Page 81 of Fake Dating Mr. Prince

“You okay?” After a few cars had passed, I shifted into drive and moved out onto the road when space opened up.

“Yup, totally great.”

Her words rang with insincerity. She was as tense as she was on Sunday after lunch with my mom and her stepmom. I tried to get it out of her, but she wouldn’t say anything and eventually asked me to drop it.

“Is this about lunch with our mothers?”

“She’snotmy mother.” Her stern tone had me furrowing my brow and throwing her a questioning look.

What was going on here?

“Okay, your stepmother. You were upset that day, and you’ve been off since.”

“It’s not that. I just don’t have the same relationship with Elaine that you have with your mother.”

This was the first I’d heard her hint that things were that off with her stepmother. If it wasn’t that, what was it?

“If it’s not that, did I do something to make you mad?” I took my eyes off the road to glance at her. A slight tremble shook her body.

What the hell?

I immediately eased off to the side of the road. Still, Ashlyn wouldn’t look at me. “What is going on with you? And don’t fucking tell me nothing.”

Her head whipped to the side, her narrowed eyes finally meeting my gaze. “Fine, then I won’t tell youfucking nothing!”

My head jerked back as though she struck me. Ashlyn never talked like that to me. Something was really wrong. Running my hand through my hair I held back the urge to yell. I couldn’t fix the problem if I didn’t know what it was.

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

I felt helpless.

“Ash, what’s wrong?” I reached for her arm.

She jerked away and wrapped her arms around her waist. “I won’t stand for you making me look like a fool, Dean.”

“How the hell am I making you look like a fool?” My thoughts flashed to Simone. Had she called Ashlyn and said something to turn her against me? Is that how she was going to get her revenge?

She waved her hand toward me. “You know.”

“I don’t!” If she didn’t start making sense, I was going to tear my hair out.

“You said you wouldn’t be with anyone else while we were together. I was such an idiot to believe you.” Tears now tracked down her cheeks. “You know what? I don’t feel like going out tonight. Take me home.”

A ball of worry twisted in my stomach like a fist digging into my ribcage. Somehow, she knew about Simone. I sighed and leaned my head back. I hated that I’d hurt her. “Simone stopped by my office. She was there just before I left.”

Her sharp intake of breath had me wondering if she was startled I’d told her the truth or that it had been Simone.

Her anger dissipated, and in a small voice, she said, “I see.”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can guarantee you don’t see.” I grabbed her hand. The stiffness in her usually soft-touch ripped a hole in my heart. “I wasn’t with her.”

She tried to yank her hand back. “Don’t lie to me, Dean. I can see her lipstick all over your mouth.”

I held on tight. “Yes, Simone kissed me.”

Ashlyn’s body grew rigid, and I lost the fight to keep her hand in mine.

“It’s not what you think, Ash. She kissed me.”