Caleb’s POV
I stared at the message from Griffin, my thumb hovering over the screen.
“Ashley’s at a bar on King’s Road.”
Simple, direct, and enough to send my mind spiraling. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest as a whirlwind of emotions churned inside me.
Was I making the right decision by going to her? After everything, after all the back-and-forth, was this really what I wanted?
Deep down, I knew the answer. It had always been yes.
I shoved my phone into my pocket, ran a hand through my hair, and decided to damn the consequences. I couldn’t let her slip away again. Not this time.
The drive to King’s Road was short, but it felt like an eternity. Every red light gave my mind more time to wonder if I was making a mistake.
Ashley had hurt me before, even pushed me away when all I wanted was to be close. But there was something about her, something that kept pulling me back, no matter how hard I tried to stay away.
When I finally arrived at the bar, my chest tightened. The neon sign flickered dimly overhead, and the muffled sound of music spilled out onto the street.
It wasn’t exactly the place I’d expect to find her, but I wasn’t surprised either. Ashley had a habit of finding the most chaotic places to match her chaotic heart.
I walked in, scanning the crowded room for any sign of her. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and sweat, and people were packed together like sardines, but no Ashley. I felt a wave of panic rise in my chest, wondering if I’d missed her or if she’d already left.
Then I heard it.
A commotion near the back of the bar, and men’s voices raised in anger. Instinct kicked in, and I pushed my way through the crowd, the knot in my stomach tightening with every step. When I finally made it to the back, my blood ran cold.
There she was. Ashley. Two men had her cornered, their hands gripping her arms as she struggled to pull free. Her eyes were wild, and I could see the fear written all over her face. One of them leaned in, his words slurred as he tried to drag her toward the exit.
“She said no!” I roared, my voice echoing through the back hallway.
The men turned to face me, but I was already moving. Fury ignited inside me as I grabbed the closest one by the collar and yanked him away from her. He stumbled back, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Who the hell are you?” he spat, his hand swinging toward me, but I caught his wrist before he could land a punch.
“I’m the man who’s going to break your face if you don’t get lost,” I growled. My words came out like ice, cold and full of threat.
The second man made a move toward Ashley again, but before he could touch her, I shoved the first one aside and tackled the second. He hit the ground hard, his breath leaving him in a gasp. I stood over him, fists clenched, ready to finish the fight if they pushed me any further.
“This is the last time I’ll say it,” I warned, my voice low. “Stay away from my woman.”
The two men exchanged a look before staggering to their feet, muttering under their breath as they hurried away. I didn’t care what they had to say. All that mattered was that Ashley was safe.
I turned to her, and my heart nearly broke. She was slumped against the wall, her body weak from the struggle, her hair a mess, and tears clinging to the corners of her eyes. She was trying to hold herself together, but I could see how close she was to breaking.
Without thinking, I scooped her up in my arms, cradling her against my chest. “I’ve got you,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’ve got you.”
Ashley didn’t resist. In fact, she clung to me, her fingers gripping the front of my shirt as if she was afraid to let go. Her voice was barely a whisper, slurred from alcohol, but I could still make out the words.
“Caleb…” she mumbled, her breath warm against my neck. “I… I love you.”
I froze. Her words hung in the air, sinking deep into my chest. For so long, I’d wanted to hear her say those words. But now that she had, I wasn’t sure what to do with them.
She rambled on, her drunken confessions tumbling out in a messy, incoherent stream. “I love you so much… I didn’t mean to push you away. I was scared… scared of how much I needed you.”
I carried her out of the bar, the cool night air hitting us as we stepped outside. My mind was racing, trying to process everything she was saying. Was this just the alcohol talking? Or had she truly learned her lesson?
By the time we reached my car, she was starting to drift off, her head resting against my shoulder, her breathing slow and steady.
Her words still echoed in my mind. I’d spent so long fighting this bond between us, convincing myself that it wasn’t real, that she didn’t feel the same. Now… now I wasn’t so sure.
When we got to my place, I laid her down gently on the couch, brushing a kiss against her forehead. She stirred slightly, her hand reaching out to find mine.
“Stay,” she whispered, her voice soft and pleading. “Don’t leave me.”
I sat down beside her, taking her hand in mine. I could feel the bond between us humming in the background, stronger than ever.
It wasn’t just a connection of bodies, it was something deeper, something that tied us together in ways I couldn’t fully understand.
As I watched her sleep, I realized something. This was it. My one last try. Ashley had learned her lesson. She had given in, not just to me, but to the bond that had been pulling us together all along.
And this time, I wasn’t going to let her slip away.