That was what would cure Ash of the hold Kallie still had on his heart.
Ash dumped himself back into bed and slept off the rest of his hangover. And when he returned back to the world of the living, it was time to get ready for the party. He showered and shaved. He combed his hair back with a bit of gel. He put on his best linen shirt with a pair of shorts that hung low on his hips. Showing off all the bits and pieces of himself women couldn't get enough of. He slipped into his flip-flops before he splashed some aftershave on, then he grinned. It was the best he had looked in days, and it was finally time.
Time for him to rise from the ashes and find himself another woman to bide his time with.
But once Ash got to the party, the idea of touching another woman made him feel strangely ill. Suddenly, seducing Sasha didn’t seem like a good idea. Suddenly, grinding against all of the bikini-clad beach babes didn’t seem appealing. His plan
changed in a heartbeat. He would be polite to the birthday girl, say his hellos, and then avoid her at all costs before she got the wrong idea. The thought of sleeping with another woman sounded good to him in theory, but the idea of putting it into action revealed a deep truth not even he could swallow down.
He wasn’t ready to move on yet.
The sense of betrayal he still felt ran deep in his bones, but it didn’t stop him from still wanting Kallie. He was fucking disgusted with himself. Ash was ashamed of still wanting a woman like that. Usually, he would be looking around for his companion for the night. Sasha Benson’s party was the social event of the season, and there were plenty of women there with their sights trained on him.
But suddenly, the idea of a hookup sounded lame to him. Pathetic to him. And he had indulged in enough pathetic attempts for one day.
Ash walked into Sasha’s parents’ mansion and he was promptly greeted with a drink. Women wiggled their fingers at him and tossed him winks, but he shrugged them all off. Everyone who was anyone was at this party, so there would be plenty of people to talk with who didn’t want his cock. Who didn’t want his money. Who didn’t want his touch.
“Ashly! Over here!”
That grating voice caught his ear as he turned around.
“Oh no. Don’t drink that swill. Here, I’ve got just the thing you need,” Sasha said.
She took his hand and led him over to the bartender. She reached behind the counter and popped the lid on one of the most expensive scotch brands on the market. She poured him a glass and handed it to him, her smile gleaming up at him.
“To the birthday girl,” Ash said.
“Ah, to me,” Sasha said as she raised her wineglass. “I’m so glad you could make it.”
They clinked glasses before Ash threw back his drink.
“Want another?” Sasha asked.
He handed his glass to her and scanned his eyes across the room. But he didn’t get very far before his eyes stopped. He should’ve known his friend would be here peddling his club to the rich elite, but he never would’ve dreamed she would have come.
Ash would’ve rather had a hole in his fucking head.
“Something wrong?” Sasha asked.
Her tinny voice ripped him from his thoughts and he took the glass again. Kallie was there. Of fucking course she was there. With Eris and Jeremy, who couldn't stop hanging off each other. He wasn’t sure if Kallie had seen him or not, but he wanted to keep out of sight if he could. The last thing he wanted was another run-in with her. The last thing he needed was to feel the need to approach her.
So he grabbed Sasha’s hand and pulled her into a corner.
“Oh! Well, well. A little eager there, aren’t we, Mr. Worthington?” Sasha asked.
He couldn't stand how she’d always called him that.
Ash was annoyed. It felt like his entire life had been infiltrated by this one woman. And now, there was nothing he could do to avoid her. She was everywhere. Inside of him and outside of him. He would ignore her. Her and her entourage. Despite the fact that Jeremy was his friend and despite the fact that he wanted to know how the club promotion was going.
Instead, he would focus on the birthday girl.
“Not eager,” Ash said. “How is the party going thus far?”
“Oh, you know. Drunks in the ocean, naked people in the hot tub. Most of the rooms upstairs are already full with nightly lovers,” Sasha said.
“I hope you pay your maid overtime,” he said with a grin.
“Always on nights like these.”