Read Online Shades of Darkness (Redemption Series) by Melynda Price - Free Book Online
Authors: Melynda Price
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‘yes.’ It doesn’t look good with me here and you running around nearly naked.”
“Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll be right back.” Mitch scooted his chair back and shuffled up the stairs.
As he dressed, Ashley continued to replay yesterday’s events over and over in her head. At some time during the night, she’d come to the conclusion that Liam must have taken Olivia. It was the only possible explanation she could think of that would make Olivia want to bail on her own wedding. She felt bad for Mitch and wasn’t sure how much she should tell him about Olivia’s past. She wasn’t too pleased with her friend for the way she left things. Didn’t Olivia realize what she was putting him through?—putting her parents through? It all just felt wrong, and incredibly selfish.
Mitch came back into the kitchen wearing a black performance t-shirt. “Better…?”
“Yeah, thanks. Now at least if someone stops by, they won’t think I’m here as your rebound lay.”
Mitch laughed. “My what?”
“Rebound lay,” Ashley repeated.
“Ash, I seriously doubt that you’d ever be anybody’s rebound anything .”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t, but people still talk. So, what was it you wanted to ask me?” She waited patiently as Mitch took another sip of his coffee.
“Will you please tell me what you know about Olivia? I know you know something, because you’re not nearly as freaked out as the rest of us, and honestly, you’re not acting very surprised, either. There’s someone else, isn’t there?”
Ashley wasn’t sure what to say to Mitch. She honestly believed he deserved to know the truth. She exhaled a big sigh, hoping she wouldn’t regret what she was about to do, but after three years, it was time someone told him the truth.
“What has Olivia told you about her past, Mitch?” Hopefully, he knew something that could give her a starting point.
“Nothing. She’s always been extremely private. As far as I know, I’m the first boyfriend she’s had. But I know that can’t be true. Look at her, she’s gorgeous.”
Well…shit. This was going to be about as fun as a trip to the dentist without Novocain. Maybe Olivia would be pissed as hell at her for this, but dammit, she should have told Mitch the truth—like two years ago. They were getting married, for crissake! ‘Till death do us part’ and all that crap. “This is very complicated, Mitch, and at first, I’m sure you’re going to have difficulty believing me, but what I’m going to tell you is the absolute truth.”
Mitch stiffened, his back grew rigid. His brows pulled tight as a concerned frown etched onto his face. “Just say it, Ash.”
Okay, here goes… She took a deep breath and blurted, “Olivia was in love with someone else before she met you.” There it was. No take backs. The truth was finally out.
At first, Mitch didn’t say anything. Then again, he probably couldn’t speak very well with his jaw clamped shut. It was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter.
“Was he …in love with her ?” His words rasped out as if he’d been chewing glass.
She nodded. “Very much. They wanted to get married.”
Something akin to rage flashed through Mitch’s eyes. For a moment, she thought twice about continuing. Damn Olivia for putting her in this position. She shouldn’t be the one having this conversation with him. Painfully, she forced herself to continue, giving him the Reader’s Digest condensed version. “He…uh… He had to leave, and it broke her heart. I introduced you to her almost a year later.”
“Why did he have to leave? If he really loved her, he wouldn’t have left. Surely she sees that,” Mitch rationalized, glancing at her over the rim of his cup, taking another sip.
“It’s not that simple.” She couldn’t help thinking about Balen, about her own loss, and had to fight back a swell of tears. “Mitch, Olivia fell in love with an angel.”
He let out a sarcastic snort. “Well, it’s
“Fine,” he conceded. “I’ll be right back.” Mitch scooted his chair back and shuffled up the stairs.
As he dressed, Ashley continued to replay yesterday’s events over and over in her head. At some time during the night, she’d come to the conclusion that Liam must have taken Olivia. It was the only possible explanation she could think of that would make Olivia want to bail on her own wedding. She felt bad for Mitch and wasn’t sure how much she should tell him about Olivia’s past. She wasn’t too pleased with her friend for the way she left things. Didn’t Olivia realize what she was putting him through?—putting her parents through? It all just felt wrong, and incredibly selfish.
Mitch came back into the kitchen wearing a black performance t-shirt. “Better…?”
“Yeah, thanks. Now at least if someone stops by, they won’t think I’m here as your rebound lay.”
Mitch laughed. “My what?”
“Rebound lay,” Ashley repeated.
“Ash, I seriously doubt that you’d ever be anybody’s rebound anything .”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t, but people still talk. So, what was it you wanted to ask me?” She waited patiently as Mitch took another sip of his coffee.
“Will you please tell me what you know about Olivia? I know you know something, because you’re not nearly as freaked out as the rest of us, and honestly, you’re not acting very surprised, either. There’s someone else, isn’t there?”
Ashley wasn’t sure what to say to Mitch. She honestly believed he deserved to know the truth. She exhaled a big sigh, hoping she wouldn’t regret what she was about to do, but after three years, it was time someone told him the truth.
“What has Olivia told you about her past, Mitch?” Hopefully, he knew something that could give her a starting point.
“Nothing. She’s always been extremely private. As far as I know, I’m the first boyfriend she’s had. But I know that can’t be true. Look at her, she’s gorgeous.”
Well…shit. This was going to be about as fun as a trip to the dentist without Novocain. Maybe Olivia would be pissed as hell at her for this, but dammit, she should have told Mitch the truth—like two years ago. They were getting married, for crissake! ‘Till death do us part’ and all that crap. “This is very complicated, Mitch, and at first, I’m sure you’re going to have difficulty believing me, but what I’m going to tell you is the absolute truth.”
Mitch stiffened, his back grew rigid. His brows pulled tight as a concerned frown etched onto his face. “Just say it, Ash.”
Okay, here goes… She took a deep breath and blurted, “Olivia was in love with someone else before she met you.” There it was. No take backs. The truth was finally out.
At first, Mitch didn’t say anything. Then again, he probably couldn’t speak very well with his jaw clamped shut. It was a wonder his teeth didn’t shatter.
“Was he …in love with her ?” His words rasped out as if he’d been chewing glass.
She nodded. “Very much. They wanted to get married.”
Something akin to rage flashed through Mitch’s eyes. For a moment, she thought twice about continuing. Damn Olivia for putting her in this position. She shouldn’t be the one having this conversation with him. Painfully, she forced herself to continue, giving him the Reader’s Digest condensed version. “He…uh… He had to leave, and it broke her heart. I introduced you to her almost a year later.”
“Why did he have to leave? If he really loved her, he wouldn’t have left. Surely she sees that,” Mitch rationalized, glancing at her over the rim of his cup, taking another sip.
“It’s not that simple.” She couldn’t help thinking about Balen, about her own loss, and had to fight back a swell of tears. “Mitch, Olivia fell in love with an angel.”
He let out a sarcastic snort. “Well, it’s
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