Free In Your Arms by Rebeca Ruiz Page A

chance. “Where is she from?”
                  “Obviously not New York, she doesn't have the accent everyone here does. I believe she said Chicago.”
                  “You don't even know where exactly she's from? Doesn't that sound a bit off?”
                  “What are you trying to do Braxton?”
                  “Another question.” I dodge his question. “Where is her family?”
                  “She told me she's not very close to them anymore, which is why she moved to New York.” He doesn't know that she's been disowned. My grandfather told me from day one, it's a big scandal in their world. Neighbors gossiped to me as well during the few days I stayed in their building, they weren't shy about it.
                  I realize now that I can't, and probably won't, get Charles to break things off with her. He's falling in love with her quickly, and nothing is going to deter him. Nothing except the person he's falling in love with. Ashton. She's going to break his heart, and I'll make sure of it.
     
                  I don't know why, but getting Ashton to break up any sort of relationship with Charles didn't feel too great, like I'd hoped. I felt sick about myself. I was hurting my best friend, and I had resorted to blackmail.
                  Ashton looked defeated when she ran out of the bakery. I had made a mistake, but there was no use in trying to fix it. She lied to me.
                  I finished typing up the last of my blog post and I pressed publish. It was about liars. Yes, I was calling her out without calling her out personally. I heard my flat door slam with force, and got up to see who had come in. As soon as I rounded the corner, I was pushed up against the wall.
                  “What the fuck did you do?” Charles yelled.
                  “Calm down, Charles.” I pushed him off.
                  Charles was fuming. I've never seen him this angry. For a moment, I was unsure he would ever forgive me.
                  “What did you say to Ashton?”
                  “I just asked her why she wasn't being honest.” That was putting it lightly.
                  He pushes me against the wall again, but just lets me hit it. He doesn't hold me up again. I take a step to the side.
                  “She did not just end the friendship with me because you asked her one question. What did you fucking do, Brax?” His demeanor was serious.
                  “My grandfather told me she's been disowned by her family, her grandmother is the only family who still talks to her. She didn't finish college, she dropped out this year. She's not twenty four, she's nineteen. Lastly, Ashton Pennington is related to Pennington Enterprise, her parents own it and she lost her trust fund. Doesn't it seem suspicious that she forgot to mention any of that, especially since you have a lot of money?”
                  “I don't care. We just met. She doesn't know about my past. I knew she was hiding stuff, everybody hides stuff! I was just waiting until she was ready to tell me.”
                  “Oh.”
                  “But now she wants nothing to do with me because of you. You've ruined everything, Braxton. I don't think I can forgive you for this.” I watched as he walked out of my apartment. I wasn't going to follow him because he needed time to cool off. I'll give him his space.
                  I have to fix this.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 13
    8 months before...
    Ashton Pennington
                  “Guess who?” I covered my boyfriends eyes.
                  “Miranda?” I roll my eyes. Tanner likes to push my buttons, he knows it's me, but pretends it's not. It's the