She returns the hug and pulls back to look at me. “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect to see you. Is Jackson okay?”

“Yeah, he’s fine. I had something I needed to take care of,” I explain with the hope that she’ll let it drop.

Ashton cocks her head to the side weighing my words and somehow knowing I’m leaving something out. She’s always been able to read through my bullshit. I don’t know why I thought this time would be any different.

“Just ask me,” I say, exasperated by her staring.

“Right, spill it.” She crosses her arms and looks as if she has all the time in the world for me to explain.

“There’s nothing to spill,” I say and try to walk past her.

She grabs my wrist and stops me. “Cat, I’m not stupid. You have that look on your face. The one that says ‘Ashton is going to have my ass so I’ll pretend nothing’s going on.’ Plus, you wouldn’t leave work early just because you missed me.”

One day I’ll be unreadable. “I went to see Neil,” I say, waiting for the tirade. I know she’s going to blow any second.

“Are you dumb?” she asks deadpanned.

“I don’t think so, but I’m sure you and everyone else will disagree.” I stand there ready to defend myself.

Ashton releases a deep breath and starts to walk toward the elevator. “Well, I can’t wait to hear this argument then. Why did you go see the dickface?”

“I gave him the rings back and he agreed to leave us alone.”

She laughs and enters the doors. “Cat, do you really believe a word he says? He’s a fucking liar. I mean, come on! You can’t possibly trust a word that comes out of his mouth. I’m waiting for you to sell me on how you’re not stupid because what you just said sure as shit didn’t do it.”

Do I believe him? No, but then I do. There was gratitude in his eyes when he had the rings, and then there was the way he seemed almost … apologetic.

“I think he’s in trouble. He was home, on a random Thursday in the middle of the afternoon. Either he lost his job or something else. The sense of relief on his face when I handed him the rings, even he can’t fake. Maybe I’m dumb. Maybe I fucked up, but I can’t have him starting shit up with Jackson right before the launch. Do you get that?” I say frustrated that I need to explain my decisions to her. She doesn’t always make the best choices, but I don’t berate her.

“I do get that, but do you think going there was the best idea?”

“I think it was the only option I had.”

We make our way to the apartment without saying anything else. I think of how the hell I’m going to explain the same thing to Jackson without him blowing a gasket. If Jackson did it his way, who knows what would’ve happened. Neil was already looking at pressing charges if he couldn’t get me civilly. If I didn’t handle it, there would’ve been a press shitstorm. So I did what I thought would keep everything quiet and make it go away. Whether it was right or wrong … only time will tell.

We enter the apartment and finally her silence breaks. “What do Gretchen and Jackson think?” she asks and that’s where this brilliant plan of mine has the snag.

“I didn’t tell them yet.”

She stands there staring at me, opening and closing her mouth. Which I guess is better than hearing it. Although, the fact that I’ve rendered her speechless doesn’t really make me feel any better.

“Okay, I don’t really know what to say to that. Just … wow. For someone so fucking smart, and, Cat, you are so smart … you’re also the dumbest person I know.” She shakes her head in disbelief. “But, well, it’s done. Gretchen is going to be way worse than I am right now. So if I were you, I would prepare yourself for her. She’s going to kick your ass and I’m going to sit back and enjoy the show.” Ashton spills her feelings, ranging from frustration to excitement talking about how she’s going to enjoy my Gretchen-whipping.

“Well, I’m glad you’ll get some amusement from all of this.”

“The bigger question I have is do you think he’ll actually leave you alone?” Ashton asks in a soft tone.

I shake my head unsure of what to think. “I don’t know, but at this point I have nothing left of his. Plus, I didn’t want the rings—or need them. I don’t want anything he touched or that came from him. He’s completely out of my life.”

“I get that,” Ashton finally says as she puts her keys down and heads into the living room. “Sit, let’s talk. I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks. Well, I guess I haven’t.”

“Wait. That’s all you’re going to say?” My voice is high and I’m shocked. This is very un-Ashton like.

She laughs and tucks her feet under her butt. “I get it. I would want to be rid of anything that was my ex’s. Was spending his money on the ring fun? Sure. But at the same rate, your job is to protect Jackson. You don’t come into my lab and tell me how to do my job. I’m not going to tell you how to do yours. I wish you would’ve let me go with you. Or told someone what you were up to.”

I smile and snuggle into her. “You’re such a good friend. If I brought you, it would’ve made him feel threatened. Plus, I really don’t think he’s violent. I think he’s in deep shit and is trying to find his way out. If he needs money, those two rings should effectively shut him up. Enough about Neil, what do you want to talk about? Mark?”

She slaps my leg and hops up, refusing to answer my question. After a minute, she returns with wine and two glasses. I open the bottle and Ashton launches into a long rant about her job. It’s great sitting and talking like we did when I was still staying here. I tell her about what my days are like, trying to catch up on the missed work and how Elle and I are still front-runners for the new position at CJJ.

“How’s Mark?” Ashton asks after a few minutes of silence.

The smile slowly forms across my face as Ashton pretends to pick lint off her pants. “Mark? Do you mean the adorable ex-SEAL who lives in Virginia?” I question, deciding to play coy.

“Oh, don’t be so stupid! And adorable isn’t the adjective I’d use for that piece of meat.”

I laugh so hard I’m clutching my stomach. “Meat? Oh my God, Ash. You’re a hot mess.”

“Bite me, twunt. Have you talked to him since you’ve been back?” Ashton’s entire demeanor shifts to being interested.

“You and that stupid word.” I giggle and take a sip of wine. “Jackson talks to him daily. Have you called him?”

She shifts around looking uncomfortable and grabs her glass. She wipes her finger around the rim while I wait for her to answer. “He’s called me a few times but I haven’t answered. He’s really hot, and I don’t know, like I said, he lives in Virginia and I’m not about to start chasing a long distance relationship.” Ashton looks up. Her eyes are probing me to give her answers.

I grab her glass and put it on the table. “Ash, you don’t know what the future holds any more than I do. Neither one of us is twenty-one anymore. Mark’s a good guy. He was there for me in Germany and we became good friends. I think he is about the only man in this world that could handle you. Plus, he really is hot.” I slap her arm and get up. It’s been over a half hour and I told Jackson I’d be back in an hour. Which already isn’t going to happen. “I gotta run.”