A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER Chapter 18: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

ASHLEY

The list of things I’d rather do than go on a weekend trip with my ex-husband was long—and it was not limited to feeding my hand through a woodchipper, eating a pound of raw maggots, or being forced to watch cartoons on repeat with my eyes taped open.

But—and this was big but—it was Violet’s birthday, and I couldn’t say no. Especially not after everything she’d been through. She was still recovering, and I couldn’t risk her feeling alone or unsupported. Besides, what if things went south and I wasn’t there? I’d never forgive myself for avoiding my ex just to protect my own damn pride.

"You’re late," Ryan’s voice cut through the air as he looked at Kyle, who was only just arriving at the airport. We had agreed to meet at 11 a.m., but Kyle had somehow managed to show up thirty minutes later.

"We haven’t boarded yet, so I’m not late," Kyle retorted, his voice laid-back, as usual. His outfit was as casual as ever—sweatpants and a hoodie—but somehow, he still looked... charming.

Oh no. Not again.

I mentally shook myself. My plan was simple: steer clear of him, enjoy the weekend with Violet, and then leave for Germany on Tuesday without any drama. Easy enough, right?

Violet appeared beside me breaking my thoughts, her hand rested lightly on my shoulder. "This must be weird for you," she said softly, her voice laced with concern. "Going on a trip with him."

A tense silence stretched between us. I could feel her eyes on me, waiting for an answer. Finally, I exhaled, trying to push away the lump that had formed in my throat. "No, it’s fine," I replied

"You didn’t have to agree, you know," she said, her tone gentle but with that edge of concern I always recognized. "To the trip, I mean."

I gave a half-smile, trying to mask the unease bubbling beneath the surface. "No, it was my decision," I said, glancing toward the gate where the others were waiting. "I’ve always wanted to go to a ski resort, and Vermont? It’s supposed to be beautiful this time of year."

Violet eyed me for a moment, but then her face softened, and she nodded. "I’m glad you’re here, Ash. Really. It means a lot."

I smiled at her, squeezing her hand briefly. "Anything for you," I said, squeezing her hand for a second before we all made our way to the jet.

The thought of being in the same confined space as Kyle for hours wasn’t exactly comforting, but I was here for Violet, and that had to be enough.

I  tried to calm the butterflies in my stomach, trying not to think too much about how I’d end up spending the next two days in the same company as Kyle, of all people.

Finally, I squared my shoulders, meeting Violet’s gaze.

"Let’s do this," I said, more to myself than anyone else, but she smiled, nodding in support.

—-

By the time we landed in Vermont two hours later, I’d drowned my anxieties about the weekend with two mimosas, maybe more than I should’ve. The bubbly fizz was a temporary escape but at least I was feeling light-headed enough to convince myself I could get through this weekend without completely losing my cool.

A sleek black BMW was waiting for us outside the airport. The thirty-minute drive to the resort gave Violet ample time to fill us in on all the resort’s amenities, most of which I tuned out. A world-class spa, gourmet restaurants, a triple black diamond slope—she was on repeat, and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. The resort sounded perfect, and for her, this trip was a much-needed reprieve.

But as much as I tried to enjoy the moment, I was itching to get to the slopes. However, fate had other plans.

We hit our first snag before we even checked in.

“What do you mean, the lodge is occupied?” Ryan’s voice practically froze the air around us. The iciness in his tone made it clear that whoever was standing on the other side of the desk had better be ready for a fight.

The poor front desk assistant, Smith according to his name tag, flinched slightly under Ryan’s glare. “I’m terribly sorry, Mr. Jenkins, but it appears there was a mix-up in the system, and we double-booked this weekend. The other guests arrived last night and checked in.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened, his gaze never leaving the assistant’s face. “I see.” His voice dropped another ten degrees, colder than any chill Vermont could throw at us. “So where, exactly, are we supposed to stay, considering I already shelled out a considerable sum of money for the Presidential Lodge?”

Smith swallowed audibly, his fingers dancing nervously over the keys of his computer. Violet tugged gently on Ryan’s hand and whispered something in his ear, and his shoulders relaxed slightly, though he still kept his attention on Smith

I stayed quiet, not about to make any noise while Ryan was clearly preparing to unleash his frustration. Even Kyle had adopted a rare silence.

“There is one VIP lodge left,” Smith finally said, his voice shaky. “The Green Lodge isn’t as big as the Presidential Lodge, but it has the best view on the property and the same amenities. We’re happy to refund you for the difference in pricing and include a complimentary meal and a spa gift card to make up for the inconvenience.”

If Violet weren’t here, I was pretty sure Ryan would’ve taken the poor guy apart with just his stare.  But instead, he kept his cool, though the fury still simmered under his surface. “How much smaller is the Green Lodge?”

Smith looked at him with a nervous glance. “It has two bedrooms instead of four, but the couch in the living room can be converted into a bed.”

I could feel Ryan’s annoyance rolling off him in waves, but Violet’s soft voice broke through, steadying him. “It’s fine,” she said, her hand gently resting on his arm. “It’s just for the weekend.”

Ryan’s nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought he might argue further. But instead, he exhaled sharply and nodded. “The Green Lodge is fine.”

As Smith rattled off directions to Ryan, I let my gaze wander, taking in the luxurious lobby. The polished marble floors gleamed under soft, golden lighting, casting a warm glow over everything. There was an impressive stone fireplace crackling in the corner, adding a rustic charm to the otherwise modern décor. Despite the beauty of it all, I couldn’t help but feel a knot of unease in my stomach. Something about being so close to these people—especially Kyle—was enough to put me on edge.

Violet must have sensed my discomfort because, once Smith finished up, she leaned closer, giving me a teasing smile. “It’s going to be fine. Honestly, it’s just a few days. Besides, the slopes are calling.” Her voice was light, trying to ease the awkwardness.  You’ve got this. Worst case, we all get drunk and forget about everything.”

We all chuckled for a moment, and the tension lightened just a little, but then, reality came crashing in with the next problem—the first real hiccup of the trip.

When we arrived at the lodge, the pullout couch that was supposed to be our makeshift bed? It wasn’t a pullout. It was just a regular couch—small, compact, and utterly useless as a sleeping arrangement for two people. This was a problem, a huge one, because now there were only two rooms for four of us.

My voice came out sharper than I intended. “You have got to be kidding me,” I muttered under my breath.

Violet let out a frustrated sigh. “Okay, we’re going to figure this out.”

Her gaze flicked to Ryan, a soft look of apology in her eyes. “I’ll room with Ashley. You and Kyle can share.”

“No,” I said, cutting her off. The words came out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted it. I didn’t want to be the one to ruin the weekend for Violet and Ryan. This trip was supposed to be for them, to give them a break from everything, to finally have some peace without complications. The last thing I wanted was to get in the way.

“What’s the alternative?” Violet asked, frowning. She looked between me and Kyle, clearly trying to figure out a way to make this work.

There were only two viable options left. I could either room with Violet or Kyle.

“I’ll share with Kyle,” I said, trying to sound casual. I gestured toward him, and Kyle’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. He looked at me like I’d lost my mind.

“You and Ryan take the master,” I continued, my words almost automatic, as though saying them would make them less awful. “The guest room has two beds, so we’ll make it work.”

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. It was the worst possible choice, and I was already second-guessing myself. But it was too late now. I’d said it, and there was no taking it back.

Violet’s gaze softened, her concern for me flickering across her face. “Are you sure about this?” she asked quietly. She knew exactly why this was a bad idea. It wasn’t going to be easy for either of us, and she could see the tension in my eyes.

I forced a smile, doing my best to brush off the unease swirling in my stomach. “Yep. Let’s just get this over with so we can hit the slopes.” I kept repeating it like a mantra in my head, trying to convince myself it wasn’t going to be as bad as I was making it out to be.

After all, we wouldn’t be spending much time in the room anyway. I’d just turn in for the night, close my eyes, and pretend Kyle wasn’t there.