“You seem… happy,” she stated as if it was the most shocking statement in the world.

My deep laughter filled my office.

“Why does that sound like the thought of me being happy is surprising to you?”

“Shit, I didn’t mean it like that. I just mean that you seem calmer, more at ease, and fuck, you aren’t here half as much as you have been.”

“I’ve got more important things to focus on now.”

“Like Eden?”

“Yes like Eden.”

“Is everything okay there?”

“I think so. She had a nightmare last night and seeing her like that scared me Ash, I just couldn’t wake her and then when she did she just shut down. Her nightmares as so embedded within her; it’s like peeling back the most delicate layers because one wrong move will completely destroy everything.”

“Have you two spoken?” Ashlyn asked.

“She opened up to me about everything yesterday.”

“That’s massive.”

“I know.”

Ashlyn jumped off the desk and moved to my office door then closed it. She leaned back on the wood and closed her eyes. Oh fuck. I knew that look. I knew exactly what was coming.

“Can I completely change the subject?” She didn’t give me a second to reply before she dropped the bombshell. “So I may have had sex.”

Why in the world she chose to have conversations like this with me never ceased to amaze me. I rubbed my hands over my face and sat back in my chair then put on my best friend hat. Fuck, this girl owed me big time.

“Lachlan is obviously still in town and he has been staying at my place and he kind of stayed in my bed.” She continued in a rush.

“So you are saying that his cock kind of fell into your pussy?”

“Well when you put it like that. What the fuck am I doing Ky?” She sat on the couch and dropped her face into her hands and her shoulders sank. I had watched the demise of Ashlyn at the hands of Lachlan, and it was something I never wanted to see again.

“Do you love him?”

She nodded.

“Well there is your answer. Fight for what you love. Nothing is worth it, if you don’t have to fight for it.”

Advice that I would soon have to live by.

••••

“We are going out tonight. Be ready in an hour,” I announced as I walked into the living room after showering and dressing in dark denim jeans and a black collared shirt.

I had arrived home from work to find Eden sitting at the dining room table engrossed in her own work and tapping away furiously at her laptop. Photos of locations were spread out over the glass table top and she apologized profusely for making a mess which in response I told her not to worry about it. I knew she had spent the day busily organizing the shoot, her emails that came through were regular and she was in complete business mode with any correspondence we had. It was pretty damn sexy.

But now she was in relaxation mode and was curled up on the couch with her Kindle and a distant look in her eyes.  She was so engrossed that she didn’t even hear me talking to her.

“Eden!” I said a little louder.

“Huh?!” she asked finally looking up from her Kindle.

“Good book?”

“Uh yes and you just interrupted an epic kissing scene.”

“Well I apologize to the characters for interrupting, but as I was saying, we are going out in an hour so you need to get ready.”

She furrowed her brow before looking back down at her Kindle.

Come on Eden, say it! One simple word, no. Reject me. You can do it.

“Yep, okay.”

Fuck!

Rising from the couch, she placed her Kindle in the side pocket and headed down the hall without another word. I stood leaning against the kitchen island scrolling through my phone when I heard the shower start. I looked outside at the torrential rain; it had been raining for the past two days. Winter had officially set in.

“Ky!” Her voice sounded from the hall and I whipped around to find her standing in the hall, her hair wet and hanging over her shoulders and her body covered only by a towel. I couldn’t control my eyes from running over every inch of her and taking in the curves that we on full display and enjoying the vision before me.

“Yeah?” I asked, my eyes finally meeting hers.

“What should I wear?”

“You look very good in that towel but I guess jeans and a sweater will be fine.”

She rushed back down the hall and I couldn’t help but laugh at her reaction. I was due to leave for Los Angeles again the next morning for meetings with Simon Davenport at the Beautify office and the thought of leaving wasn’t as exciting as usual because I would be leaving Eden here especially after her comment about not having anyone here.

I looked at the clock on the far wall of the dining room; it was close to seven and my stomach announced to the silent apartment that it was hungry.

“Eden, are you nearly done?”

“I’m ready.” She walked into the living room in skinny jeans, a tight white sweater, and brown boots then crossed the space until she stood before me looking like she had the world on her shoulders. She had something to say but was hesitating.

“What is it?”

“It’s nothing. I’m ready to go.”

“Eden, tell me what you are thinking about,” I demanded and crossed my arms over my chest. I could stand like this for hours. Frustration flew over her face and her gaze flashed with hesitation before she sighed deeply.

“I don’t know why you are doing this. You know I can’t say no so why do you even ask. Just tell me, don’t ask me.”

“Are you fucking serious?” I hissed. “Babe, last night you told me everything. It killed me hearing what you went through but you know what, it’s made me more determined. I am not going to tell you to do anything. I will continue to ask, and I will be sure to make you see that you can say no to me, that you can say no to anyone. Do you have any clue how dangerous what you do is? One wrong person Eden— you know what, I can’t even think about that. I’m not an asshole Eden, but I will do whatever it takes to make you see that you don’t have to fear every single person who comes into your life.”

For the first time, I witnessed her shift, and as she glared at me, I couldn’t help but smile. She stormed through the apartment toward the door and heaved it open.

She whipped around and glared at me. “Are we going out or not?”

I chuckled as I found my keys and wallet and followed her out into the hall.

“Is this our first fight sweetheart?” I wickedly grinned at her.

“No.”

“You just said no babe.”

“Don’t call me sweetheart, we aren’t that friendly.”

“But you let me call you babe.” I shot her a wink and watched in amusement as her lips ever so slightly curved.

Babe it was.

Thirty minutes later, after dealing with the constant downpour, I pulled up at Antonio’s and shut off the engine. Eden hadn’t said a word to me during the entire trip, instead choosing to play on her phone.

“You’re taking me to have pizza?” She asked as her eyes took in the bright lights beaming from inside of Antonio’s.

“No, I am taking you to have the best pizza you’ll ever have.”

I looked out the window at the craziness of rain that was beating down outside and then I looked back at Eden and her white sweater that fit like a second skin over her chest.

“You are going to have to make a serious run for it. Your sexy, tight white sweater plus rain equals a happy Ky but an embarrassed Eden.”

Realization flashed over her face as she took in the insistent rain and without a word she shot out of the car and flat-out ran until she was under the awnings and safely dry. I soon joined her and my eyes went straight to her top.

“Well that was no fun.” I winked at her and felt victory as she rolled her eyes.

Antonio’s singlehandedly had the best pizza in the world. The aroma of fresh garlic and tomato hit me the moment we walked into the authentic pizza parlor. It was like stepping into Italy. Dad had been bringing Josh and me here for as long as I could remember and my memories were filled with laughter, eating until I was almost sick, and Antonio’s famous laugh.