Ashton: You’re welcome. I am trying to make you a believer and nothing is too much when it comes to you.

Sophie: It might be working.

Ashton: Good. I wanted to make those beautiful lips smile.

Sophie: Mission accomplished.

Ashton: I wish I was there to kiss them.

Sophie: Me too…tomorrow.

Ashton: Definitely.

Sophie was inspired to paint looking at all the flowers displayed around her apartment. She sat in front of her easel, deliriously happy. The memory of his touch still energized her, lingering upon her skin. She wanted to transfer her feelings on the blank canvas in front of her to represent how she felt.

Chapter

Twenty-Five

Sophie and Mel had arranged to meet the business consultant that Margaret had recommended early the next morning. The meeting went well. John Marshall, the consultant, seemed to be optimistic about their endeavor, especially knowing Mel had actual experience working in a bakery. He reviewed their business plan, making only minor adjustments. John even indicated he might have potential investors. Sophie and Mel took it as a sign that they were on the right path.

***

“It’s perfect!” Mel spun around in the building Sophie had found.

“There is a definite advantage to having a building that’s already set up with some of the necessary equipment. This will substantially help with the start-up costs, not to mention making the process that much easier.” Both Sophie and Mel fell in love with the place. It offered the perfect character and location they were looking for.

“A fresh coat of paint and some minor tweaking and this place will be ready to go,” Mel squeaked out in excitement.

The landlord agreed to their terms, allowing them to make the necessary renovations that would be required. Mel and Sophie were able to make the first payment with savings and the landlord agreed to give them a month to finalize further financing. John was incredibly helpful in the negotiations, finding terms that worked well for everyone. John was working out the final details with an investor and was confident that everything would firm up. Everything seemed to be falling into place.

When they left the building, Sophie decided she would head to the hospital to visit Margaret before visiting hours were over. Sophie called ahead, letting Margaret know she was heading in. She sounded wonderful on the phone and even proceeded to let Sophie know that she was no longer on a liquid diet. Sophie laughed and took the hint that Margaret was looking for something to eat other than hospital food. Before she left, Sophie sent a quick text to Ashton, letting him know she was heading in to visit his grandmother.

Sophie decided to get off the bus a couple of blocks away from the hospital to pick up Margaret’s favorite coffee and pastries. Sophie pulled out her phone again to see if Ashton had responded but was disappointed to discover there was still no response.

Walking into the coffee shop, her senses were assaulted with the very rich flavor of coffee. The smell reminded her of Margaret. It was always a favorite stop they made in their daily schedule. Sophie got in line behind an older couple who were trying to make a choice in what type of croissant to get with their coffee. Sophie found their playful banter endearing.

She looked around the café as she waited her turn, taking in the people that filled the seats when her eyes fell on Ashton on the other side of the room. He didn’t blend into the crowd because of his striking appearance. People’s attention was drawn to him, his presence was so magnetic and remarkable. The company he was keeping made her stomach feel like lead. Across from him in the booth was the one and only Lucinda. She couldn’t help the ache that made her insides twist. She watched Lucinda flip her hair flirtatiously and reach out toward Ashton’s arm. They looked happy in each other’s company.

The mocha colored walls felt like they were closing in on her; the painted coffee mugs that ran along the wall seemed to shift around her as if her world was suddenly tilting in the wrong direction. Everything felt wrong—even the smell of the air suddenly made her nauseous. Ashton stood up and Lucinda followed suit, straightening her very short skirt. She smiled before leaning in to kiss Ashton on the lips.

“Miss?” Someone tapped Sophie on the shoulder and she turned to see that it was her turn at the counter. The girl behind the register was staring at her impatiently and Sophie couldn’t bring herself to form words. She was trying to hold herself together, she felt so brittle.

“Sorry,” Sophie mumbled as she backed out of line. Her eyes found Ashton again but this time he was looking straight at her, a shocked expression on his face. She turned to leave as fast as she could. The air outside offered little relief when she pushed through the doors. She focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Sophie flagged down a cab that was passing.

Sophie didn’t turn around when she heard Ashton call her name. She didn’t respond when he touched her arm. She couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eyes. She could feel herself shatter on the ground beneath her.

“Sophie please…it’s not what it looked like.”

Sophie reached for the cab door. “That seems to be the going excuse when it comes to you and Lucinda.” Ashton reached for her hand and she pulled it away. “Don’t touch me!” She climbed into the car and tried to pull the door closed but Ashton held it open.

“Don’t leave like this,” he pleaded. “Don’t keep running away from me.”

“It was stupid of me to think that I could just forget the past. I’m done being hurt by you,” Sophie spat out angrily. “This thing with you and Lucinda is clearly not over if you keep finding your way back to each other. I feel like a fucking yo-yo with you. I’m up one minute and down the next, but guess what? You pushed me too far this time and I finally snapped.

“Congratulations, Ashton, you finally broke me. I don’t want to be with you. I can’t be with someone that secretly meets up with their ex, who hates me. How do you think that looks? Seeing you there together, so friendly with each other, both with stupid smiles on your faces? Then the final straw was that lovely fucking kiss. What the fuck was that? Actually, I don’t even want to hear you try and explain yourself out of this. I don’t believe any of the shit that comes out of your mouth. Your word means nothing to me because I can’t trust you. You’re not the person I thought you were.” Sophie tried to swing the door shut behind her but Ashton held it open.

“You just swore,” Ashton said in disbelief.

“That’s what you got from all of that?”

“No, but…”

“Fuck you!” Sophie pulled the door so hard it slammed closed. She pushed the lock down before Ashton pulled on the handle.

She told the driver to take her to the hospital, completely ignoring Ashton.

“Are you okay, miss? That was quite the argument.” The driver kept glancing at her through the rearview mirror as they drove the short distance to the hospital. It was barely long enough to justify getting a cab but she had to get distance between her and Ashton as soon as she could.

“Yes. Sorry. Just give me a second to pull myself together.” Sophie took a deep breath.

“Take all the time you need.” The middle aged man seemed nervous about her emotional state. When she finally got her tears to stop falling she reached for her purse. “It’s on me, miss, no need to pay. Just feel better.”