Wait for Always, page 17
“Ash, don’t,” I whispered.
Mark laughed in his face. “You think you’re so fucking tough. I know everything about you. I know that you’re a piece of shit who got left at the altar and for good reason.”
Ash looked like he was going to throw a punch. But I grabbed his arm and jerked him backward.
“Stop.” I repeated, “Just stop.”
I stepped around Ash and went to Mark. “Please, you know I would never do anything with anyone when I’m with you. Not ever.”
“I don’t know that. I know that you’ve been in love with him, and then he’s fucking here.”
Mark grabbed my arm the way he had that night in the bar. My memories flashed of the humiliation. The disgust on his face. The feelings of inadequacy that had plagued me for so long after. And it all came back in a rush. No one had stood up for me. No one had even said a word.
But this time, Ash did.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Ash snarled. He came between us in an instant. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
Ash and Mark were nose to nose. One wrong move would send this entire thing spiraling. I’d seen Ash fight someone before. I never wanted to see it again.
“Ash, please,” I gasped. “Please … just go.”
His eyes shot to me. “Me? I should go?”
“Yes.”
Mark snorted.
“It’s not safe, Mia.”
And I saw that he truly believed that. My cheeks heated.
“I’ll be fine.”
Mark pushed him in the chest. “You heard the woman. Get the fuck out. She’s my girlfriend, not yours. You’re not wanted here.”
Ash looked back at me with such a pleading look that I wanted to go with him. But he’d ruined our chance. He’d chosen. There was nothing he could do here. As much as I wanted to be there for him through this, my relationship wouldn’t survive me walking out of that door with him.
“Call Derek,” I told him. “I’m sorry.”
Ash shook his head once, shot a withering look at Mark, and then left. And as soon as the door closed, I knew I had made the wrong choice.
I was in too deep to do anything about it in that moment. But it was the beginning of the end.
A week later, I’d leave Mark for good and start the process of opening the new boutique in Charleston to get myself a safe way out of the mess.
25
Savannah
Present
The dress for the Foster Foundation charity event was a masterpiece. Even though I frequently sold outfits that I’d worn first, I was contemplating keeping this one to myself forever. It hung on the back of my closet door in a wave of red silk, and I couldn’t wait to wear it tonight to be recognized for my contribution to the foundation.
I’d hired hair and makeup since I’d be in so many pictures. I already felt like a goddess, just standing around in my matching underwear set. All I had to do was slip into the dress and heels and wait for Ash to pick me up.
I took a sip of my water while I listened to Sinatra croon from my record player. My phone rang, and I grabbed it, turning the music off before answering.
“Amelia Ballentine.”
“Amelia, it’s Nolan Holden.”
I froze in place. I’d been waiting for this call for weeks. I knew that this was all a hurry up and wait business, but it was still frustrating to be on the waiting end of it all.
“Hi, Nolan. It’s great to hear from you.”
“Good to talk to you. I want to make this a quick call. I know it’s late for a Friday, but I had so many meetings today.”
“It’s not a problem. I was just getting ready for a charity event.”
“That sounds fun. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we had another clothing retailer come in and make an offer on the space we were negotiating.”
My stomach fell. “Oh, really?”
“I’m not at liberty to discuss who it is at the time, but they’re a large name brand, and they offered to pay double for the location.”
I nearly choked. Double. Holy shit. “Wow. That’s … surprising.”
“It’s been happening all over. Big corporations are coming into these lucrative spaces and raising rent everywhere.”
Which you could stop. I wanted to say it, but Nolan Holden was a businessman. It was his job to make money. Not to support local small businesses. Not when he could get double his cut just by agreeing to this. I hated it, and I knew why Marina hated it, but I understood it too. It didn’t make me feel any better.
“Well, I don’t think I would be able to meet that demand.”
Nolan sighed. “I thought you might say that. I’m really sorry, Amelia, but we’re going to have to go with the other offer. We might be able to move you into another space when one comes available. I’ll be in touch if you’re interested.”
“Sure,” I said in a noncommittal tone.
It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under my feet. And instead of falling on the floor, I fell into a never-ending pit. I made some small talk before hanging up the phone and sitting down on my bed.
The dream that I’d been working on for my empire was dead in the water. Maybe it was dramatic to feel like everything I’d worked for was over, but I couldn’t stop the feeling from taking root and growing inside of me. I had my boutique here. It was in great shape, but I wanted more. I wanted to franchise the boutiques. I wanted them everywhere in the South. I wanted them everywhere. Charleston had felt like the first step to that dream coming true. And it was the first step I’d made when I had that idea of leaving Mark behind. Now, it was gone.
Maybe I didn’t need to be saved from my abusive ex any longer, but I still felt like I was letting that girl down who had needed it. The shop was just a shop. It wasn’t something that could eventually pay double the rent to get the prime real estate. It wasn’t a conglomerate that was going to take over the world. And I hadn’t realized how much I’d been relying on that dream until it felt like it was gone.
It would be easier. I could be here in Savannah with Ash. And that was that.
I sighed and flopped backward on the bed. I didn’t even hear the front door open until my name was called and feet stomped up the stairs.
“There you are,” Ash said with a smile. His eyes crawled down my mostly naked body. “While I am here for this attire, why aren’t you dressed?”
“The world is ending.”
Ash laughed. “Is that so?”
“I got a call from Nolan,” I said, meeting his eyes. “He had someone else offer double to take my spot.”
Ash’s jaw dropped open. “And he took it?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
He didn’t dispute it right away, but I could see that he wanted to. We both knew that he wouldn’t though. If someone was willing to pay that much money, no one was going to tell them no.
“I’ll call him,” he growled.
“Don’t bother.”
“Mia …”
“It’s done, Ash. I can’t change how it happened, but it’s over. I don’t want you to ruin your friendship over this.”
“Well, we’ll figure something else out then. We can find a place here or somewhere in Charleston. He has other properties.”
A tear came to my eye, and I hiccupped. “Fuck, Ash, I thought this was it.”
“Oh, Mia.” He sank onto the bed and pulled me into him. “This isn’t the end for you or for the expansion of the boutique. I know you’re going to go off and do amazing things.”
I shook my head. “Maybe I’m as worthless as I thought.”
He stilled. “Why would you say that?”
“I only ever get things because I know people in power. My dad, Camden, you.”
“Me?”
“You got me the interview with Holden.”
“And that had nothing to do with anything.”
“You made the call,” I reminded him. “I must not have been good enough or he would have said yes immediately before looking at other offers.”
“You can’t blame yourself for any of it. It’s business. It didn’t work out. That hardly makes you worthless. I’ve never heard you talk like that.”
I dabbed at my eyes. “I just … I don’t know how to explain.”
“Sit up. Talk to me.”
I did as he said, looking into those big blue eyes. The ones that were all mine. The ones that should have been enough for all of this. But he didn’t know that, some days, I was holding myself together with duct tape, string, and gum.
“Do you remember when you came to see me after your dad was sick?”
His face clouded. “Yes.”
“And how upset Mark was?”
“I remember him being a douchebag and worrying that he’d hurt you.” He suddenly looked terrified. “Did he?”
“Physically … no.”
“Fuck.”
“It was months of him belittling me. And it sounds so ridiculous because I should have just left him. He wasn’t always like that, and then by the time it got as bad as it did, I was in so deep.”
“Why didn’t you come to me?”
I shook my head, recoiling from him at that thought. “He hated you. We fought about you constantly.”
“Of course he hated me, but I never knew why. You never talked to me.”
“I know,” I whispered. “But I told him everything before we dated and he hated you so much. He thought I still loved you. He went through my phone to see if we’d been messaging. He accused me of cheating. The two times we saw you, it was like my everything shut down.”
Ash took my hand in his. “I had no idea. Amelia, I wish I had been there … been better.”
“It wasn’t your fault. It was his. All his. And no one believed me. But anyway, I left a week after you were here. For me, it was like Charleston was my escape plan. I was going to leave it all behind and move there to get away. The brilliant plan was the reason I had the gall to leave him.”
“Ah,” he said, finally understanding. “And now, it’s gone. Your escape route just closed.”
“And I don’t need to escape you,” I said quickly. “Obviously.”
“I don’t think you do.”
“It just feels like everything shrank, and there’s no way to get away. Even though I want to be here with you.”
“You don’t have to explain.” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed them. “I love you. I understand your distress. I wish I could kill Mark Armstrong for ever making the strong, beautiful woman I love feel this way. But it’s not the end. You can still do everything you want, and I’ll be here every step of the way.”
I leaned forward, pressing my cherry-red lips to his. “Thank you.”
“For loving you?”
I laughed. “I guess so.”
He held me tight until I felt the panic begin to subside. “As much as I hate to say this, we need to get you into that dress.”
I rose to my feet on shaky legs and removed the red dress. I stepped into it and turned my back to him. “Zip me up?”
“I’m going to unzip it and leave it on the floor later,” he teased.
“I’m counting on it.”
When the zipper hit the base of my spine, I turned to face Ash. He breathed in sharply in appreciation.
“You look stunning.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. “Is my makeup a mess?”
He shook his head. “Looks good as new.”
I ran into the bathroom real quick to check and found, to my surprise, that he was right. I grabbed my clutch, stuffed my phone in it, and then followed Ash out of my house.
The Foster Foundation charity was in an event space off of River Street. We parked in the garage and took the elevator up to the ballroom floor, which had a balcony overlooking the Savannah River. The room was already full of people, and I laughed when I realized that my entire family had shown up. My dad and Kathy stood near Ash’s parents. My mom, Marina, Daron, and Tye stood next to Derek and Marley. They all congratulated me a million times over when I stepped into the room.
I still hadn’t had that conversation with my dad. Things had been moving too fast for me to slow down enough to deal with him. But he was there, and maybe that made him a little better than the day before. He showed up for me when it was important.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Dad said.
“Thanks, Daddy.”
Then, we stood there for a beat too long in silence. Me waiting to see if he was going to say something more, offer to take me to lunch. But then the moment passed, and nothing happened. Neither of us knew how to bridge that gap. So, I pulled back. It wasn’t my responsibility, and I couldn’t do it with everything else going on.
I said hi to the rest of my family. Marina cursed Nolan’s name when I told her the news. Derek and Marley insisted it was for the better and that I’d have another option. Kathy hugged me hard, knowing how much it meant to me. But it was Mom who was the ever-practical one.
“Come visit me this summer and fall back in love with the city. You’ll know what to do when you get there.”
I hugged her hard because she was right. She was so right.
Then, I was called up to the front for my award. I was handed a little plaque that I was excited to display at the shop and gave a quick speech, thanking everyone involved. Foster Foundation had been important to me for years. I wanted to keep making it a priority even if all the rest of my dreams failed and I never expanded. At least I’d made a difference for this.
I stepped off the stage and was ready to head back to Ash when the whole world stopped, and I struggled to breathe as Mark Armstrong appeared before me with that deadly smirk.
26
Savannah
Present
I hadn’t seen Mark since I’d gotten my box back from him, and I’d hoped that I never would again. After the day I’d had and my escape plan closing, I was more vulnerable than ever, which was the worst possible place for me to be around Mark.
“Hello, Amelia,” he said.
“Mark,” I said softly. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a charity event. My family was invited, obviously.”
“Obviously,” I repeated.
I wanted nothing more than to walk away from him. To not stand in front of him, feeling as small as ever. All the things he’d said had come true. I hadn’t amounted to anything, and I’d run right back into Ash’s arms.
“And you …” His eyes crawled down the red silk of my dress. “You look the same as always.”
I straightened at those words. Had that been a compliment, or was he insulting me?
I ran my eyes down him as well. He was in a black tuxedo. The bow tie was a little askew. His blue eyes were glassy, and his dark hair had grown out just a little too long. He looked like the same Mark who had hurt me over and over again for months, but his words struck the hardest.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“Have you missed me?”
I opened my mouth and then closed it. He just laughed at me.
Something in that laugh sparked a fury straight down my spine. How many times had he laughed at me? How often had he belittled and degraded me? How frequently had I let him get away with it?
I wasn’t with Mark Armstrong anymore. I shouldn’t have let him do it in the first place. I should have left months before I finally gave up on him. But I hadn’t. I’d had to learn my worth all over again. After a few short months with Ash, I knew that I didn’t deserve anything that Mark was going to throw my way.
I wouldn’t shrink back. I wouldn’t be made smaller. Not this time.
“Actually … I didn’t.”
Mark blinked at me. “Didn’t what?”
“Miss you. I didn’t miss you at all.”
Mark stumbled over his scoff of disbelief. “Of course not. You’re playing second fiddle to Ash Talmadge now, aren’t you?”
“If you mean that he loves me, then, yeah … he loves me.”
Mark snorted. “Sure he does. Keep telling yourself that.”
“I don’t have to tell myself that when he tells it to me all the time.”
Then, Ash appeared smoothly at my side. He wrapped an arm possessively around my waist and pressed a kiss to my neck. “You were brilliant.”
I looked up at him with the brightest smile. He hadn’t even acknowledged Mark when he came over to claim me openly in front of him. It was perfect.
“Thanks.”
“I missed you,” he told me. Then, he stole my bright red lips for his own.
Mark made a noise of protest, and Ash broke away to find him standing there.
“Oh hi, Mark,” Ash said with a grin that said he knew precisely what he was doing. “Surprised to find you here.”
“Why is that?” Mark ground out.
“Because I thought it was clear that you were unwelcome.”
Mark’s eyes rounded. “You’re just a desperate piece of trash, still recovering from your bullshit with that Greer girl.”
Ash met my gaze and shrugged. “That’s a lot of words for him to tell me he’s jealous.”
I snickered, which only pissed Mark off more. He took a menacing step forward. I would have backed far away from that, but not with Ash at my side, holding me firm in my convictions.
“You fucking asshole.”
Ash held his hand up, stopping Mark in his tracks. “What did you say to me the last time we met? Oh, right. She’s my girlfriend, not yours. You’re not wanted here.” Ash reached forward and straightened Mark’s bow tie with a flourish. “So, leave.”
“Amelia,” Mark said, redirecting his anger.
“I really don’t want to hear it, Mark. I dealt with enough while we were together. We broke up. I left. No one believed me about you, but now, maybe they will.” I gestured to the crowd of people surreptitiously watching our altercation. “Maybe I wasn’t crazy after all.”
I didn’t wait for him to say more. I took Ash’s hand and walked away from my ex. My hands were shaking with anger at the fact that he’d shown up and the terror of standing up to him. I’d always wondered if I had done that when we were alone, would he have hit me? So instead, I’d stayed small and quiet and submissive. I didn’t have to be those things ever again.
