Chapter 18 Ashlyn

My talk with Shea had really hit home—in more ways than one. Carrying the weight of Shea's secrets, I didn't want to add any more to my own. And seeing how messy life gets when you add romantic drama to the mix, I just didn't want any of it.

I woke up the next morning with my mind set: I was finally ready to let go of Niko, and I was going to end my relationship with Jackson. And once the decision was made, I immediately felt so much lighter, and so much more confident, because I finally realized that I didn't need someone else to make me feel whole.

I threw on my high-heeled boots and kept my hair loose, the wild curls bouncing with extra life. To add the final touch of closure, I slapped on my dark lipstick. I knew I looked like I was ready for a night out, despite the school uniform, but I was feeling particularly bold, and I didn't give two shits what anyone else thought.

Once ready, I walked around my room and collected the small mementos that I'd kept from Niko—a keychain from Mack's, a small stack of books, and two hoodies that I'd borrowed from him, which I may or may not have spent a few nights sniffling as I fell asleep—done with that. I left my room with my hands full and my heart cleansed.

I went straight to the library before class. I hadn't been to our spot for so long, but I didn't even hitch when I stepped through the front door. He could gather his things the next time he came here—and I was positive he'd return.

Hopefully, he wasn't there now. Then again, it didn't really matter anymore.

Even so, I was still grateful that the small space was empty when I arrived. Everything was the same, even after all the time that had passed. Nothing had moved or changed.

I placed his belongings on the empty, dusty chair, and when I let it all go, a weight lifted off my shoulders. I was officially done with my first relationship.

I clapped my hands clean and spun around with a bounce to my twirl—only to find Niko standing behind me with a deer-caught-in-the-headlights look.

His expression changed to confusion and then to grief as he caught sight of his things. "So, that's where my two favorite hoodies went."

"Thought you might want them back." I shrugged and gave him a haughty smirk, for the first time not getting a flutter in my stomach in his presence. The spell he'd had over me was broken, and damn, that felt good. "Well, gotta get to class. See ya ‘round."

I moved to walk past him, but he gently took hold of my wrist. "Wait, Ash—"

My phoenix flared to life at the uninvited physical contact, and I yanked my arm out of his hold. "Don't. Take your shit and move on. I am."

Without a look back, I sashayed my way out of our secret spot for the last time, each step escalating the feeling of power that sizzled inside my chest. One down, one to go.

Jackson would be in the Defense Room, and though my own class was about to start, I needed to get this done before anything else.

As I strode through the halls, the click of my heels against the polished metal floor had every head turning in my direction, and the dark lipstick held them there. I couldn't help but smirk smugly as I ignored every single one of them. I was a force to be reckoned with, and no one would ever convince me otherwise again.

When I entered the Defense room, I looked around until I spotted Jackson by the target area. He had on a tight black t-shirt that accented his biceps, and his hair was pulled back in a thin black headband. He looked mouth-wateringly hot, but not even his bad-boy appeal could dampen the fire of my determination.

A few of Jackson's hound buddies saw me cutting across the room—thankfully, none who had been there that night—and they howled and whistled in appreciation. Their cat-calling spurred Jackson to turn around before I got to him.

"Well, damn! You are a snack, a meal, and dessert." He grabbed my hips and pulled me into his chest, but I pushed against his pecs to keep space between us.

"Can we go somewhere private for a sec?" Even with all my boss-bitch energy, I didn't exactly want to dump him in front of his friends.

"Private, huh?" he purred before biting his lip. Clearly, he misread my tone and took my words as a come-on.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed his upper arm, dragging him to the sim room where I knew we wouldn't be othered.

As soon as we entered the space, he began to take off his shirt. "I knew you were kinky, but this is next level."

"Um." I paused, momentarily distracted by his lickable washboard abs—and the memory of how they tasted.

I shook my head and forced my gaze to focus on his face. "No, that's not what we're doing."

"Oh yeah? Then what are we doing?" he asked in a deep, sensual tone, sauntering toward me.

"God, it's a good thing you're hot," I said with a sigh. "I'm breaking up with you."

He stared at me with confusion for a few seconds, then he frowned as it finally sunk in. "Wait, seriously?"

I folded my arms around my ribcage. I'd never actually dumped someone before, so I didn't really know the words to use. I didn't exactly want to hurt his feelings.

"Yeah. We're just too different, and I need to be single for a while," I said, deciding to just be honest. No cliches, just the truth.

His brow puckered, giving him a distinctly sad, puppy-dog look. "But what about the other night?"

"That was…insane—and amazing," I confessed. "But it was also just way too much for me. I get that you're into that sorta thing, but it's just not for me. I'm more of a one-on-one type of girl, and right now, I'm a solo type of girl."

"That's hot," he said, nodding his head in appreciation.

I shook my head. "That's so not what I meant."

He shrugged, his features returning to his default sultry smugness. "I get it. But you'll be back. Once you go were, nothing else compares."

I barked a laugh. I couldn't help it, this guy was just too much. Apparently, nothing I could say or do would wound Jackson's ego.

"Until then, have fun for me." I gave him a pat on the shoulder before brushing past him and marching out of the sim room and toward the back door of the defense room.

Stepping out onto the lawn, I was electric with pride. I pulled out my phone and opened my music app to the new playlist I created full of songs by Sia, Demi, and Ava Max. As I pulled on my headphones and clicked Random , I felt like I was on top of the world.

With one last look at my phone before I put it in my pocket, I could only smirk at the title. It ran across my screen, giving me goosebumps of self-confidence.

#GirlBoss