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Prologue

Ashton pulled herself up on our branch and sat down Once upon a tiive her a boost Now, she didn’t needI’d let her down in so many ways I’d heard the term heartbreak before and never really understood it Until now Sitting here looking at her,a deep breath had become difficult since the day I’d walked outside the church and saw her with Beau I’d known I’d wanted her to tellStill, deep down, I’d known Ashton was no longer mine

“Ih so she could hear me She’d texted me to tell o This here it all started It was fitting that it ended here too

Ashton’s expression was slightly confused I loved that look It was adorable “I was already here when you sent the text,” I explained and a small smile touched her lips

“Oh,” she replied

“To what do I owe this visit?” I already had a good idea as to why she was here I just wanted her to say it out loud It was ti up, I made my way over to where she sat on the li the audience hidden in the darkness It figures Beau would have co for me too Or maybe he’d followed her

“I wanted to check on you Beau said you had a concussion”

I couldn’t help but laugh I had a concussion alright I skipped the rock I held in ot the concussion?”

“Yes,” the guilt in her voice was thick Heh

“I deserved it I was shitty to you all week” My chest ached harder Seeing everyone treating her so cruelly, while I sat back and did nothing, would haunttime

“Um,” she seemed unsure of what to say next I’d let her down this week I’d let uy I’d been, the way I’d reacted, that wasn’t me

“I shouldn’t have let the the crap out ofsomeone physically beat me was a nice release”

“What?”

She was surprised that I felt bad about what I’d let them do to her Da was beco more difficult

“Ash, you were irl for years Even before that, ere friends The best of friends I should’ve never let one bump in the road causeYou took all the bla that wasn’t entirely your fault It was Beau’s and it was mine”

“Yours? How—”