Free Loving A Romano by Sindee Lynn

“Heather just told me this morning you broke up with David. When did you actually dump his ass?”
    Ashley’s stomach turned. She reached for her drink. “This morning.”
    An arched eyebrow rose in question as that bit of information was absorbed. “Okay and you slept with Wade when?”
    It took two attempts before Ashley could get the words passed her dry throat.
    “Last night,” she whispered.
    “Mmm hmm. Y ou slept with Wade last night and you called and broke up with David this morning?”
    She pushed the fruit smoothie away from her. The words refused to form. All she could do was shake her head.
    “Okay so if you didn’t call David and break up with him that means he stopped by this morning and you did it then or,” Yvette paused pondering her next words. “Did you break up with him before you and Wade had sex as a way of celebrating you new found freedom?”
    Again Ashley shook her head no. A breath of time passed before shock registered on Yvette’s face once more. Her eyes grew large as she put it all together.
    “David was in the house when you and Wade were doing it?”
    Ashley nodded her head in misery before dropping it to the table. It sounded ten times worse when Yvette said it. It made her sound like a common ho. She’d had one man sleeping in her bed while she’d been down the hall doing another.
    “Whoa let’s hear it for the kid.”
    “Huh?” she asked raising her head.
    Yvette laughed. “Ashley you are probably the only person who didn’t seem to know how Wade felt about you. Or you had the biggest case of denial I have ever seen. I saw it the first time I met him and he was what back then? Fifteen? Sixteen at the most. It was all over him. The way he looked at you. I don’t think he was in it by himself.”
    A weariness like she’d never known before settled over her. All these years she’d kept her growing feelings for Wade hidden. She gave a healthy sigh and lifted her gaze to meet Yvette’s. “How long have you known?”
    “I’ve suspected for a while. I didn’t say anything because it was clear you wouldn't be very receptive of the conversation.”
    She was so tired of pretending. “What am I going to do?”
    Yvette took a long swallow of her drink and made a big production of wiping her mouth until Ashley couldn't take anymore.
    “Yvette?” she yelled.
    “Honey you will more than likely do what you’ve already done. You will fuck him again. And again and again.”
    Yvette made it sound so simple. The truth was it was anything but. When Wade was younger it had been easier to ignore him.
    “It just doesn’t seem right somehow.” She fought back tears as she recalled those dark days.
    “What’s not right about it, Ashley? Besides you’ve already slept with him once. The second time should be a lot easier.” Yvette laughed.
    Ashley rolled her eyes at her friend.
    “Look it took you forever to realize David was a total snore. Hell I say you earned a little fun.”
    “Yeah but this isn’t just some random guy I happened to run across in the street and decided I wanted to take to bed. He’s part of a family that’s like my own. A family that took me in and took care of me when I didn’t know where to turn or what to do after my parents died. What if I go for it and things don’t work out between us? What then? What will happen to my relationship with the Romanos? I could potentially lose another family?”
    “I know the Romanos were there for you when your folks passed. But don’t you think you’re using that as excuse? For years you have been living in denial about how deep your feelings for Wade truly run. After last night there’s no way you can deny it any longer. I think now you’re trying to find anything to try and convince yourself that you can’t have him”
    Was that what she was doing? Just making excuses? She shook her head. She had to think of something more than how good sex with Wade had been or how it had felt right to lie in his arms