Chapter 4

The smile left my face.

I had no idea how he'd found my parents' address.

I just knew I didn't want to see him. Ever again.

Reading my move to slam the door, his eyes went flat black. He shoved his hand into the gap—fingers in genuine danger of being crushed—and held it open.

His voice was hoarse. "Rowan. Why won't you answer my calls?"

My head was a mess. It didn't affect my mouth.

He heard me say, one word at a time, "We broke up. Please leave."

He laughed like I'd told him a joke. He tightened his grip on the door.

"Broke up? When? I must have missed the memo."

The text hadn't gone through, was my first thought. Then I remembered—impossible. And even if it hadn't, a man as sharp as Ashton would have understood the second he heard I'd resigned.

So why was he standing at my parents' door pretending?

I didn't ask.

I just looked at the uninvited man on our stoop and said, with the last scraps of my patience, "Then let me tell you now, to your face. Ashton. I am breaking up with you. Did you hear that? I don't mind repeating it as many times as your deaf ears need."

"Repeat it as many times as you want. My answer is one thing."

His jaw flexed. His eyes were ice.

"Rowan, I don't accept this. I didn't do anything wrong. Who are you to just decide we're over?"

I stared at him.

I had never in my life seen a man this shameless.

From the kitchen, my father called out, "Rowan? Who are you talking to?"

"Dad, no one. Just the delivery. Actually, I forgot to pick up a package, I'm heading down."

I shoved Ashton back from the threshold without ceremony, walked past him into the elevator, and said without looking at him, "Don't bother my parents. If you want to talk, talk outside."