Page 18 of Downfall

I keep my mouth shut. It’s better if he thinks I’m still a manwhore. I’ve kept the facade going for long enough that I almost believe it myself sometimes. The lies come so easily now. And no, to answer his question, it probably isn’t normal, but is loving someone with your whole being ever normal? At least he gets some of that love back. Try wanting to be connected to someone in every way and not even being able to hear their voice.

“You fuck ‘em more than once, they cling to you like Saran Wrap, man,” I finally mutter, only because he expects me to say something like that. “Although it sounds like you’re the clingy little bitch in this relationship.”

Ash grits his teeth, irritation blooming across his face. “Do you have a point in being here?”

“Can’t a guy congratulate his best friend on getting hitched?”

“This is your idea of congratulating me?”

“I was going to take you out for a beer, but not with that attitude.”

He glances at his phone. “It’s ten a.m. Why aren’t you at work?”

“I have the day off.” I leave out the part where I have every day off for the foreseeable future. Getting fired by my own father wasn’t on my to-do list this morning, but the prick had other plans. I knew the second he texted me to come directly to his office at eight that it wasn’t going to be good, but I thought it would be another one of his performance evaluations—code for an hour of him berating me, telling me how much of a fuck-up I am, and that I’m disgracing the Astor name. Don’t get me wrong, that is what happened, but instead of his usual “do better” sign-off, it was “you’re done here.” This is on the heels of him kicking me out of his house. Not that I need the job or the house anymore, but he doesn’t know that. Still, it’s going to make my plans to bring him down that much harder.

I glance over at Ash, and he’s giving me that look like he can see into my brain. Since we were kids, he’s always been able to tell when something is off, which, let’s be honest, is often.

“So, beers at The Tap Room?” I ask, hoping to cut off whatever line of questioning is brewing in that head of his.

The irritation bubbles back up. Good, it worked. “You want me to go across town for a beer? I’m at work, Declan. Not all of us get to play hooky whenever we feel like it.”

I wince because he could not be further from the truth, but I know he’s just picking up what I’m putting down. The truth is, I’m in way over my head with this Skylar situation. I need his advice, but I’ve never been good at asking for help. Plus, there’s the issue that he has no idea what actually happened between us all those years ago. At least I assume she never told him because I still have all my limbs intact. Ashton Tyler can’t fight for shit, but something tells me he’d figure it out if he knew what I said to her that day. He knows something went down because we obviously stopped talking, but he’s never pushed either of us on it. I thought if we had a couple of drinks, it would soften the blow of the whole “I married our best friend who I haven’t spoken to in six years at your wedding reception” thing for the both of us.

“Damn, marriage has made you grumpy, dude,” I say, making my way to the door of his office.

“It’s not marriage. It’s you,” he counters.

I don’t know what I did to piss him off, but clearly I’m not wanted here.

Pulling open the door, I stop when I hear him sigh.

“Declan, wait.” He gets up from his desk and walks over to me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out that harsh. I guess…I just wish you could have come to the after-party so we could have celebrated at an appropriate time.”

I glance back, and he looks truly apologetic. That’s the thing about Ash. He never stays mad for long.

“I understand why you left,” he goes on. “I mean, I don’t totally get it, but that’s your deal.”

Well, I guess now is as good a time as any. “I was at the party,” I admit, watching as his forehead creases.

He blinks. “What?”

“I changed my mind and came back.”

“But I didn’t see you.”

“I was on the patio with Skylar.”

His eyes widen before narrowing. “Excuse me?”

“Listen, Ash. I’m going to tell you something, and I need you to remain calm.”

“What the fuck did you do, Declan?” On the outside, Ashton is as non-threatening as it gets. His appearance screams ‘sweet boy next door,’ like he’ll take you to the fair, knock over a bunch of milk bottles, and win you a stuffed chipmunk or some shit. For the most part, that’s who he is. But mess with someone he loves, and he transforms into another person entirely. A person who wouldn’t hesitate to ruin your life while you’re sleeping. He’s not a violent man. I’ve only seen him physically fight twice. Once was when Allie’s estranged father came back into town last year, and the other was when I confronted him at a party when we were teenagers. He got his ass handed to him both times, but right now he’s looking at me like he’s the bull and I’m a bright red flag.

“Did you know you can get married online now?” I ask. Nothing like jumping right into it. “What a time to be alive.” I flop down in the chair opposite Ashton’s desk.

He blinks a few times, slowly, letting the information sink in, and I see the exact moment it hits. His jaw sets as he lets the idea bounce around in his head before a skeptical grin spreads across his face. “You almost had me, Astor.” He wags his finger in the air a few times. “Nice job. Now get out of my office so I can actually get some work done.”

Letting out a deep chuckle, I stand, reaching out to grab his arm, pulling out of his office and down the hall. I don’t bother knocking as I rip open the door to Skylar’s office and shove him inside. “Tell him.”