A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 14: CHAPTER FOURTEEN

ASHLEY

I woke up to the dull throb of a headache pressing against my temples, my body sinking into the mattress like dead weight. My limbs felt heavy and for a moment, I couldn’t quite place where I was. The scent of vanilla and faint traces of my perfume clung to the sheets—familiar, safe. My bed. My apartment.

I swallowed, my throat dry, my mind sluggish as I tried to piece together how I got here. Then it hit me.

Kyle.

A rush of heat crept up my neck as the memories surfaced—his strong arms carrying me, the steady warmth of his chest against mine, the scent of his cologne mixing with the night air. My stomach twisted at the thought. Embarrassment curled in my stomach

God, had I really let that happen?

I pushed myself up, groaning as my body protested. Every part of me felt drained, not just physically but emotionally. Last night had taken more out of me than I wanted to admit.

Flashes of it flickered through my mind like a broken reel—hands gripping my waist, unwanted. The sharp spike of fear, the sick feeling in my gut. And then Kyle, his face dark with anger, his fists colliding with flesh. The raw fury in his eyes. 

The tension in the car afterward, thick enough to suffocate me.

I shook my head, forcing the thoughts away.

Kyle didn’t care. Not anymore.

I repeated the thought in my head like a mantra, trying to make myself believe it.

I ran a hand through my hair, as if that could somehow smooth over the mess of emotions swirling inside me. Just as I swung my legs over the side of the bed, something on the nightstand caught my eye. A small slip of paper, neatly folded.

Frowning, I reached for it, my fingers tracing over the edges before unfolding it.

"Remember to take the herbal tea"

Kyle’s handwriting.

A faint smile ghosted across my lips, unbidden and fleeting. He used to do this—little things that didn’t seem like much but always meant more than I let on. Anytime I drank too much, he would make sure I had herbal tea waiting for me in the morning, knowing I’d refuse to take care of myself otherwise.

It was an old habit, a remnant of a time when things between us weren’t so tangled in hurt and distance. A time when I didn’t feel the need to question his intentions or build walls around my heart.

For a moment, the familiarity of it wrapped around me like a warm blanket, softening the dull ache inside my chest.

But just as quickly, I shook my head, forcing the feeling away.

It didn’t mean anything. Not anymore.

I folded the note carefully, pressing it back onto the nightstand as if setting it down could also put these emotions to rest. 

I made my way to the kitchen. Everything was exactly as I had left it—except for the tea canister sitting on the counter, next to a clean mug.

Kyle. Again.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and busied myself with boiling water, measuring out the dried leaves with practiced ease. Once the tea steeped,I poured the tea into my favorite mug, inhaling deeply as the steam rose. The warmth of it was soothing, the earthy scent calming something inside me. I took a careful sip, feeling the liquid slide down my throat, carrying away the remnants of the headache still lingering from the night before.

I felt better. Not much, but enough to take the edge off.

I glanced over at the small bowl where Mochi always waited for breakfast. I moved to fill her dish, watching as she eagerly dug in. 

But I wasn’t sure if I could find peace in that anymore.

After I finished, I set the empty mug down and made my way to the bathroom, the steam from the shower already starting to fog up the mirror. The hot water was like a physical relief—like it could wash away everything from last night, all the confusion and conflict. I let it pour over me, feeling it chase the tension from my muscles, each drop a small moment of release.

But no matter how much I scrubbed, I couldn’t seem to rid myself of the conflicting emotions twisting inside me.

Kyle had stepped in when I needed him most. He had protected me. He had carried me home.

But that didn’t mean he still cared. That meant nothing.

And I couldn’t let myself believe, even for a second, that he did.

So,I closed my eyes under the steam, trying to forget everything that had happened. Trying to forget him.

Shit, shit, shit.

My breath caught in my throat as my mind spun in circles, memories and emotions colliding. I flung my eyes open and immediately stepped out of the shower, my skin slick with water. I didn’t have time to stand there and let myself drown in my thoughts. No, there were more important things. I needed to move. I needed to clear my head.

Violet.

I hadn’t heard from her since yesterday. She wasn’t supposed to go to the hospital today. But the pit in my stomach twisted as I realized I hadn’t checked on her.

What kind of friend was I, letting her slip through the cracks while I got lost in my own mess?

I quickly grabbed my phone from the counter, dialing her number without thinking twice. The ringing  and when she didn’t pick up, a small knot of worry tightened in my chest. I tried again, this time pressing the phone to my ear harder, like I could will her to answer.

But it wasn’t Violet’s voice that greeted me.

“Hello.”

The voice was rough and masculine. It stopped me in my tracks for a second, and I recognized it immediately.

Ryan.

I was caught off guard. I hadn’t expected him to pick up. Maybe I should have, considering he was always with Violet, but still, his voice on the other end sent a jolt through me.

“Hi, Ryan! How are you? I need to speak with Violet,” I said.

“That’s actually why I picked up,” he replied, his voice sounding a bit distant, like he was distracted. “Her condition got worse this morning. We’re in the hospital now.”

My heart sank. It dropped straight through my stomach, like a rock. I felt a sharp pang of guilt. “Shit,” I muttered, panic threading its way into my chest. I had been so wrapped up in my own mess that I hadn’t even thought to check on her. I should have. I should’ve known she needed me.

“I’m on my way,” I said quickly, hanging up before he could say anything else. I hurriedly dressed up and rushed out of the apartment, hardly able to think straight.

Fifteen minutes later, I was standing in the sterile, cold hospital lobby, my heart hammering in my chest.

I found her room easily enough, and when I stepped inside, I saw her lying there, pale but breathing steadily. Her eyes were closed, and her chest rose and fell in slow, even intervals. Relief washed over me like a wave, and I exhaled for the first time since I’d received Ryan’s call.

She looked peaceful, despite everything. I pulled a chair next to her bed and sat down quietly, unsure of what to do, or even what to say. The feeling of guilt that had gnawed at me earlier didn’t seem to go away. 

I wasn’t the kind of person who let my friends down. But it happened. And now, I am here, trying to make up for my own shortcomings.

I waited for an hour—until the nurses came in to check on her and made sure she was stable. It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that I could bring myself to leave. I kissed Violet’s forehead gently, whispering a quiet promise to her that I would be back soon.

Exiting the room, I felt a bit lighter, knowing she was okay. But my nerves were still frayed. I had to get out of suffocating air of the hospital for a while. I needed space to breathe.

I walked down the hallway, making my way toward the main entrance, but just as I passed the elevators, I froze.

There, just outside the glass doors, I saw a familiar figure.

Kyle.

Oh fucking hell