Storm Front (The Charistown Series) (Volume 2) by Lisa N. Paul Page A

important it was that Leo really trusted him with
Ashley. He pulled his eyes back up and met his friend’s stare.
    “I know you love her, Ry, I do. But, you wounded her with
that shit you pulled this weekend. Before you ask, yes, she told me about it.”
Leo cringed. “Thank God she spared me the full details, but I got the
highlights. Dude, how could you accuse her of being with someone else? How
fucked up is that shit? You and me, we’ve discussed this. I thought I’d finally
got through to you. Scott James is not an issue, man. YOU ARE THE
ISSUE!” He said as he slammed his hand down loudly on the table, jostling the
beer bottles.
    Ryan couldn’t stop himself from interrupting. “Leo, you have
no idea. I’m the one that hears Jayson talking to Scott on the phone. From the
sounds of it, Scott is into her. Like really into her. And he’s making
his play. Did you know that they spend a lot of time together, both in school
and out? I’m sorry, but I don’t trust him any further than I can throw him.”
    “Look at yourself. Look at your hands.”
    Ryan looked down to see white knuckles and protruding veins.
He could feel the bite of his fingernails as they dug into the palms of his
hands. The realization had him unclenching his fists, slowly releasing the
tension. “Ryan, she came to me before we left on tour and asked me how she
could compete with the women who would be throwing themselves at you and I told
her that you loved her and that she needed to step back and trust you to make
the right choices.”
    “I am! I haven’t so much as looked at another girl, you know
that, Leo! What are you accusing me of?” His heart thumped in his chest as his
breathing quickened.
    Calm eyes surveyed his face as Leo watched Ryan intently
before saying quietly, “Nothing. I’m not accusing you of anything…and neither
is Ashley. Do you understand?”
    Inhaling, Ryan stared back at Leo unable to form a response.
Did he understand? Yeah, he understood. He’d been a complete asshole. He was
the one making all of the accusations while Ashley sat back and trusted him
blindly. Scrubbing his hands over his face, he tried to wipe away the idiotic persona that had taken over his body.
    “Do you think she’ll ever truly forgive me?” He whispered.
Fear froze the air in his lungs, making it almost impossible for him to speak
any louder.
    Taking a couple more pulls from his beer before answering,
Leo smiled brightly at Ryan. “So, here’s the thing about Ashley.” He drained
his beer and set the bottle aside with a clink. “You know she is as stubborn as
a goddamn mule?”
    “Yeah, I think I may have experienced that side of her a
time or two,” Ryan huffed although Leo’s relaxed face helped to lighten the
mood.
    “Well, with my sister stubbornness works both ways.” Leo
chuckled. “Dude, promise me you’ll never play poker. Your face shows all of
your emotions and you have no idea what I’m even saying. Stubborn works both
ways, Ry. When Ashley is angry she’s angry with everything she has. But when
she loves…well, that girl loves the same way. Why do you think she always
forgives our sorry excuses for parents? She’s too fucking stubborn to give up
on them. Once someone is really truly in her heart, they will live there
forever. Now, that doesn’t give you the right to fuck with her. Because, best
friend or not, you only get so many chances to screw up before I kill you. But,
I think you guys are meant to be. So get your head out of your ass and stop
worrying about things that don’t matter. We clear?”
    Ryan nodded. “Crystal.” Sitting up straight in the chair,
Ryan rubbed his palms over his jean clad legs, stared at Leo and nodded, “You
just do me a favor and tell Jayson to keep his fucking mouth shut when it comes
to Ashley?”
    “You think I didn’t already take care of that? Ryan, she’s
my baby sister.” The growl in Leo’s voice was not to be mistaken. “I politely
explained that if he ever