Chapter 6

"Rowan. I've already told her. I only ever thought of her as family. Any inappropriate physical contact that upset you—it's never happening again."

He reached for me.

Before I could react, Julian stepped between us, blocking me. His voice was cold. "Until Rowan says yes, don't put your hands on her."

Ashton didn't say anything. He just swung the fist he'd been holding back.

Julian took it square. A vein popped on his temple. He didn't hit back—didn't want to risk me getting caught in the crossfire. He just wiped blood off his lip with the back of his hand and smiled, thin.

"And who the hell are you to interfere with me and my girlfriend?" Ashton roared.

Julian could hold back. I couldn't.

I stepped out from behind him and slapped Ashton across the face in front of everyone.

"Ashton. If you're sick, get yourself committed. Stop having public breakdowns in front of strangers."

It wasn't a hard slap. But Ashton froze like a statue.

He couldn't understand. How could someone walk away from seven years, just like that?

Had I never really loved him?

Impossible. Everyone who'd ever seen us together had said, admiringly, that Rowan Hartley was crazy about Ashton Sterling.

He had believed, down to the marrow, that as long as he didn't end it, I'd stay forever.

He had been so certain.

As he stood there, he heard me ask Julian if he was okay. He saw Julian gently rub my palm and ask if my hand hurt.

His hands clenched into fists. His eyes went red.

"Rowan!" he roared at me. "I am the man you loved for seven years! How can you treat me like this for some outsider?!"

I actually laughed.

"Ashton. How many times do I have to say it? I—Rowan—am done with you."

I turned to leave with Julian. Tears finally broke free and slid down Ashton's face.

"Rowan!!!"

He cried my name like it was being ripped out of him. But the grip on my wrist was impossibly gentle—gentle enough to give me the absurd impression I was something he cherished.

Our eyes locked. I had never seen him look so destroyed.

"I'm sorry," he said, wrecked. "Rowan, I shouldn't have hit your friend. I'm sorry. Hit me back, yell at me, anything. I didn't do it to hurt you. I just needed you to know—I don't love Juliet."

At that exact moment, Juliet, face swollen, scrambled across the floor toward him, about to wail something.

Ashton ground the toe of his shoe down onto her cheek and kicked her aside without a flicker of feeling.

"Rowan. I'll fire her right now. Or make her disappear. I swear, I'll never hire another female assistant. I'll—"

I sighed, inside.

"You don't have to explain any of this to me. I don't care."

He stalled. He shook his head, shaky.

"Rowan. You do care. You're just disappointed. And I finally understand what I did wrong. If you give me one chance—one—I swear I'll change—"

"Ashton. For the last time. We are not together."

I walked Julian back to our karaoke room.

We picked up the song list like nothing had happened.