Drake and Ashley: The Complete Story by Stevens Noelle & Kersey Christine

Author:Stevens, Noelle & Kersey, Christine [Stevens, Noelle]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Sapphire Creek Press
Published: 2016-11-02T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

ASHLEY

Joy suffuses me at Drake’s words. He says he’s grown to care about me. Maybe there is a future for us. The idea brings me all kinds of happiness, although I still don’t get what that has to do with him figuring out that he’s been hurtful to other women. I stay quiet as I wait for him to explain.

“This is hard for me,” he says.

I can see that, but I don’t speak, not wanting to influence what he says.

“You see,” he says, “The deeper I’ve grown to care for you, the more I’ve come to realize the capacity you have to hurt me.”

A small gasp escapes my lips. I would never hurt him on purpose, and the thought that he thinks I have the capacity to do so surprises me. “I would never hurt you,” I say in my defense.

His face reddens and he seems flustered. “That’s not what I meant.”

I can see that I misunderstood what he was saying, and I decide to keep my mouth shut and let him finish.

“What I meant was,” he says, “knowing that when you care about someone so much, then that person’s rejection can cause pain, well, it made me realize that I probably caused pain to Rachel.” He looks at his lap and shakes his head. “This probably doesn’t make any sense.”

It makes total sense. If I get what he’s saying, then I want to jump up and dance for joy, because he’s saying that he’s grown to care for me enough that if I reject him, he’ll be hurt. “Let me see if I understand,” I begin, and he looks up and meets my gaze. “You’ve barely discovered what it feels like to know someone can hurt you by rejecting you.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying.”

“Are you telling me you’ve never been hurt by a woman before?” When I think how many times I’ve been hurt by a man, the thought that he’s never been hurt seems unbelievable, especially knowing that he likes to date lots of women.

Embarrassment creeps onto his face. “Yes, that’s what I’m telling you.”

I nod, not sure what to say. “Okay.” After a pause, I say, “So you wanted to apologize to Rachel for hurting her?”

He nods. “That’s right.”

I think about the conversation I overheard, and realize that what he’s telling me now lines up with what I heard him saying to Rachel. Relief that it was truly innocent—and actually a demonstration of Drake’s growth—fills me with hope. “Okay.”

A look of uncertainty fills his eyes. “What do you mean, ‘Okay’?”

“I mean, I understand now why you were talking to Rachel.”

“Good.” A smile forms on his mouth. “Good.” He picks up his fork and knife and slices off a piece of steak.

I watch him put the meat in his mouth and wonder if the big conversation is over. If it is, it feels anti-climatic. Since he brought me all the way to his cabin, I guess I was expecting something more.

Pushing down my feeling of disappointment, I pick up my fork and stab my lettuce.

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