the way and I’ll follow behind."
I ignore her weird behavior, get behind my wheel and guide her towards a familiar place. Minutes after we park in front of the building, Demi and I fail to step out of our cars. My phone buzzes with her incoming call. With a ghost of a smile, I take the call while removing the straps of my seatbelt.
"Is this your idea of a joke? You didn’t have to bring me here. I clearly remember everything that transpired that night." Her voice is thick with emotion which tells me she’s still hurting. My heart splinters at the sound of a sniffle.
"I don’t mean to regurgitate sad memories, Demi but this is the one place I can be sure we won’t be interrupted. Like I said, I have some explaining to do. It may not change anything but it will help me sleep better at night knowing you have the full version of events. Can we go in? The owner lent me the space for an hour. There’s nobody inside."