When There Is Nothing Left But Love

“Aunt Sally, I’m not exactly in a position to talk to Ashton about this. In fact, things could get a lot worse if I do…” I replied.

“Damn it… It’s all my fault!” she exclaimed with a sigh.

I knew I should try and talk Ashton out of it, especially since I owed Marcus a favor, but things just wouldn’t be the same anymore if I did. The two of them had been rivals for many years, but it was nothing like this. Besides, I didn’t know what Marcus told him the other day that made him hell-bent on finishing him off.

The barbecue had begun by the time we got back to the main house. “Here, try some of this!” Ashton said as he handed me a plate of grilled chicken and vegetables.

“You grilled these yourself?” I asked with a smile.

He nodded. “Go on. Try it!”

I sat down by the side and gave it a try. It tasted really great and reminded me of the soup from earlier. “I wonder if Hannah is with John right now… Aunt Sally made quite a lot of food, so maybe we should bring them some…”

Cameron was a great cook, and having Sally around to help out made the soup even better.

Ashton nodded. “I’ll have Joseph deliver it tonight!”

“You aren’t the only one who is celebrating New Year’s Eve tonight, you know? Shouldn’t you let Joseph spend time with his wife and kids instead?”

suggesting that I deliver it

“Yes, please!”

leaned closer toward me and whispered, “Do I get a

gave him a kiss on

up with joy. “Yes, it will! You know, I thought you’d want me to bring it to Emery instead as you two seem really

you believe in there being another version of yourself

raised an eyebrow at me and waited for me to

with me. Hannah, on the other hand, is humble and stubborn like me. We’re practically like two peas in a pod, and I

self. I know how much it hurts to wait and to keep hanging in there

up at Ashton when I heard no response from him and saw him staring

“Ashton, I…”

I could finish. “I’m sorry! I won’t let

me quite a while to realize that he

it, Ashton. I wasn’t talking about you when

“Okay…” he mumbled softly.

us to appreciate the present… I let out a sigh

a grin when

were chatting nearby, and the three of them looked