Page 122 of Forgotten Prejudice

“See what I mean?” Daniel patted Ashton’s shoulder. “If this one gives you any trouble, please don’t hesitate to come straight to me.”

“Don’t worry, Soren is the best.”

Oh, am I now?

I narrowed my eyes at Ashton, who gave me a pissed look in return before facing Daniel and telling him goodbye. Before leaving, Daniel mentioned something about me stopping in his office later, but who cared? It was Sunday, and I’d only come in here because of Ashton.

“Suddenly, I’m the best?” I asked once we were alone while aligning the markers and pens we used with the now organized files.

Ash glanced at my work, probably impressed, then sat back down with his arms crossed over his chest. “Come on, Soren. I know you have something to say, so just say it.”

Clearly, he was still in a sour mood.

“Fine,” I sighed and pushed back from the table so I’d have a place to cross my legs. “The other night, I went to a restaurant, and I ran into Kai.”

Ash looked almost bored as he raised one brow my way. “And?”

“And he wasn’t alone.”

Bracing myself for his reaction, I swallowed hard. But Ashton didn’t react to the news and instead kept the same unfazed expression.

“I know he wasn’t alone,” he said, ready to go back to reading when I stopped him.

“So he wasn’t lying? You truly are in an open relationship?” A muscle in my jaw twitched with this ridiculous idea.

Dropping his head, he snorted. “You’re so full of shit. You know that?” he snapped, looking up to meet my confused eyes.

“Excuse you?”

Anger took over his features. “Just admit that you came here today, dying to tell me the big news to get my reaction.” He leaned back in his chair while shaking his head. “What did you hope would happen? That I’d cry? That I’d thank you for telling me the truth?” He looked furious. “Maybe you hoped I’d jump right back into your arms. Was that it?”

Suddenly, I felt like an idiot for almost taking a punch for him.

“Do you honestly think so little of me that you’d believe I had some sort of a hidden agenda?” I hissed, anger flowing through my blood over his accusations. “I wanted to make sure you knew about it because it was the right thing to do.”

Ashton ground his jaw. “Fine. Whatever.” He looked away. “Let’s just forget it.”

“Actually, no.” I crossed my arms. “I would much rather like to know more about this arrangement you two have.”

“It’s none of your business,” he said.

“What on earth were you thinking, Ashton? An open relationship? Really?” Disgust oozed through my words. “You’re fine with him screwing whatever he wants before coming back home to you?”

His jaw dropped, and his cheeks flushed red. “I-It’s none of your business!”

“Of course it is. He’s putting you at risk for STDs.” I raised my voice, but so did he.

“That’s an insulting stereotype, and besides—” He leaned closer. “—we’re being safe. Not that it’s any of your damn business,” he hissed through gritted teeth, his face red with rage and embarrassment.

I highly doubted they were actually being safe, but that was beyond my point.

“Why are you living this way? Don’t you have any self-respect?”

“Shut up!” he shouted, jumping to his feet.

Shocked by his reaction, I looked around to make sure we didn’t catch Daniel’s attention.

“Y-You have no right to judge me.” His voice shivered as he swallowed back a sob. “You have absolutely no right to judge me, Soren, when you’re the reason I’m like this.” He took a deep breath, his whole body shaking. “It’s because you broke my fucking heart that I can’t allow myself to fully be with him.”