Chapter 19

Ashley

The store has been extra busy today. Scandal sells. Not like that's new. Watch a couple episodes of Bridgerton and it's clear that's been the case for a long time. And right now, at the center of that shit storm of gossip, it's me. Being Doogie's kid has always painted a target on me for a multitude of reasons. Now it's because everyone wants to ply me with sympathy and get the inside scoop.

"You're better for business than a TV commercial," Gina murmurs as she does another cash drop into the safe. "You want overtime this week?"

I could use it. But I also have plans. Big plans. Scary plans. "I wish I could, Gina. But I'm already obligated elsewhere."

"With a certain mechanic we all know?"

I don't answer. I don't have to.

She gives me a knowing smirk. "That's what I thought," she continues. "He's a looker. There's no denying that. But you need to be careful, Ashley. He's not the forever kind—and that little girl of his will always come first. That's not a knock against him, either. She should come first. Unless you're the kind of woman who's willing to raise another woman's kid as her own, there's no future in that."

"Are we besties now?"

Gina stiffens. "No. No, we're not. But as a woman whose relationship is coming apart at the seams, trust me when I tell you that it's better to not marry at all than to marry and then divorce."

"No one is talking marriage, Gina. At this point we're not even dating," I deny.

She laughs. She actually laughs at me. "Sure you're not. You keep telling yourself that."

The line has thinned out. The morning coffee crowd of old men in ball caps and overalls has dissipated. Only a few people are lingering in the store, debating the endlessly plaguing question of salty or sweet when it comes to snacks. "I've got it up here if there are things you need to take care of in the office."

Her lips curl into a small thin line. "Fine. I'll mind my business … literally and figuratively. You do the same."

When Gina disappears into the back, I feel a moment of guilt. She's making overtures of friendship and I'm swatting them away like pesky mosquitoes. And I'm not the only one who needs a friend right now. She does too.

"Hey, Ashley!"

I look up to see Nikki walking into the store and my guilt about Gina's departure fades instantly. I'm suddenly very relieved that she's no longer standing at the counter with me. She never comes in here. For obvious reasons, but also because she's always acted like she's too good to shop in a place like this.

"Nikki," I acknowledge.

"We're in a real pickle, aren't we?" she asks, dropping a bottle of water on the counter. "Me on the verge of unemployment and you on the verge of indictment … or well, you will be after your Daddy tells the county prosecutor everything you did to make his business profitable. Clearly, you were the mastermind behind all of it."

My gut clenches. I know she's full of shit. Cam and Troy have both already talked to the County Prosecutor and pretty much assured me that as long as I'm willing to testify against Doogie on other charges than the hit and run, then I'm good. And I will shout it from the rooftops if need be. She's just here to try and intimidate me. I pick up the bottle of water, scan it, and set it down in front of her with a little more force than necessary. "A dollar eighty-seven."

Nikki smirks. "Put your head in the sand, little girl. You'll see."

Gina walks out of the office then and looks straight at Nikki. "Get out."

"This is a place of business. Do you really want to treat customers that way?" Nikki asks, her voice all saccharine sweet.

"I want to treat you that way. Take your water, get the hell out of my store, and don't come back. Not for any reason. You're banned from here … permanently. And tell my husband not to bother coming home for dinner. Or coming home at all. You wanted him so bad, you can keep the cheating son of a bitch." And with that Gina turns and walks back into the office leaving every single person in the store standing there with their mouths hanging open.

It's not exactly how I wanted it to happen, but I'm suddenly no longer the biggest story in Bellehaven's gossip mill.

Hours later, I'm sitting in my car parked in front of my trailer. But I'm not ready to go in yet. Instead, I'm sitting there watching. Waiting. Waiting for Ford to get home. I know he won't have Felicity with him. She's with Mabel. He always walks over to get her once he gets home.

When he rolls up, I get out of my car. I'm leaning against the door when he climbs out of his. "Hey."

He looks puzzled. "Hey yourself. Something up?"

"Do you have a minute?"

He shoves his hands in his pocket, his shoulders hunching like he's expecting the worst. Hell, maybe it is the worst. I don't know. I don't have a clue what Ford wants. I'm not even sure what I want. But I know what I don't want—and that's to lose him. I can't be so afraid of it not working that I never even make the effort. Sometimes, you've just gotta shoot your shot.

"We can't just keep doing things the way we've been doing them," I say.

His expression is locked up, unreadable. But he nods. "I figured."

"No. You don't get it. I'm not saying I don't want to see you, Ford. I'm saying I don't want to see you without it meaning something … I can't be just your neighborhood fuckbuddy. I want more than that. I want to be part of your life and I want to be part of Felicity's life. Not a dirty little secret or a pastime after you put your kid to bed. So you need to figure out what you want, and if?—"

He takes two steps toward me and then his hands are in my hair, tugging my head back, and he's kissing me as if he's starved for me. And he's doing it where anybody and everybody can see us. I guess that's my answer.