A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 16: CHAPTER SIXTEEN

KYLE

I slammed the front door behind me, the sound echoing through the empty house. 

This place—this cold, sterile, soulless shell—was where I’d been living for the past two years, ever since Ashley and I parted ways. I couldn’t bring myself to stay in the house we’d once shared. Not after everything. Not when every room seemed to echo her absence, every inch of the place a painful reminder of the life we’d built and then lost.

So, the penthouse became my refuge. Or maybe it was my prison. I couldn’t decide.

The loneliness always crept in the moment I walked through that door. No matter how many nights I’d spent here, how many hours I’d worked until my body could barely move, it was never enough to drown out the silence. I should’ve grown used to it by now. Hell, maybe I had. But it still gnawed at me.

I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it over the arm of the couch before heading for the bar. It was the only thing that seemed to make any sense these days..

I grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the shelf and poured myself a generous amount, watching the amber liquid swirl around in the glass. With a deep breath, I tipped it back, letting the burn wash over my throat. And then, let my brain wander to the past

"Come on, dance with me," Ashley teased, her laughter filling the room as she caught sight of my grimace.

"Just once," she promised, her eyes sparkling with that mischievous glint I couldn’t resist. "I swear, you won’t combust into flames."

“Debatable.” I rolled my eyes, but despite myself, I reached for her outstretched hand. I hated looking foolish, but there had never been a time I could deny her anything.

It was our four-month wedding anniversary, and instead of the usual dinner in a fancy restaurant, we’d decided to celebrate at home. Just the two of us. It felt right that way, even though part of me wanted more—something grander. Still, she was always content with the small moments, and that’s what made her so damn captivating.

A gentle breeze drifted through the open windows, carrying the warm scent of summer with it. From the corner, an old record player spun a slow, soulful tune. A woman’s voice—rich, haunting—crooned through the speakers, weaving its way around us.

Ashley grinned and tugged me toward the center of the living room, her movements fluid and light. "Don’t worry. It isn’t that hard," she assured me, placing my hands on her hips. "Just hold me like this..."

I did as she said, feeling the soft, familiar curve of her body against mine. Her cheek pressed against my chest, the warmth of her breath catching as I brushed my hand gently over the delicate fabric of her dress.

"Now, just sway with me," she whispered.

I tucked my chin against the top of her head, inhaling the subtle scent of her hair, and closed my eyes. The world outside the room faded, leaving only the music, the soft rhythm of our bodies moving together, and the steady thrum of my heart..

“My mom used to play this song whenever I did something wrong,” Ashley murmured. “I heard it a lot."

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Oh, really?” I grinned, teasing her further. “Do tell. I’m sure you’ve got some wild stories from your rebellious youth.”

Ashley laughed. “You have no idea.Well, I was about eight or nine,” she started, her tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “and I decided I was tired of my mom’s rules. You know, the usual stuff—no dessert before dinner, no staying up late, no sneaking candy.” She paused. “So, one day, when my mom was out running errands, I figured I’d have a little fun.”

I leaned in, intrigued

“I’d seen my mom put all her baking ingredients in the pantry earlier that morning, so I decided to make my own cookies. The thing is, I didn’t quite understand the difference between sugar and salt at the time.”

I blinked, processing what she was saying. “Wait, so you baked cookies… with salt instead of sugar?”

Her grin widened, her eyes dancing with the humor of her own memory. “Oh yeah. I didn’t stop there, though. I went big. I used a lot of salt. Like, a ridiculous amount. I thought it would make them extra sweet, you know? And I might’ve gotten distracted watching TV because I definitely forgot to check the recipe more than once.”

I could already feel the secondhand embarrassment creeping up my spine. “You’re telling me you baked a whole batch of cookies with nothing but salt?”

Ashley shrugged.  “Hey, I thought I was being a culinary genius. And, of course, I had to taste test them. So I popped one in my mouth, and it was like... like I had just eaten a spoonful of ocean water. Salty, disgusting ocean water. But instead of admitting defeat, I decided I would just fix it. So I grabbed the frosting from the fridge and piled it on top. But... the frosting? Totally expired. Like, severely expired. It was this weird gray color. It tasted like old rubber.”

I couldn’t help it. I burst into laughter, clutching my stomach as I imagined her little self, determined to salvage what she thought were gourmet cookies.

Ashley rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “So, after all that, I still had to present them to my mom. I put them in a nice little tin, acting like they were a masterpiece, and when she came home, I couldn’t wait to show her.”

“Oh, no. What happened?”

Ashley shrugged again.  “I told her I made cookies all by myself. I was so proud. And she, being the sweet and oblivious mom she is, took one bite. Her face froze, then she slowly chewed... and then she smiled. Smiled, Kyle! Like they were the best cookies she’d ever had.”

I was about to reply but my phone buzzed, cutting through the calm like a cold gust of wind. up.

“What did I say about tonight?” Ashley’s voice broke through my thoughts, the teasing edge in her tone matching the glint in her eyes.

I shot her a sheepish grin, my hand hovering over the phone. “No phones,” I muttered, my fingers already reaching to silence it. “I won’t take it, I swear.”

Ashley paused, her fingers tracing light patterns over my chest, a hint of concern creeping into her gaze. “No, take it,” she said softly, her tone shifting. “I have a feeling it’s important.”

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t ignore it. Reluctantly, I pulled away from her and grabbed the phone. “Alright, freckles,” I said with a wink. “Won’t take long, I promise.”

I answered the call, and the conversation dragged on longer than I had hoped. When I finally ended the call, frustration weighed on my shoulders.

“Shit, I need to leave now.”

Ashley’s face fell, surprise and sadness flickering across her features.

“I’m sorry, freckles, but the investor I’m working with is only in town tonight.” I ran a hand through my hair, trying to keep my voice steady. “He heads one of the biggest insurance companies in the country. If I can get him onboard…”

Ashley didn’t interrupt, but her expression softened, and she leaned in to give me a gentle, reassuring kiss. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “I get it. You’ll just have to make it up to me later.”

Guilt gnawed at me, but her kiss was like a balm, easing some of the tension in my chest. “I will. I promise.”

It was the first time I’d missed our anniversary night. I hated letting her down, but this was important. I had a dream that felt just within reach. One day, the world would know the name Kyle Blackwood, and I wouldn’t be a failure like my father. I would have everything I’d ever dreamed of, and when that day came, I’d make it up to Ashley a thousand times over.

“We have another date next week, then.” Her voice was playful, but there was an edge to it. “If you miss it, though, we’ll have a problem.”

“I won’t.” I grinned, pulling her into my arms, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “Thank you for understanding,” I murmured. “This is just a one-time thing. It won’t happen again.”

Except it had. Just one time turned into two, then three. And before I knew it, our "once in a while" had become the new normal.

I drained my cup in one quick motion, the bitter burn doing little to dull the self-loathing coursing through me. I had hurt her. Badly. And I hated myself for it. Before I even cheated, I had hurt her with my neglect, my disregard for what really mattered.

But this wasn’t over. I wasn’t going to let it be over.

I wasn’t just going to win her back. No, this time would be different. I was going to show her I could be the man she deserved. I wasn’t going to keep assuming I knew her, that I already had the answers to win her heart again. This time, I was going to earn it. I’d start by truly getting to know this new version of Ashley—the one I’d let slip through my fingers.