A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 17: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ASHLEY

"Who drank all the damn punch?!"

The shout echoed through the living room, followed by the unmistakable crash of something ceramic, shattering against the floor. I whipped my head around just in time to see a guy standing over what used to be a bowl, looking as guilty as a toddler caught with frostings on his face.

“It wasn’t me”, he declared, holding up his empty cup as if it was a proof of innocence.

I rolled my eyes, stifling a laugh. Of course this was how Violet’s birthday party was going to start—loud, chaotic, and perfect in its own messy way.

I shifted the tiny bundle in my arms, cradling Violet’s baby against my chest as she gurgled softly, oblivious to the commotion around him. Her little fingers curled around the edge of my necklace, tugging with surprising strength for someone barely the size of a loaf of bread.

Today is Violet’s birthday and she was finally out of the hospital. One grueling month of check-ups, sleepless nights, and sterile hospital air had worn her thin, but she was healing now—stronger, brighter. And Ryan, being Ryan, had decided to throw her a surprise birthday party at their house, like it was the perfect bow on top of her recovery.

Violet’s laughter pulled me from my thoughts. She was perched on the couch, her face flushed from excitement, her eyes sparkling like the string lights we’d tangled around the room.

“Bring her here, Ash”, she called, waving me over. “I miss my baby!”

I grinned, crossing the room carefully with her little one nestled in my arms. “I think she’s quite attached to me now. We’ve bonded. You might need to fight me for her.”

“Oh please,” she snorted, reaching out as I gently handed him over. “She only likes you because you smell like cookies.”

“Well, that’s because I always have cookies.”

We both laughed, the kind of laughter that felt like breathing after being underwater for too long. I plopped down beside her, stealing a quick peek at the chaos unfolding around the room—friends talking in clusters, music pulsing faintly in the background, the faint scent of vanilla frosting mingling with cheap party decorations.

And then—

I felt it.

That shift in the air.

Like the temperature dropped a degree, though no one else seemed to notice. My skin prickled, the hairs on the back of my neck standing up as if my body recognized something before my brain did.

“Don’t turn around,” I told myself. Keep talking to Violet. Focus on her.

But I did.

I turned.

And there he was.

Kyle

He was weaving through the crowd with effortless ease, a small, neatly wrapped gift in his hand. His suit was immaculate, dark as midnight, tailored to perfection, as if he’d walked straight out of some glossy magazine spread. His smile—that same rested on his lips, the one that once made my heart race but now only made my stomach twist.

Of course, he was coming straight toward us.

My breath hitched slightly, but I forced myself to stand tall.

“Happy birthday, Violet”, he said smoothly, handing over the present.

“Thank you, Kyle!” Violet responded,her eyes flicking to me.

Before I could think of an excuse to escape, Ryan appeared, slipping an arm around Violet’s waist with casual possessiveness. He pressed a kiss to her temple, murmuring something that made her smile wider

“Kyle,you came” Ryan acknowledged with a slight nod

Kyle returned the nod, his gaze lingering on me for a beat longer than necessary before he finally turned to Ryan. The two exchanged a few words walking off together, their voices fading into the background hum of the party.

The second they were out of earshot, Violet turned to me with a look that screamed “I know something you don’t want to admit.”

She crossed her arms and leaned in closer, her gaze sharp and knowing. "So," she said, "how are you really doing?"

I forced a smile, trying to brush it off like it was nothing. “Of course, I’m fine.”

Violet raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “The truth, Ash. Have you really moved on?”

I swallowed hard. There was no avoiding it now. “Yes, of course,” I said, the words coming out too quickly, almost too forcefully. It was the only answer I could give—whether I believed it or not. I needed to believe it.

She didn’t respond right away, but her gaze told me everything I needed to know: she wasn’t buying it. “Come on, Ashley. You’re telling me that after seeing him again, after everything, you’ve really moved on?”

I swallowed again, trying to hold it together. “I said I have.”

Violet tilted her head, a sly smile forming on her lips. “I saw the way your eyes followed him when he left with Ryan. Your gaze practically bored a hole into his back.”

I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself against the ache that was starting to spread through my chest. “Okay, fine,” I sighed, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I haven’t moved on. I’m trying to, but seeing him again... it makes me question everything I thought I’d gotten over. I thought I had moved on. I want to move on, but it’s harder than I thought.”

Violet’s expression softened. “I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Ash,” she said gently. “But I get it. It’s not easy, seeing someone you’re trying to forget every day. You deserve better than that, you know?”

I looked down, my hands clenched into fists at my sides. “I don’t need your pity, Violet. I’m fine.”

She reached over and placed a hand on mine, her touch warm and comforting. “It’s not a pity, Ash. But I feel like this is all my fault. You weren’t supposed to stay in New York this long. If I hadn’t kept you here longer than you planned, maybe none of this would’ve happened. You could’ve moved on in peace.”

I shook my head quickly, not willing to let her take the blame. “No, stop. You’re my best friend. Who else would I be here with? You needed me.”

Violet’s eyes softened, and she gave me a small, almost sad smile. “I get it, but sometimes I feel like I’ve dragged you into my mess. I didn’t want things to turn out like this, you know? I didn’t want to hurt you.” She sighed, her thumb gently brushing the back of my hand.

My chest tightened at her words. “Violet, don’t blame yourself,” I said quietly, shaking my head. “I made the choice to stay. I chose this. You didn’t force me to be here.” I swallowed hard. “I’ve been running away from this for so long, trying to ignore everything that happened, but when I saw him again, it’s like all the walls I’d built came crashing down.”

Violet bit her lip, watching me with those eyes that knew me so well. “I don’t want to see you hurt. And I know you don’t need me to fix everything for you, but I wish there was something more I could do to make it easier.” She leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. “I hate seeing you like this.

I let out a sigh to steady my breath. I could feel the pressure building in my chest “I don’t know how to get out of it, Violet,” I admitted. “I really don’t. It’s like... I keep telling myself I’m okay, but every time I see him, it just... hits me all over again. I wish I could just forget, move on, but it's not that easy.”

Violet’s hand tightened on mine.  “I know. I know it’s not. But you will get through this, Ash. You always do. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for. You’ve been through worse, right?”

I gave a small laugh, trying to push the lump in my throat away. “I’ve survived. But I don’t feel strong. Not right now, at least.”

Violet sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “You don’t have to feel strong all the time. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You’re allowed to be vulnerable, Ash. I just... I just want you to know I’m here for you. Always. No matter what.”

I nodded, my throat tightening with emotion. “I know. And I don’t say it enough, but I’m grateful for you. You’ve been there for me when no one else was. I don’t know how I’d get through this without you and I’ll be leaving for Germany next week, remember? I needed to make sure you were okay before I went. But now that you are... I’ll be leaving soon. I’ll just keep an eye on you this week, okay?”

Violet's smile faded, her expression grew a little more serious. “Yeah, sure. But this time, you won’t leave forever. And I’m pretty sure Nina’s going to want to see her aunt. So if you won’t come to us, we’ll come to you.”

“Sure...” I said softly, my heart warming at the thought of her and Nina. “I’ll come visit.”

Just then, Ryan walked up to us, and I felt a strange flutter in my chest.

I glanced up to see he was alone, no sign of Kyle. Thank God.

He glanced between us, then spoke, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation. “One of my business associates has a new ski resort in Vermont, and we bought tickets for the grand opening to support him. Well, two tickets for Violet and me, but he sent four by mistake. Since we're associates, it’d be rude not to acknowledge his gratitude. Kyle’s already agreed to come, but I’m not sure...”

I could feel my pulse quicken, my stomach tightening. I knew what was coming next. I didn’t want to hear it, but there was no stopping it.

Ryan’s gaze met mine, his expression unreadable. “Will you follow us to the resort too?”