17. Aspen

CHAPTER 17

Aspen

The sound of Crossland’s fist connecting with my father’s jaw was so audible every single person in the room looked our way. Not only were all eyes on us, but so were the cameras who’d been documenting the experience.

Adrenaline racked my body as I leaped between anger, shame, and the protective instincts swirling inside me.

My father grinned, that same sadistic smile that I’d grown up with.

He’d just gotten exactly what he wanted, and he knew it, even as blood dribbled out of the corner of his mouth. Even as the security detail hauled him off the floor.

“I’m going to press charges, you stupid son of a bitch,” my father spit out the words, my mother fawning over him as if he was the most important thing in the world. Like we didn’t all know that she’d sell him out for a few zeros if anyone cared to make the offer.

Brecken sniffled behind me, and I whirled around, torn between begging for Crossland’s forgiveness and the need to take care of my baby sister.

Crossland shook out his hand, following the security as they dragged my parents out of the room.

I focused on Brecken, smoothing my hands over her cheeks, her tears getting caught on my fingertips. She was trembling, and her eyes were distant like she wasn’t here at all but reliving some horrible experience that I hadn’t been able to protect her from years ago.

“You’re safe,” I said, drawing her a little closer. “Brecken, I need you to breathe. I need you to know that they can’t touch you. I’ve got you. I’m going to get you out of here.”

She blinked a few times, the light coming back to her eyes as her bottom lip shook. She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.

“We’re safe,” she said, repeating the words a few more times as she did her best to get ahead of the panic attack I could see lingering on the edge of her features.

She hadn’t had one in a couple years, but the last one had sent us to the emergency room. I didn’t want that for her, didn’t want that to happen now, and I fucking hated my parents for putting her through this.

Concern rippled over her features as she spotted Crossland following our parents outside. “You have to go after him,” she said, her voice carrying every ounce the strength she possessed as she held herself together.

“I’m not going to leave you like this,” I said, even though every instinct in my body was roaring at me to go after Crossland.

“I’m fine,” she said. “I promise. I’m doing my breathing. We can break down about this later. You have to go see what’s happening out there.”

I nodded at her assurance, wrapping her in a tight hug before I hurried through the crowd who was already looking at me with judgment in their eyes.

I couldn’t really blame them. It was more than obvious who those people belonged to, what brought those people here, and it sure as hell wasn’t Crossland. That’s not the company he ever kept, and I could see it on so many of their faces. My presence here ruined what this night was supposed to be about.

Guilt ate at me with every step I took, but I finally managed to make it out of the room, and out of the hospital where I stopped dead in my tracks, watching as Crossland scribbled on his checkbook before tearing out the paper and shoving it into my father’s hands.

“This is just enough,” my father said, pocketing the check. “I won’t press charges tonight, but you better believe this isn’t the last you’ve seen of us.”

My entire body went cold, dread slicing through my veins.

Security shoved my parents unceremoniously into the back of a cab that I was sure Crossland paid for, and even as they drove away, even as I felt the distance between us, I couldn’t move.

Their presence, their words, the scene they’d caused, it reduced me to nothing but that weak little girl who couldn’t escape them all those years ago. That same girl who fought tooth and nail to get her sister out of the same situation.

I was no longer the confident twenty-nine-year-old who had proudly gotten my sister into college, I was just the daughter of trashy people who’d just ruined what was supposed to be a monumental night for the love of my life.

After getting the nod from Crossland, the security detail went back into the building, but kept him in their sights.

Crossland paced the length of the pavement, shaking out his hand.

“Let me get you some ice for that,” I finally said, finding my voice. If I could count on anything, it was the protective instinct I had for somebody I loved, and despite feeling awful for being the cause of this, my need to make sure his pain was eased outweighed my shame.

“I don’t need ice,” Crossland snapped, using a tone he never used with me before.

It made my entire body lock up and tears prick the backs of my eyes.

“I’m sorry about the money⁠—”

“I don’t care about the money,” he cut me off, continuing with his pacing even though I came closer to him. “I care about the fact that tonight’s publicity was supposed to be for this hospital and my parents, and it’s been replaced with me being unable to control my temper and causing a scene with those lowlifes.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, every word he vented to me making me curl in on myself.

He stopped pacing, looking up at the night sky as he shook his head. “And Bristol,” he said. “She’s here. This is going to tarnish her image too. Goddamn it.”

He had every right to be angry. Every right to be saying the things he was, but it didn’t stop the pain that radiated through my chest with every word.

None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me. His night wouldn’t have been ruined if my parents hadn’t found us, and I hated being the cause for so much frustration, so much embarrassment.

I thought I’d moved past that situation in my life. The one where I was worried about embarrassing the people I was with just because of where I came from.

I’d been wrong.

I’d been so fucking wrong.

“I’m sorry,” I said, and absolutely meant it.

My heart was already breaking into pieces, instinct understanding the situation better than my mind did.

“None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for me,” I continued, letting the tears roll down my cheeks.

Crossland finally looked down at me, confusion fluttering in his eyes. “Aspen,” he said, almost apologetically. “None of this is about you.”

“Of course it is,” I said, trying my best to swallow the shame making me feel two feet tall. “Don’t you get that? Don’t you understand that if you were here with somebody like Brynn or Daisy or any of your other socialite friends that none of this would have happened? The night you’ve been building toward for years came crashing down because of me.”

Crossland stepped toward me, and I stepped away.

My parents would never stop. Especially now that he’d paid them off to keep himself out of jail tonight. They would never stop coming after him for as long as I stuck around.

And I loved him too much to do that to him.

“Aspen,” he said, worry lining his eyes. “I should have asked you how you were. I should have checked in with you before going off on that tangent. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make it about me⁠—”

“You didn’t,” I cut him off, feeling like I was ripping my heart to shreds. “It’s me. It’s always been me questioning how I managed to be lucky enough to be in your world, how I managed to fit into your extravagant lifestyle. Always me questioning if what I’m doing was okay, if it’s up to standard. The thing is, I would never be asking those questions if I hadn’t been put into those situations.” I shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter right? Our time is up anyway, isn’t it?”

“Is that how you want to play it?” Crossland asked, looking equal parts shocked and hurt.

I glanced over at the glass door of the hospital, seeing Brecken waiting patiently for me. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks.

“If that’s all you have to ask,” I said, my entire body shaking. “Then it looks like it’s already played out.”

Crossland flinched at my words, and I hated that his pain radiated right alongside my own. And it took all of the strength I possessed to walk over to the door, grab Brecken, and leave.