Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Ashlyn
It’s Saturday night, and Ben and I have a date planned.
I’m heading to his place for dinner, then we’re going into River Falls for a drink.
It’s our first official date, and I’m excited to spend more time with him.
Everything feels so easy and like it’s meant to be when we’re together, and I’m hoping tonight will be the same.
Despite my excitement, I’m a little nervous as I pull into Ben’s driveway.
Turning off the engine, I take a deep breath, grab my purse from the passenger seat, and get out of the car.
My jacket is wrapped tightly around me as I glance down at my skinny leather pants and black heeled pumps, hoping I’m dressed appropriately.
I wasn’t sure how formal the bar would be later, so I opted for pants instead of a dress.
My hair is curled, flowing in waves down my back, and my makeup is minimal, with just a touch of lip gloss.
I’m climbing the porch steps when the door swings open.
“Hey, Ash. You look beautiful,” Ben says, reaching for my hand and pulling me inside.
“Hi. Sorry I’m late,” I say. I’d said I’d be there by six, but it’s almost six-thirty.
“You’re always late,” he teases, and I feel my cheeks flush. I’m often late for work too; it’s one of my worst habits, but I didn’t think he’d noticed. He leans down and brushes a kiss on my cheek. “You’re worth waiting for. Come in.”
I slip off my jacket, and he takes it from me as he leads me through the entryway, past the living room, and into the spacious open-plan kitchen. The house is beautiful, and the décor is stunning.
“Take a seat,” he says, gesturing to the breakfast bar and hanging my jacket over the back of one of the chairs. “Do you want a drink?”
I place my purse on the counter and sit on one of the high stools. “I’ll take a soda, if you have one.”
“Sure. I’ve got wine if you’d prefer.”
“A soda’s fine.” He turns to the fridge, pulling out two cans and handing me one.
“Dinner smells amazing,” I say, glancing at the large pan on the stove behind him. “Is it one of the dishes you made during the cooking classes?”
He nods. “Yep! I hope you like meatballs and you’re hungry. I think I made way too much.”
“I do, and I definitely am. I can’t wait to try it,” I say with a smile before looking around the room. “Your house is amazing.”
“Thanks. I can’t take credit for it. It looked like this when I moved in. The fact that I didn’t have to do any home improvements was one of the things that drew me to it.”
He chuckles as he turns to the stove, stirring the meatballs.
I can’t help but stare at him as he stands with his back to me.
He’s wearing light blue ripped jeans and a black T-shirt that stretches tightly across his muscular back.
My gaze drops to his perfectly sculpted ass, and I bite my lip. He’s so damn attractive.
When he turns around, I quickly look away, not wanting him to catch me staring. By the time I glance back up, he’s plating the food. I think I’ve gotten away with it.
He sits next to me at the counter, and we chat while we eat. As the conversation flows effortlessly, I find myself relaxing. Once we’re finished, I offer to help with the clean-up, but he insists on doing it himself. When he’s done, he takes my hand and leads me into the living room.
“Have a seat,” he says, gesturing toward one of the two plush cream sofas that fill the space. A beautiful stone fireplace sits opposite us, and a large window faces the street. The drapes are drawn, and the light from a lamp in the corner gives the room a cozy atmosphere, despite its size.
“Do you want that wine now?” he asks, smiling.
“Are you having one?” He nods. “Okay then, but make it small as I’m driving.”
He smiles and heads back into the kitchen.
I take a moment to look around, but my brow furrows when I notice there are no photos in the room.
It’s a stark contrast to my apartment, where every surface is filled with family pictures.
When Ben returns, he sits next to me, handing me a glass of red wine.
“Thanks,” I say, taking a sip. “Are you free next weekend? It’s Paisley and Sophie’s bachelorette party. We’re going to a spa during the day, then meeting up with my brothers in Eden afterward. Want to join us?”
I bite my lip, nervous to ask him and even more nervous about him meeting my family.
I haven’t told anyone other than Ivy that Ben and I are dating.
I wanted to see how things went first, but the bachelorette party would be the perfect opportunity for him to meet everyone.
At least, I’m hoping that being in Eden will make my brothers less likely to cause a scene.
“Erm–”
“Whose car is that in the driveway?” a female voice calls from the entryway, cutting Ben off.
I flinch as the front door slams shut, and a knot of unease tightens in my stomach. I glance at Ben, whose eyes are wide with surprise. I try to pull my hand from his, but he holds on, standing up and pulling me to my feet with him.
“Laney, I didn’t expect you home tonight,” Ben says as a stunning blonde woman steps into the living room. Her gaze drops to our hands, and she scowls.
“I can see that.”
She eyes me up and down, and I attempt once more to pull my hand from Ben’s, but he doesn’t let go.
“Laney, this is Ashlyn Brookes. Ash, this is Laney… my daughter.”
My eyes widen in shock, and I look up at Ben. Before I can say anything, Laney lets out a sharp, humorless laugh.
“I can tell from the look on your face that my dad didn’t mention me.”
She sets her purse on the side table and crosses her arms.
“Umm, no, he didn’t, but it’s nice to meet you.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
“Laney! Don’t be rude,” Ben snaps, and my cheeks flush with heat.
Why the hell didn’t he tell me he had a daughter? He’s had plenty of chances.
“I’m sorry, Ashlyn. The last thing I want is to be rude,” Laney says with heavy sarcasm, and I’ve never felt more uncomfortable. “I’m guessing if he didn’t tell you about me, he also hasn’t told you that he’s married.”
The air rushes from my lungs, and a cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck.
“Laney!” Ben yells. “That’s enough! Go to your room.”
“I’m eighteen, Dad! You can’t send me to my room anymore.”
She grabs her bag and walks toward the kitchen. I watch in disbelief as she leaves before pulling my hand away from Ben’s.
“You’re married?” I whisper, taking a step back from him. He moves toward me, but I hold up my hand, and he stops.
“Ash–”
“Are you married?” I demand, my voice rising.
He sighs and closes his eyes. His silence speaks volumes, and I feel like I might throw up.
I shake my head, barely able to look at him. “God, I’m an idiot.”
I slip past him and grab my purse from where I left it in the entryway. My jacket is in the kitchen, but I can’t bring myself to go back in there and face his daughter again.
“Ash. Wait, please.” His voice is filled with pain, and I hesitate for a moment. He’s standing right behind me, but I can’t make myself turn around and look at him.
“Is what your daughter said true? Are you married?” I ask again, my voice barely a whisper.
“Yes, but please let me explain–”
His desperation is clear, but I can’t be the other woman. I won’t do that to his wife, to Laney, or to myself. We all deserve better than this.
“There’s nothing to explain. Goodbye, Ben.”
I struggle to hold back the tears as I throw open the front door and hurry down the porch steps, fumbling through my purse for my keys.
“Ash, please,” Ben calls after me, but I don’t respond. There’s nothing left to say. I don’t know how I’m going to face him at work next week, but I can’t think about that now. I just need to get out of here.
I’m in the car, reversing off the driveway when I finally glance back at him. He looks as devastated as I feel, but I can’t let him explain. It’ll just be more lies. I’ve worked with him for almost six months, and he never once mentioned having a daughter, let alone a wife.
My phone rings through the car’s hands-free system, and I immediately end the call when I see Ben’s name on the display. He calls again, but I send it straight to voicemail. He can call as many times as he wants; I’m not going to talk to him.
I somehow make it back to Hope Creek, though I have no memory of the drive. Before I know it, I’m pulling onto Ivy’s driveway. I turn off the engine, drop my head onto the steering wheel, and let out a long breath.
We might only have been official with each other for a week, but we’ve spent hours together since that impromptu cooking class.
When he sought me out in my classroom at the beginning of the week and said his life was complicated, I should have pushed for him to tell me exactly what he meant.
Instead, I told him I didn’t need to know, effectively giving him the green light to string both me and his wife along, not to mention his daughter.
I feel like such a fool. I’ve fallen hard for him, but beyond that, I’m just… hurt.
A knock on my window makes me jump. I look up and see Ivy standing there, her arms wrapped around herself, moving from foot to foot in the cold. She’s only wearing yoga pants and a tank top, clearly not prepared for the chill.
“What are you doing?” she shouts through the glass. “I saw you pull up, but then you didn’t get out of the car.”
I let out a sigh when I realize I’ve been sitting here longer than I thought. I unclip my seatbelt and grab my purse from the passenger seat. Opening the car door, I climb out.
“Ben’s married.”
“What? No way!”
I nod, my throat tight. “And he has a daughter.”
Her eyes widen. “Were they both there?”
“Just his daughter. She was the one who told me.” My voice cracks. “It was awful, Ivy. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”
“I’m so sorry, Ash.”
“You can say I told you so. I deserve it.”
She frowns. “I would never say that. You don’t deserve any of this.”
She pulls me into a hug, and I let her, clinging to her warmth. After a moment, I loosen my grip and step back.
“Can I stay here? I don’t want to go home.”
“Of course.”
She takes my hand and leads me inside. Once in the living room, I collapse onto the sofa as she shuts off the reality show she was watching and sits beside me.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
I let out a slow breath and shrug. “What’s there to say? I’m an idiot.”
“Hey.” She reaches for my hand. “You are not an idiot. This is on him.”
“I’ve worked with him for months, Ivy. Spent hours talking to him. I had no idea he had a wife. Or a daughter.”
“Because he didn’t tell you–”
She’s cut off by my phone ringing in my purse. I groan. “I bet that’s him again.”
“Are you going to talk to him?” she asks gently.
“No,” I say quickly. “At least not tonight. I’ll have to speak to him at some point, but I can’t face him yet.”
She sighs. “I guess you know now what he meant when he said his life was complicated. What an asshole.”
I let out a long exhale. “You were right, Ivy. I should have listened to you.”
“Ash," she says softly, her voice laced with sadness. “I’ve never hoped I was wrong about something more. I know you were hoping things would work out.”
I take a deep breath and force a smile. “Can we just get drunk and forget about him?”
Ivy hesitates. “It’s okay to not be okay. You don’t have to put on a brave face with me.”
“I know,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “But if we keep talking about it, I’m going to cry, and he’s not worthy of my tears.
She studies me for a beat, before squeezing my hand gently. “I’ll get the wine.”
As she heads into the kitchen, I sink back into the cushions and let my eyes close. I’ve dated before. Nothing serious; I’ve never wanted more. Not until Ben. The fact that he’s older, that he’s my boss… none of that mattered to me.
Being married, though... that matters, and it’s a line I would never cross.