Page 28 of The Lie That Stole Christmas

But not walking away would have cost him even more.

Chapter ten

Ashley

IfAshleyhadtospend one more second enclosed within the walls of this hellish nightmare, she was going to lose her mind.She needed to get out of Winterridge, far away from the estate and Carter.At least enough distance to clear her head.Which was why she convinced Taylor and Tori to go into town with her.The minute she threw shopping in their direction, she knew it was a done deal.Neither girl could turn down a trip to Greenwich Avenue.

Ashley met her cousins in the vestibule.Tori yanked on the belt of her chestnut peacoat, highlighting her tall and willowy frame.She then adjusted the gold chain of her purse.With her long limbs and simple grace, she had that effortless class like her mother.Taylor was softer, but no less striking.Her dark hair framed her face, and her amber eyes held a youthful glow that Ashley had lost a long time ago.

They’d kept in touch over the years with random ‘how are you’ texts and birthday wishes posted on social media.Looking at them now, Ashley couldn’t help but see them as the seventeen- and nineteen-year-old girls she’d last spent any real amount of time with.But they weren’t those young girls anymore.They had become adults who were making a name for themselves in their respective industries.

Tori in finance and Taylor in fashion.She’d sent Tori flowers when she was promoted and Taylor’s favorite chocolates when she’d landed her first major fashion feature.Ashley had tried to celebrate the moments that mattered, clinging to whatever pieces of family they had left.Even when the moments were quiet, she silently rooted for them.

A slight vibration broke through the sounds of adjusting coats and scarves.Tori slipped out her phone and sighed.

“Problem?”Ashley asked.

“Isn’t there always?”she said as she tapped the screen with another sigh.“One of my clients is panicking because the market dipped half a percent.Apparently, the world is ending.”

“I’m sure it’ll be back up in a few days.”

Tori glanced up from her phone.“Exactly.People make the biggest mistakes when they panic.”

Ashley nodded.“I learned the market isn’t nearly as volatile as people make it out to be.Given enough time, it recovers.”

Tori laughed, but it lacked actual humor.“Try telling that to people who make a sport out of watching their retirement accounts.”

Taylor snorted.“To be fair, you finance people are the ones who talk about numbers like the apocalypse is five minutes away at any given time.”

“That’s because it’s my job to keep people from making terrible decisions based on irrational emotions.We look at numbers and trends.If you want to gamble based on a feeling, buy a lottery ticket.”

“Every Tuesday and Friday for thirty years.Still waiting for the big one.”

All three turned to the familiar voice.It had been years, but that smooth and controlled tone with its dryly amused cadence was unmistakable.Though there was a slight raspy texture to it now.

“Luca!”Taylor exclaimed and hugged the man who had chauffeured them around Connecticut since they were babies.Silver threaded through his dark hair, but it hadn’t dimmed the sparkle in his eyes or the flair with which he swept into a room.

With a laugh, he returned her embrace while Hawthorne let out a disapproving sigh.He firmly believed the help and the family should keep a professional distance, but Luca was just as much a part of the family as everyone else in this house.

“Please tell me you’re driving us to Greenwich,” Taylor said as he released her and gave a quick hug to Tori, then Ashley.

“At your service, Miss Taylor.”Luca offered a theatrical bow.“I have years of gossip to catch up on after all.”

“As do we,” Ashley said.

Tori’s phone rang, and she answered while Taylor spun toward the stairs.Ashley headed out the front door.She almost glanced over her shoulder to see if Carter had appeared; she could almost feel his presence, but she held her ground and continued on.She wasn’t in the mood for niceties after their last encounter.Nor the unexpected realization that she hadn’t fully come to terms with how they had left things.She was still angry with him, but more than that, she was confused.Carter was always an open book to her, able to know exactly what he was thinking or feeling.Yet after all this time, she couldn’t figure out why he never came after her.Even if just for one last goodbye.

Their relationship had ended abruptly.If they could even call it a relationship.Funny how one kiss had rewritten ten years of friendship.The moment Carter’s hands had cupped her face, she’d known.It wasn’t infatuation or teenage hormones.It was every holiday and summer they’d spent together finally finding their way to the surface.

And then he walked away from her...

With a sigh, she reached for the car door, but Luca beat her to it, yanking the black door open with practiced grace.

He stood, one hand on the door, the other behind him.“After you, Miss Ashley.”He leaned in as she ducked to get in.“Rumor has it you and Carter got into it yesterday.Glad to see the lovebirds are back on track.”

She pushed to a standing position and met Luca’s warm brown eyes.“Lovebirds?”

A laugh escaped with no decorum.“That boy has loved you at every stage of your lives, even that awkward stage between twelve and thirteen.”He clenched his teeth, and his lips parted in horror.