4×08 “Miss The Moment”
Written by: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode may contain graphic violence, language and sexual content
Theme Song: Drake ft Jhene Aiko ‘From Time’

Aspen arrived home after her interview and she was absolutely excited. For a lot and right now she knew that she had to love herself more than she loved the security blanket that was Rory. When she saw him still in bed she didn’t want to wake him up. Instead she walked to her spare closet and pulled out a Jeremy Scott sweatsuit. After changing in the living room she walked back out and decided to do something she had put off for a long time. She had taken this drive many times. She just never imagined she’d be doing this so soon. Only children often thought about things like this. As she pulled up to Randall’s house she saw the for sale sign outside and exhaled. Her mother was working fast but she informed her not to show the house until she was ready to clean it out. Taking the most treasured belongings of her daddy with her. The stuff would be in storage no doubt but when she needed her daddy. She would have a way to connect to him. Unlocking the door it still smelled like him. The house that she grew up in was going to be someone else’s. Walking past the markers for how tall she was getting she laughed. Her dad was much more the mother than Blythe. It was ironic she grew up in a house where roles were reversed. Her father was more maternal and her mother was like a man in many ways because she was the breadwinner. By the time she was five her father’s fame off the books had waned and her mother provided an amazing life for them all. 

Tapping her Converse’s on the mahogany floor. She ran upstairs to the spiral staircase and went into his room. She went to his closet and started to immediately make two different piles. One she would keep and the other was donations. Grabbing his favorite Celine sweater she took a deep sniff and before she knew it tears began to fall. For the first time she didn’t want to call Rory in fact she was over keeping someone who didn’t love her. He didn’t have to say it but Rory was a man who loved deeply. Yasmine had implanted on him and nothing would change that. She knew exactly who to call. She didn’t call though, she sent a text message. 

*Hey, are you free to come meet me at my dad’s house. I’m cleaning out his belongings and could use some company.*

*Send the lo*

*114 Cherry Lane by my old condo*  

*I’m otw*

Aspen smiled as she continued to separate his things until she heard a knock at the door about ten minutes later. Running down the stairs she opened the door and saw Khalil standing before her. “Hey come in.”

Khalil had gone for a run from his condo to clear his head as he looked at the text on his phone from Connor. His friend was back on the team though he had a million questions and nearly burst into a fit of laughter when news broke about the trade back, a secret marriage and a kid? He had turned on his favorite beats as he ran, deciding this was what he wanted and needed to be carefree and running and it kept his thoughts off Aspen. He had shown up for Randall’s funeral for support and stayed in the back giving her space but an idiot could look at her and Rory and see they were done. He had no idea what Aspen was holding onto when it came to Rory Devonshire, the last name at this point? Regardless he had grown a lot over the last few years and if anything he knew that supporting his friends was more important than fucking them. But when another text came in he swiped up thinking it was Connor and then stared at the invite from Aspen to meet.

He debated about what to do for what felt like forever before he had sent his reply and then jogged over to the location. He then came to the house and stared at it. He had never come from all this; he knew her mother worked for DGI and was paid really well. He had humble beginnings and he had been smart so far with his NBA money investing, getting his own condo. Making sure his mom and siblings were out of the hell hole that consumed his older brother and took him from them. He stepped on the steps and gently knocked on the door smiling when she answered and he peeked past her seeing Rory nowhere in sight and then he stepped inside watching her close the door behind her.

“I’m really sorry about your dad Aspen. I know he meant a lot to you. Thanks for calling me. Did you get the flowers I sent? I came to the service but didn’t know how you’d or Devonshire felt about me being there but I wanted to be there to support you.” Khalil said looking at her and looking at the half packed house where she grew up. He could tell that packing up had affected her; she was near tears and he decided for now to change the subject. “He’s not like here is he? I mean I know you’re going through a lot with everything but why call me and not like your fiance?” When she didn’t answer he took a breath. This was so awkward he cared about the woman in front of him, had for a while and the last thing he should do is butt his nose into her relationship with Rory. “How did your job interview go?”

That was the million dollar question. Why was she still with Rory when she couldn’t emotionally lean on him? He had scars she’d never be able to heal. Touching one of her two braids in her hair. “I should’ve left Rory when I lost our baby. I should’ve had some self respect for myself and stopped the bullshit. For the last year he lusted for Yasmine and honestly I think Rory can’t stop loving once he loves. I did everything for him. I listened to his birdbrain ass sister. She only wanted to keep him away from Yasmine because the Devonshire’s are classists. Not to mention she is biologically a Montgomery. I should’ve got out and unfortunately I thought things would change. I think I held onto Rory when I had you right here. Someone who sees my beauty and keeps looking at me like how Rory does Yasmine. The truth is ever since my father died it was over. Life is too short to keep living in a fantasy. I’m Randall Sinclair’s daughter and I don’t need his prestige when I’m my own prestige.” Aspen leaned against the wall. 

“I have wanted Rory since I was a little girl. I thought if I had a guy like him I’d be happy. But like his older brothers when he loves he loves completely and he loves Yasmine completely and I know that. So I called you over to tell you that I won’t make the mistakes that he has. I was hopeful that we could work it out but I don’t want this type of relationship or love.” She confessed as she looked at him. “You give my peace and you’ve been here for me for the last year through everything. I got your flowers and honestly that was one of the few times I smiled on the day of my dad’s funeral. I can’t tell you what you mean to me because it would mean that I wasted so much time ignoring my gut. I listened to Max, and my mother about what I needed. When honestly all I needed was myself and a man was added. I love me and I want to be myself. Without Rory and with you.” Aspen said honestly she was done with her past relationship. “So if you give me one more day, one more day to let go of him then I’m ready to try with you.”

Khalil looked at her and he knew he’d been waiting almost a year for her to say that to him. He was never that guy he came from the fucking hood and he’d never be as rich as Rory Devonshire was the man kept infiltrating his life. If it wasn’t him taking Yas it was pulling the wool over the girl in front of him, not to mention how his brother had died. He was tired of competing with Rory and to know that she didn’t want Rory and was picking him meant a lot, more than she knew. Yasmine though she denied it never actually chose him, he was just there after her trauma with his brother. He licked his lip at her and then bit his bottom lip before he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. He knew she hadn’t exactly broken up with Rory yet but he also knew that he didn’t want to miss reassuring her that he wanted to be with her and only her. Not when she was so vulnerable after her father died he moved his hands to her waist and felt his legs moving her backward before he had her pinned against the foyer wall. 

He leaned his head to the side so he could have better access to her mouth while his tongue explored her letting out a moan into her mouth. His hands rested on her hips gently tugging at her shirt while he felt himself swelling and growing in his pants, his cock aching for her. He wasn’t sure how long he stayed like that, kissing her, tugging her body closer to his wanting her naked in his bed or even here in the hall. “I want you Aspen, I always have.” He managed to mumble not even sure if she could hear him or not between his lips and he pulled back to trail his tongue down her throat and then back up to her ear while his hand slipped into her sweatpants finding the fabric of her panties and he stroked her through it, seeing how wet she was. “I want you babygirl. The fact you are choosing me over Rory, I can’t ever be him but I can be my best to make sure you know that you’ve made your way into my heart and life. I’ll try and give you everything you want and need while supporting your dreams too.” He said his finger continuing to stroke her clit through the fabric watching her tilt her head back, trying to control himself from tugging her sweats off and fucking her right then and there.

The moment his lips touched her she moaned and thought about mounting him. His skin was glistening from the run and he smelled so good. As she touched his chest she knew her body was reacting first and her mind wasn’t thinking clearly. When he called her baby-girl she giggled a little. Feeling ecstatic that someone actually wanted her. He wanted her and he knew that she was good for him. He didn’t make her question who she was or what she wanted. He was just here for her. He was pleasing her. Khalil was all about her. That meant something to Aspen because for the first time since she got home someone wanted her. When she felt his hand enter her pants she jolted from the electricity between them. They’d both wanted this so badly and for so long but she wasn’t going to let their first time be like this. Placing both hands on his chest she lightly pushed him back. 

“No, not like this.” She said looking into his eyes her very own green eyes sparkled against the sunlight. “I want you Khalil, I want us to make love all night and day but not like this. You aren’t some side dude or a mistake. You are the guy I should have been with. The guy who sees me warts and all. You understand me in ways I didn’t think I deserved. For years I haven’t thought I was good enough to have real love. A real relationship and I’m more than deserving of that. But I won’t start our relationship off like this. I want you. Your lips taste so good and you are so fine. You are everything I thought I didn’t deserve but now I know. I get what my daddy was telling me. I need a Khalil not a Rory so give me tonight. Give me a chance to end this and tomorrow I’m yours.” She said softly, taking his hand and leading him to the couch. 

Plopping down with him she curled up against him and felt safe. Something she never felt with Rory. You see, scheming and lying made it impossible to let down her guard and with Khalil she did exactly that. Laying her head on his chest she felt safe. “Can I ask you a question? When Kendrick died how did you move forward? I know losing a father isn’t the same thing as losing a brother. But I just feel so hollow sometimes thinking about my dad. Like I can’t breathe because he’s everywhere in Atlas Falls. I see him at the ice rink where he took me to skate and gossip about boys. I saw him at my high school where he came up and taught us Shakespeare. I see him at La Callie where we would always go for breakfast. I see him all over and I don’t know how to cope or get over that my dad is gone.” Aspen unleashed a soft wail as she gasped for air. “I miss him so much.” She whispered to her soon to be boyfriend.

Khalil took his hand out of her pants smelling her on his fingers and it took a lot for him to step back and stop. She was right though he wanted her too, just not like this with secrets and lies between all of them. Once on the couch he wrapped her in his arms and just held her as she broke down about her father, the question hanging in the air between them about how he moved on. Honestly he hadn’t. It was sometimes a struggle everyday to not see his brother in everything he was used to. “You don’t really move on, you just get up everyday and continue living. Knowing that is what they would want.” He whispered kissing her forehead and just letting her cry while he got his own emotions in check while his own eyes teared up.

*****

Rory had woken at home Aspen had been long gone to her interview with Greer LeClerq and for the first time in months he looked around the condo they shared at how sterile it was. Not that he wasn’t a minimalist but the white walls and dark floors were just that to contrasting, there was no passion in it. He had wanted to support Aspen the best he could after her father had passed away and not cause more of a rift between them but he knew deep down he wasn’t happy and he hadn’t been in a long time. What was he even doing with his life at this point? He and Aspen had been friends long before they were lovers and they’d been through a lot together but he didn’t feel like he loved her in that way. In a way that he really had only ever felt with one woman, Yasmine. He got dressed and wondered if she would ever really forgive him for what he did with Tess nearly two years ago. Was that why he had latched onto Aspen the way he had? He knew the answer deep down, yes he was with Aspen out of guilt for hurting Yasmine and for what Aspen had been through when she lost the baby.

He made his morning coffee and then went to his laptop looking to get some work done on an update for RePlay. He’d been considering an AI fashion app too. He wanted the update to go smoothly, though numbers had been down a bit since the casino. About an hour later he could tell he was restless about everything going on in his head and he saw a reminder on his calendar pop up for Yasmine’s dance studio. His father had never given DGI funds to it to stay open. He had dipped into his trust fund last year to make an anonymous donation, he hadn’t told anyone about it he didn’t want to deal with the drama of it all. No doubt some in his family would railroad him about Yasmine while the other half would just make snide remarks about Aspen, minus Jackson and Dani they seemed to stay pretty neutral. Though he could tell they wanted to tell him to go back to Yasmine. He wanted what his brother had with his wife, he wanted a life with someone he loved that loved him back. Shutting his laptop he got his keys and made his way to his car.

Half an hour later he was near the edge of the Scottswood neighborhood and parked his Mercedes in front of the dance studio. From the outside looking in Yasmine had made it into a young dancer’s dream, it was something that he knew she had always dreamed of. One of the other instructors let him know where Yasmine’s office was and he made his way there ignoring the strange looks while he saw her behind the desk of her office. Clearly getting ready for another class in her leotard and skirt adjusting her shoes, her hair falling just right catching the sunlight. This was where she belonged, dancing and living her dream, but he was still just as in love with her as when he met her on a pole at Club XES and he took a breath before knocking on the wood. Regardless he had fucked up and she had moved on and if she was happy, he would be happy for her. 

“Can I come in?” Rory asked, holding up the envelope with the donation check while he looked at her.

Yasmine had straightened herself up since Philip’s meeting earlier in the day and she was ready for the kids to come in. She’d already gotten text messages saying thank you for the Randall Sinclair scholarship. Which meant Philip was moving fast on her. She had to think and think fast. These kids didn’t deserve to be wrapped up in all of this. Pacing back and forth she was thinking of ways to get from under Philip’s thumb. When she heard a knock on the door and the voice she was shaken out of her thoughts. Yasmine walked to the door and unlocked the door. Her receptionist Yolanda wasn’t in today. Opening the door she looked at him and before she knew it she hugged Rory. Tears were in her eyes and she just hugged him because she needed it. She needed to feel someone right now because she was honestly scared. How dare Philip use her love for her people against her? 

Megan Thee Stallion ‘Lover Girl’ was playing lightly in the background. She exhaled as his cologne intoxicated her. Leaning back she wiped her eyes and smiled. “How did you know I needed a hug? Come in, what’s up Rory? I was actually just thinking about you. How did we get so off center? I just hate what happened because I miss you. I miss my friend. I miss talking to you because right now.” Yasmine’s lip quivered. “Philip just did something and I don’t know what to do. He just gave all my kids that come here for the community center scholarships and as great as that is. He has ulterior motives. This is just a game between him and my dad. It’s sick and I’m sick that these kids are being pulled into all of this. I want to fucking knock that smug smirk off his face. I just want to scream and honestly you were the first person I thought about. You were the first person I wanted to tell all of this. What am I going to do?”

Rory hated to see her cry; it broke him every time that it happened, like a piece of his soul leaving. Even though he was still with Aspen this felt right as he simply wrapped his arms around her hugging her his hand caressing her back to soothe her. His fingers trailing her bare back and he smelled her hair, it was still distinctively her. He had no idea why she was so upset or how long they stayed there until she pulled back. He watched her move away from him and looked around for Philip, he was bad news period since he roped Max into her affair with him. Honestly that wasn’t the first time their families tangled he knew it went back to his dad and Audrey. When she asked what happened between them he ran a hand through his hair honestly, he fucked the fuck up and he was still paying for it. He listened as she told him about Philip and her dad. He led her to her office chair and watched her sit down and when she didn’t tell him to leave he sat down across from her. He knew it would be a big ask but he would do it if it helped get Yasmine out from under whatever it was that Philip embroiled her in, plus it would make DGI look good.

“Honestly I fucked up okay with Tess and then with Aspen. I just didn’t and still don’t know how to fix it okay. I gave the big donation last year. I sent it anonymously because you were mad at me. But I know how much this studio means to you, how much your home means to you. Not that you live in Scottswood anymore but this is where you grew up. You want to help these kids you’ve always had the biggest heart that I know even when we met at the club. I think I can help with the Philip problem. Send the funds back when he sends them to you. I happen to know two CEOs that would be very happy to help fund this with DGI. Plus you are the twins’ godmother.” Rory said looking at her it wasn’t a bad optics for the company to help out under-privileged kids in Scottswood and once DGI was back under his families control there was no way his brother and Dani would say no they adored Yasmine. “I know what I did was fucked up with all of it, I hurt you and got so lost in the lie with Tess from that night. I didn’t even recognize myself anymore and I think I’m starting to again. I know you hate DGI and hand outs but let me help Yasmine please.” Rory said his entire heart on his sleeve over it even if he never won her back he wanted to do this for her and her dreams.

Yasmine smiled, feeling like he was always the knight in shining armor for her. She knew some of the students had already signed the documents or their parents encouraged them to. Which meant that some would still be legally linked to MontCorp but for those who didn’t DGI could protect them from Philip. Biting her lip she nodded at him. “Please reach out to Jackson and I’ll call Dani and inform her of what you’re planning.” Reaching over she grabbed Rory’s hand and her dark brown eyes stared at him. Her heart was racing and it hadn’t stopped and for the first time she faced what was wrong. Nobody made her feel like this. Nobody made her heartskip like Rory Devonshire. A piece of her knew that the large donation was Rory last year. She didn’t know how but he was one of the few who knew what the community center meant to her. “Tess and Aspen shouldn’t have gotten between our relationship. It was also the whispers of my family, Cassie and Philip saying we couldn’t be together because of some old shit between our dads. My theory is that why? Why should I live by rules that have nothing to do with me? Honestly, all of my pleasure shouldn’t come with pain.” Yasmine wanted to kiss him badly but she learned a lesson from hurting Khalil. 

Her body was battling with her mind because all she wanted to be with Rory and all she could think was Jayden really liked her and was either in love or falling. She couldn’t keep hurting people for him. This was the exact thing that happened last year. “Rory, you need to leave. You are my weakness and I can’t keep making the same mistakes. I got a thing for you and I know you’d do anything for me. I want this but I can’t right now and if I keep it up then I’m going to fall back into the same pattern. Unless you are ready to let go of Aspen and I would leave Jayden for you. I would but I think you have loyalty to Aspen and I appreciate that because you always put who you’re with as number one but I want to be that now. I want to have it all and I can’t unless you are free of her. Right now you can’t can you? You can’t leave Aspen because her father died and you aren’t cruel. You aren’t that man and I know that. I keep getting great men and leaving a trail of hearts behind and I don’t want to do that to Jayden because we can’t get it together. I gave my heart to you once and I want to again but I can’t because you can’t. You’re too good to do the same thing to her. So please let’s stop this. Stop looking at me like this. Stop treating me like I’m it for you when I’m not and might have never been.” 

Rory nodded his head he’d text his brother as soon as they were done in the office to get the ball rolling. When she mentioned that they never should have let Tess and Aspen come between them she was right, but he was the one that got drunk and had a one night stand with a woman old enough to be his mother and his half sister’s mother, not her. He was also the one that fucked Yasmine on a couch over Christmas two weeks before his brother and Dani got married. He was the one that had strung Yasmine and Aspen on and he was jolted back to that reality when she mentioned if he was ready to let Aspen go or not. “Dani’s not going to say no to you and if anything Jackson will get it. In some weird way I think they’re like the only ones rooting for us.” Rory said quietly and maybe they were right shouldn’t he want to be happy again? Even if it felt super selfish to do that with Randall six feet under, it had been a few months and he didn’t think Aspen was weak or anything but what was he even doing with her still? “I probably said too much.” He said he didn’t want Yasmine to think it was a way to get her back even though he wished it was. “It’s for those kids too.”

When she asked him to leave he honestly thought that was his out when it came to just walking away from her and out the door. What in the hell was he so afraid of with Yasmine Kohl, the vulnerability of fucking up with her more than likely. He sat there for a moment and folded his hands in his lap. “I honestly don’t even know if I want to stay with Aspen anymore Yasmine love shouldn’t be this hard with someone, we have little to nothing in common and I know she’s unhappy. I missed the moment with you if I’m honest when we slept together before Jackson and Dani’s wedding. I should have ended things with her that night, not made the choice I did. We would be happy now you and I. You’d be running this center and I’d have RePlay with you by my side and sure most of my family would make snide comments but I’d have you. I don’t want to fuck up your life more than I already have and it’s something I will have to live with. Jayden Bradshaw is a pretty good guy and an amazing surgeon and if he makes you happy then I want to be happy for you. I miss you Yasmine and clearly I’m paying for it.” Rory said he knew that even if he broke up with Aspen he was not going to ruin what Yasmine had with Jayden he wouldn’t do that to her after everything that they had been through. He wiped his hands on his pants while he looked at her and then saw Jayden standing in the doorway. 

Yasmine stood up seeing Jayden at her door. They must have left the main entrance unlocked and she wondered how much he heard. When she looked at Rory she knew he hadn’t said too much but how were they supposed to move forward. Here she was with Jayden and he still had the albatross that was Aspen around his neck. Every time they were honest with each other it seemed like the timing wasn’t right. She knew Jayden was a good guy and a good man. Her mother liked him, hell even Forbes liked him which didn’t mean much knowing he was a kidnapper. Yet she felt a sense of sadness evoking her now seeing that the life she had with Rory was over. He couldn’t let go of Aspen and even if she did let go of Jayden where would that leave her? She did that with Khalil and he had moved forward and here she was thinking of doing the same thing. He didn’t choose her, his choice was Aspen and that broke her. “Thank-you Rory and I’ll hit Dani’s line so we can handle that.” She looked at him and Jayden. 

“Hi.” She said walking to her man and hugging him and looking at Rory as he walked down the hall and out of the building. Possibly out of her life. Did they just do the most grown up thing they’d ever had done? Which was saying goodbye? Was this really the end of Diamond and Rory? She never thought about her time as a stripper but she missed that era right now. She missed having someone that understood her. He never stepped foot in the ghetto but understood her soul so completely. Farewell my friend she thought to herself heartbroken that they wouldn’t get a second chance. “Come in! What’s this big surprise for me?” Yasmine said, holding back the tears and holding in all the intensity of what just happened. 

*****

Brooke’s wedding dress was perfect. It took almost nine months to complete but she looked like something out of a Disney movie. The corset was killer and the hand beading was impeccable. Val was helping her take off one of the heaviest dresses she’d ever worn. Taking a breath she was finally out of it. Looking over at Val and baby Charlie. Brooke began to get dressed again. “He’s really beautiful Val, motherhood looks amazing on you. I remember when we met, you always talked about what type of mom you’d be. Well look at you girl you’re that mom now. I’m proud of you especially after all the things you went through last year. It’s just crazy I didn’t get to come to your wedding Val.” She said, slightly hurt her best friend hadn’t invited her to her very own wedding. She walked to Charlie and took him out of Val’s arms and snuggled with the Gerber baby. He was so handsome and smelled so good. “You know I’m officially a godmother now because he’s mine. Oh my god look how he’s looking at me!” She gushed with emotions. Before she knew it tears slipped down her face.

“Tell me everything Val. I mean everything you just were getting over the abortion when Belle exposed your sextape. It’s hard right now to understand all of this. You are now married to Connor and have a kid? I’m trying to wrap my head around all of this? Just when I’m leaving Atlas Falls you’re coming home and I am trying to figure out if that’s divine fate or something because you and Belle are already starting. I am not trying to tell you what to do but Jamal and she are happy and you look happy. Why can’t you all coexist because I’m sorry she almost ruined you last time. Are you sure you want to come up against her again? Just let them do them and you do you? Maybe? Or not? You wanted to do that didn’t  you? I can’t be mad at that it was a boss ass move sis.” She kissed Charlie and looked up at Val. “Okay spill bitch.”

“After the tape I was in Milan and a few months later I realized I was really late. Um and I didn’t want to go through what I did with Jamal all over again so I decided to keep it. I didn’t tell Connor right away I didn’t know if everything would be alright and honestly I didn’t want someone to talk me out of having it. So I waited and when I really started to show I had meant to come here only to learn Connor had been traded so I showed up after one of his games in Ohio.” Val said, looking at Brooke with determination in her voice as she recounted how she and Connor got together after the game in Ohio and how Connor and her worked through the surprise of her pregnancy. She saw Brookes’ expression and almost laughed at how funny it was that she was the one that had sprung her pregnancy on Connor and had shocked the entire world with it. “Neddless to say he was pretty shocked by it and given who his family is can you blame him. But we agreed we both wanted the baby, so during off season he came back with me. We had Charlie in Milan and a few weeks later he swept me to Denmark and we got married. It was just us.” 

Val could tell that Brooke was hurt that she had missed her wedding but honestly she didn’t want a big one and it made sense for her and Connor to get married after Charlie was born. Then the explosion happened and Connor’s entire family had been affected by it and she shook her head at the sadness of Ryan’s death while she watched Beooke play with Charlie. “Then the explosion happened and we didn’t think it was the best time to actually celebrate. His brother in law’s just died. And Connor negotiated a trade to come back here since his siblings and niece and nephew are here. Charlie will get to grow up around his cousins. Honestly I think Jamal and I can be civil, that atrocity that is Belle Devonshire no thanks. I know she is Rory’s sister but honestly I hate her, Brooke and so should you. If she was wise she’d know not to tussle with me this time she’ll lose.” Val said she wasn’t above using her new last name to get what she wanted and if it was to hurt little Belle she’d do just that.

Brooke shook her head looking at Val feeling a tinge of fear. Val could say she was here for family and her business but they were best friends and she didn’t agree. She was here to get her lick back to Belle. “I won, I have the prince and a fabulous life. Why would I care what she’s doing? Belle doesn’t intimidate me and her presence isn’t going to change my relationship but hers with yours. I just don’t like you coming back to fight with her. You’re a mom to this amazing baby boy and you’re married. I’m happy for you but Belle isn’t worth your sanity or you losing peace. She can be horrible but you aren’t a wallflower and you won’t be pushed around. So this is a recipe for disaster if you think Belle is a going to sit back and let your affect her life. I don’t hate the girl anymore but I watch with a keen eye and I think she’s in love with Jamal. She’s happy and I just want everyone to find peace because it’s been so much pain to go around. You know Aspen’s dad just died? We need to heal all of us and I’m on my path after Ronan and what I did. I’m happy for once.” 

She grabbed Charlie’s blanket covering him in designer clothing which made her smile happily. Soon she’d be a mother like Val. “You look amazing girl and you look refreshed, don’t let Belle stress you or anything. Come on, we have to go back out there, my man waiting.” She giggled as she looked at her bestie. “Oh and when I have my daughter I predict that our kids will eventually marry and have an amazing life. We will be in-laws and officially family even though you are my sister right now. How did you know I needed you?” Brooke asked as tears formed in her eyes. “You had such a hard year Val and I don’t want to see you in that type of pain again. You are so good and amazing sis we deserve this ending. So please don’t do it. Don’t fight with that brat. She isn’t worth it, all that you got from all that pain don’t lose it okay?” 

Belle honestly wondered what Brooke’s dress looked like after all she was all for upstaging anyone. But after that fight with Val already she knew she’d have to scalp her again. She wanted a piece of her again and it was clear. The sales clerk handed her two boxes for the dresses she bought. “Connor.” She said seeing him staring at her and Jamal. “I’m so happy for you. Look at you, you’re a father, married and happy. That’s what you deserve I just thought because you used to be on my heels you’d have a little more taste. I’m not trying to diss you or your woman but God her? It’s cute I guess. Turning lemons into lemonade but I always think a tart is a well a tart.” Picking up her champagne glass she leaned back on Jamal feeling him wrapping his arms around her. “We should go, I don’t want to have to scalp his wife again. After all I’m trying something new, if I have nothing good to say then I’ll say it.” Belle looked at Connor who had a rugged look and his eyes hadn’t left her. “Oh here comes the misses. Our cue have a good one Connor.”

Connor looked over as he watched Val with Brooke he was glad she had Brooke in her corner though honestly he despised Brooke, Rory and Jamal they were all assholes in his mind especially Jamal with how everything went down with Val. Regardless he knew that he was back in town and he had to play his cards right as he looked over at Belle when she started talking to him as if they were friends or had anything in common. He couldn’t help but stare at Belle and Jamal wondering how in the hell that even happened to begin with. “I did have taste to do the right thing and not be some callous dick to a woman I slept with. You know the problem with you Devonshire’s you like to think your crap doesn’t stink it reeks. You literally led me on for David Rhodes as if being a Hessington was beneath you. It’s cute you are with some music producer that likely will step out on you at his first act to get a little freaky with him.” Connor said taking his glass and taking  a drink seeing Jamal about ready to hit him, he wished he would.

Jamal had no idea how them going shopping and divulged into whatever drama Belle and Val had cooked up but he couldn’t help but stare at that damned baby and get angry at it. How could she have just aborted their kid yet had this assholes? Let alone marry one, when he started to insult Belle he stepped forward seeing the body guard make a move too, the Hessington’s were on an even playing field when it came to name and reputation and he wasn’t about ready to let him just stand there and insult Belle and part of him looked at Val to stop it. “Yeah and well like your brother you’re just an asshole who harasses the women in the Devonshire family. Don’t you have a basketball to go bounce somewhere to pretend you are important. Let’s go, Belle. I’m sure we can be polite at the wedding and never see each other ever again.” Jamal said looking at them all and seething how in the world did he and Belle become the bad guys here.

Val had listened to Brooke ramble on and she was so happy for her best friend but knew in many ways they were on different paths towards where they were going. That over the last few years was just part of life and honestly she just hugged Brooke back and smiled as she cooed over Charlie to then head back and took off the gown. She turned and watched as Belle and Jamal were in some conversation with Connor and she walked up to her husband taking his hand in her own. “It’s amazing right the dress I mean, of course this guy right here is too.” Val said with as much fake venom that she could while she watched the look between the two men and she leaned up to kiss Connor pulling back. “We really should be going. Whitney texted and said she wants us to come over something about dinner, your dad may come and I am dying to introduce Charlie to them. I guess we’ll see you both at the wedding?” Val said with a sickly sweet plastered smile on her face.

Belle waved at them as she rolled her eyes. “To the wedding.” She said enough venom to poison a cobra. “Oh and Connor I never thought the Hessington’s were below the Devonshire’s. In fact at one point my biggest regret was choosing David over you but you were traded and we could never be love. I think everything happened the way it was supposed to. Now didn’t it you have your baby and wife and I have Jamal. Trust me I like how things ended up considering your taste level dear. I mean that is one of the main reasons Charles wanted you with a Devonshire because like the Hessington’s we know when someone is below our rank.” Looking Val up and down. “Hmm.” Taking Jamal’s hand she walked out gritting her teeth. “I’m going to run them both out of Atlas Falls this time. He doesn’t get to talk to you like that and she doesn’t ever think she got one up on me.”

*****

Jayden was trying his best to stay calm while he watched Yasmine with Rory through the window though he hadn’t heard the entire conversation he could see it. He had the day off from work and had decided to come by and surprise her with a lunch out, he wanted to do that for her since they hadn’t been out in a while. Right now he was on the night shift. He could tell by the way that Rory looked at her that the man was clearly head over heels in love with her which honestly just made him even more self conscience about everything, no one knew that Gloria and Jeremiah were his parents and though he had been on the straight and arrow, most of his time in Atlas Falls. He had also changed that prescription when Forbes asked and forged David’s name on Brenda Kincaid’s prescription likely leading to that fucking accident that happened. He watched as Rory left and could tell that she was upset and he hoped that Rory wasn’t the cause of it.

“So I can tell when a man is making a play on another woman but I’m going to go out on a limb and ask you to be a hundred with me.  What was Rory doing here and why was he looking at you like that? Do you still have feelings for him? I really like you Yasmine like a lot to the point I don’t know I can see myself with you and only you. Which is a lot coming from me. I’ve fallen in love with you.” Jayden said looking at her he wanted to trust her but there was something about Rory he didn’t trust at all. Maybe it was his last name that threw him off so much he paused while he handed her the dozen roses he had got and knew he was acting insanely jealous and a part of him was. “I’m really trying to be understanding and supportive here but he’s always sniffing around you. Doesn’t he like have a fiance and is supposed to be getting married. Aspen, something or other, her father passed away that night. I swear if he was in here upsetting you he and I are going to have words.” Jayden said wondering what exactly he had walked in on.

Yasmine knew that he felt something the way he was standing in the doorway. She felt the intensity radiating off of him. It was almost like he could feel her slipping away and back to Rory. The look on their faces might as well have given it away. Touching his goatee she shook her head. “Rory came to donate to the community center and he’s helping me with a problem I have here. No you can’t help me with it because it’s handled as much as it can be. I have to learn how to coexist with my siblings and the world of the Montgomery family. Look, my siblings are pulling a coup on our father and after what he’s done he deserves it but Philip doesn’t deserve MontCorp because he’s just as bad. So I was asking him for advice. That’s it and that’s all. We did talk about the past and we both are certain that closing the door is the best option. You are priority Jayden. You have nothing to be afraid of.” She said confident in her lie. Yasmine loved Rory but they weren’t destined as they thought they were. 

“So can we stop talking about Rory and talk about why you are all dressed up and I thought we were going to get a smoothie or something. Baby we are okay and I’m invested in us.” She said once again lying. This lie wasn’t bad though because she was going to be with Jayden and finally move on. She was finally over it. They couldn’t be together and instead of wallowing in that she was moving forward with a doctor. She purposely ignored his questions about her feelings and focused in on them. “You are my man and Rory Devonshire is my past so right now all I need from you is to be my man and not be scared of my past. The past is in the past trust me when I say that.” 

Jayden wanted to believe her that or his ego did who would turn him down? He almost sneered at the donation check on the desk. She wanted money he could ask his parents for some or to match whatever it was that Rory had given her. He honestly was annoyed if anything, that Yasmine needed to rely on someone like Rory to help out her center. When she mentioned her family he stayed silent honestly he’d heard the stories about her father and he didn’t want to double cross Forbes Montgomery it would fall back on his parents. They hadn’t raised an idiot when it came to doing what needed to be done for his family. He wasn’t about to go out and start an all out feud with the Montgomery’s and messing with Philip even for Yasmine didn’t sound like the right move. “Okay then it was just a donation check. As for the advice about the business side. I’m sorry I don’t have all the advice for you on that front. I’m really trying to not be jealous but you met Rory at a really emotional time in your life and you’re connected to him through that. And I just want to make sure that this is what you really want.” He said looking at her honestly he had plans for them. He was going to talk it over with his parents but he wanted Yasmine.

He nodded his head at her not wanting to talk about Rory anymore for the rest of the day. He had an entire one planned. First was an amazing lunch at La Callie,then he had made a spa afternoon for her and lastly he was whisking her away to the ballet, the real ballet. “You don’t think wearing a fancy ass suit to get a smoothie would be acceptable? Why Ms. Kohl I don’t know whether to be impressed or insulted? Also you deserve so much more than a smoothie bar and I fully intend to make sure you see that long term.” He said leaning over and kissing her gently on the lips he let out a moan when she reciprocated it and hoped that Rory was in the past. Breaking apart from her he smiled, handing her the fancy envelope that held the tickets for her. After lunch she wanted to go home and put on whatever she wanted. Or she could wear her street clothes. It didn’t matter, he just wanted to take her out. “You said you’ve never been before so I took the liberty of getting us private box seats for the evening and that is after an amazing lunch date. Go ahead and open it.” He stroked her cheek hoping he hadn’t misread the situation completely.

Yasmine leaned in and kissed him excited that she was actually seeing Swan Lake. He had made effort to spend his day with her and here she was about to fall back in with Rory. She didn’t want him to doubt her. Yasmine was committed with Jayden but right now she was slipping back into old ways. Being selfish to Jayden because Rory was her young heart and one day she’d be able to see him and not feel immediately drawn to him. She knew that she was once again using another man to get over Rory or finally let him go. Her heart was with Rory but her mind knew that it couldn’t work. Philip and Max basically showed them what happened when a Montgomery and Devonshire fell in love. Hell was it actually love between them? Or were they both rebelling against the natural order of how things just had to be. She stroked his face and shook her head. “I want you to know that Rory is a part of my life but he is in the past. I hope one day I can be his friend without you thinking that I care, and that if for a moment you think you aren’t what I want. Then you are wrong and I expect you to question our connection but we aren’t going to be.” 

Yasmine didn’t want to protest too much or else it would come off fake or unreal. It was unfair to him but ignoring her heart was what she needed to do. Some of those kids had already signed that damn scholarship with MontCorp. Meaning she’d have to walk a fine line between her family and Rory’s help. “What did you get me?” She said unwrapping the box and she gasped at the dress in the box. It was Valentino and it matched his Tom Ford suit perfectly. “I’ll be right back.” She rushed out of the room and about twenty minutes later she returned in the dress and was freshly showered. She had her hair wet and curly and she smiled at him. “Zip me up and maybe you can unzip me tonight.”

Jayden watched her eyes light up at the tickets and knew that was the right move; she had been mentioning the ballet forever, and he wanted to show her he was interested in what she was. Her interests were important to her and if anything he felt that they should try to at least share that mutual passion with one another. He was going to have to trust that she had no more feeling for Rory Devonshire though if anything he was wary given the sight he had walked in on, they looked very much so still connected even though nothing had happened. It was the way Rory looked at her, the way she had glanced back at him, meaning he was going to have to up his timetable with Yasmine. When he set his sights on something he was never one to back down about it and he wanted Yasmine. Unlike how he had wanted other nurses and other women he had been with there was something alluring and fresh with her. He kissed her back gently while he handed her the box with the dress.

Watched as she opened it and then went in to change and took out his phone checking on a few patients and then saw a text come through from his mother. She and his father wanted to meet Yasmine and he wasn’t sure he was prepared for that; they could be a lot, but knew that it needed to happen. He had only hoped it was on his terms, he froze a bit as he looked at the picture of Forbes on her desk. He knew one thing she could never know what Forbes had asked him to do to Brenda Kincaid’s medication, it would risk his license and he didn’t think she would be cool with him playing God with Brenda’s health.

He put his phone away once the door opened and he looked at her in her Valentino gown, she looked amazing though he thought she looked good in anything. Walking to her he smiled while she moved her hair to the side and exposed her zipper. His fingers trailing down her back watching her shiver just slightly, as his hands lowered and slowly did the zipper up. Leaning down he kissed her shoulderblade before leaning into her ear. “I think we can arrange that later. Let’s head out or we’ll be late.” He said placing his hands on her waist and gently gliding her out the door casting a glance on her desk to the check on it, he’d be reaching out to his parents to double what Rory had given her, he wanted to play ball he was ready and Yasmine was not something he was willing to lose.

*****

Aspen perfected her last curl. Tomorrow she starts her job but tonight she’d party at Club XES. Picking up her makeup brush she applied a little more blush and highlighter on her cheeks When she heard the door open she stood up in Herve Leger metallic gold and green bandaid dress. Applying a perfect pink lipstick and lipgloss. Turning around she heard Rory’s keys hit the bowl and she was outside tonight and knew what she had to do. Moody music was playing in the background. As she looked at her reflection she knew it was time. Standing up she slipped on her Chanel pumps and strutted out seeing Rory drinking a beer. He looked defeated about something but she wasn’t going to back down. If she wanted Khalil she needed to close this painful chapter. She thought it would be good with him but honestly she’d wasted a year of her life. Licking her lips she flung her hair and she saw his eyes bulge out seeing her attire and entire look. “Hey I’m going out tonight and I won’t be coming home.” She said confidently, turning to look in the mirror in the foyer. Picking up her Gucci purse she saw his confusion. 

“We need to talk because I have some things to get off of my chest and I just think now is the best time. I got this new job, and I’m ready to let go of all this baggage. When I was younger I was always the fat girl chasing behind Brooke and eventually Val’s perfection. My insecurities have led every moment of our relationship. All I wanted was to be skinny and I wanted you. I wanted you so badly that I compromised who I was and what I needed. I went above and beyond for this relationship and it wasn’t worth me. It wasn’t worth my self respect, my confidence, and who I am as a woman. I’m not duplicitous as Max and I thought she was a mentor.” She said, shaking her head. “Instead she was projecting her own experiences with the Montgomery family on you. Making Yasmine into a villain and she isn’t, she’s just a woman who loved a man. I made her out to be the bad guy as well and I just can’t give a damn about that girl anymore. She can spin on the pole, or in a dance studio but I don’t want to be second to Yasmine Montgomery any longer. So I’m about to lay it all out. Max helped me trap you, I am not sure you’re the father of the baby I lost, and I’m no longer interested in investing in a loveless relationship. You treat me like I’m a friend instead of the woman you truly want to be with. You aren’t interested in me like that and I get it now. I held onto you for status not that I didn’t have my own but I want the title of being with a Devonshire man. I am not sure why I stayed but I hope you’re happy. I hope you find real love again but that isn’t me or with me. Don’t get upset because this is what we both need. Rory we are over.” She exhaled and felt so much lighter. After a moment of silence she felt tension building up inside of the room. “Say something please.”

Rory had texted his brother about helping with Yasmine and knew it was a go when he said he and Dani agreed back to him. He then spent the rest of the day driving around the city trying to clear his head coming back to the condo felt so final but eventually That was where he ended up and opening the fridge he pulled out a Fraiser beer popped it open and took a drink. Why was fate working against him all the damn time when it came to Yasmine? Was that so much for anyone to ask and for God to give him, he could tell Aspen was home by the music down the hallway and watched as she strutted out in a banging outfit and part of him wanted to strip off that dress and just fuck her mainly to forget about his shitty ass day and he knew that was going to be unfair to her to them both. He had just told Yasmine she was the one for him even though she rejected him all over again. What in the hell did Aspen mean that she wouldn’t be coming back home? Part of him was listening and then part of him was zoning out when she pretty much friendzoned him too. This was not how it was supposed to go; he was the one that was supposed to break up with her.

Did it make him a coward when she said that she was doing this for her and then his eyes snapped at her in anger what in the fuck was she talking about with Max? He knew his sister didn’t like Yasmine; she’d never really hidden it and in anger he took a swig of his beer. He was so angry when she said thay the baby she lost may or may not have been his like what the actual fuck. “What the fuck do you mean Max helped you trap me? What do you mean it wasn’t mine like I know I fucked up with Yasmine but Jesus Christ.” Rory said a coldness he didn’t know in his own voice that he had while he stared at her. His entire hand was shaking while he looked at her. He had grieved that baby with her at the hospital after she fell and miscarried. “I held you while you cried. We cried together over it. I held you together afterwards. You embarrassed me at my brothers fucking wedding over fucking Yasmine and it may not have been even mine. You are a real piece of work.” Rory said and he knew it was callous when he did but fucking hell he was fucking pissed at the moment.

“I wanted you to love me!” She screeched as she threw up her hands. “I literally am telling you everything. I’m putting it all on the table. I can’t keep this bottled in anymore. I messed up and I know I was wrong. I know I wasn’t good and I know that I’ve done despicable things. This is my atonement right now. You’re free Rory of me and all I did. I messed up but you have as well. You slept with Yasmine while with me so please don’t make me to be the bad guy all alone Rory. This is me saying I can’t do it anymore. I need you to listen and really listen to the words that I’m saying. You don’t love me and I tried so hard to make you. I tried over and over again Rory but she is so embedded inside of you that you can’t love anyone else. There is no more room because you are like Jackson. You aren’t Max or Belle or Chauncey. You’re a Bliss and a Jackson because you three feel so much more than them. You understand love more than them. I’m not saying forgive me or anything like that. I’m saying we need to be free to feel those things.” She said approaching him and touching his chest. 

“I thought that we could find happiness and I tried so badly. I know I’m not a good person but I’m trying. I’m trying right now.” The tears slid down her face as she exhaled. Touching Rory’s face she looked at him. “Please look at me. I didn’t want to lose what I thought we had. We were friends once and eventually I hope we can be friends again. I didn’t want to be alone when I lied. I just lost a baby and I just couldn’t be alone. I have spent my life never feeling good enough. Rory, that’s how you make me feel. You make me feel like I’m still that little girl chasing behind you. But I’m not that girl. I’m not that girl, I’m a woman and I want to feel loved and I want you to feel loved. I want to feel more than this and you do too if you only open your eyes. You aren’t happy with or in love with me. So please jump off of your high horse and just listen. I messed up but I’m freeing you. I need to be free and now that’s happening. I’m letting you go.” Aspen wept softly.

“You wanted me to love you and that meant that you went out and slept with someone else and then lied about the baby you were having? What the actual fuck! Why can’t you tell me who it was, was it Khalil? You know what maybe I don’t want to fucking know. What in the hell did Max do or have a part in the lie or encourage you to do that?” Rory said recoiling when she reached out and touched him shrugging her off, it was so very fucked up what she was saying. He was likely being an asshole about it but wasn’t he allowed to be hurt right now she publicly embarrassed him at his brother’s wedding over it. He wanted to laugh over it honestly as the memory of the encounter at the reception played over in his head and he took another drink of his beer. He was livid at his sister to and would talk to her when he was ready but this all sounded so beyond fucked up. He knew Max liked to play her games, everyone in the family knew that but with his own life and happiness and because what Yasmine was a stripper at one point and Forbes’ daughter?

“Rory, you can’t do this. You can’t do this because I’m pregnant.” He said mocking her with an icy stare as the words came out what a crock of shit. He saw her looking at him shocked and he took another drink. So done with the drama with her. “Truth hurt Aspen? You wanted me to love you after faking a pregnancy by someone else and are now setting me free because of the guilt. Let me tell you something, none of what you did is love. For all those claims about love I doubt that you even know the meaning of the word. People who love people don’t lie about something like that.” He was so fucking mad at her and honestly he wanted her out of the condo even though he knew it wasn’t the right thing to do.

“I made a lot of mistakes, I quit chasing Yasmine to stand by your side when you lost that baby, that I thought was mine. I picked you and none of it was even real, so just don’t. I thought about calling this entire thing off the night of the casino explosion. If we’re being so honest with each other, this has been over for a while. But then your dad died and that seemed like a dickhead move. So yeah you’re right this is over, I’m going to go back to the mansion till you find a place.” Rory said moving from his spot behind the counter to the other side of the kitchen island putting space between them. Honestly it was like a weight was released around him while he looked at her and tears sprang into his eyes about how he had wasted so much time and energy on whatever this was. When he let moments that he could have had with the woman he did love slip on by and now she was with someone else. “Right now I’m not even sure that we can go back to being friends, Aspen. I’m not even sure I can forgive you for whatever you and Max cooked up or lying about a baby that might not have been mine in the first place. I’ll attend Brooke’s wedding by myself and make an excuse why you aren’t there. I’ll break the news to my mom about the engagement being off, I’d like the ring back.”

“You cheated on me! You did that with or without the baby so stop it. Get off your high horse and be a man! Be a man and say you used me as much as I used you! I hung on too long. You want to be honest it wasn’t Khalil in fact it was someone who I have no connection to. Honestly it could have been your or his.” She snapped back at him. “You don’t have to worry about me, my belongings are being moved out tomorrow. I’ll be back to pack up tomorrow after work. You need to be real with yourself though. You loved that girl the entire time of our relationship, and you never gave us a true chance so I’m not about to pretend that I’m not wrong. I know I was wrong but you are as well. You aren’t the victim neither of us are. You are delusional if you believe that you are a victim. Oh so I ruined your reunion with Yasmine oops that was the point. You don’t have to go anywhere, stay and be alone because that’s all you are. You’re lonely and sad and it’s sad that I kept myself with a man who didn’t love me. Your sister told me to keep the baby possible paternity from you. Not only that, she taught me how to lie to you and do it very convincingly. She is the main reason why I am done. You Devonshire’s aren’t normal and I don’t want to be associated with you or them any longer. I would have jumped off a bridge to get you to look at me once the way you look at Yasmine. You have never cared about me that I know. You don’t love me and since we are being honest your feelings have bled on me. You made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to be with you. I was never the girl you dreamed of. But the irony is you and Yasmine can’t get it right. So don’t blame me that you screwed up with her. You slept with another woman, and that is why you two aren’t together. I won’t be your punching bag because you can’t have her and now that I’m breaking up with you and telling the truth you’re throwing a temper tantrum?” She screamed at him knowing that he wasn’t hearing her. 

“I’ve had enough, I’ve told you all my sins but be a man! Be a fucking man admit it! Say it, Rory. Tell me that you never loved me, that you never considered me the girl nor the woman you needed or confided in. From the moment we got together I wasn’t enough because I wasn’t Yasmine. I wasn’t the girl of your dreams. I was the replacement for your heart. I just said you aren’t like Max, Chauncey, or Belle but maybe I was wrong. You are just as self absorbed as those three. You aren’t the victim, you aren’t a good guy you just fucking admitted you kept me around because my dad died. You aren’t innocent. Listen to what you said, is it normal to lead a woman on after all I’ve been through. Did I not deserve your honesty? Now I’m giving you the truth and I’m horrible. Yes I am wrong but I am no longer going to be your replacement. I have people who love me and I won’t be second to Yasmine or your sadness. Or wondering if you even care about me. I’m a human! I crave love and you denied for months no correction years and now you want to sit here and be the moral pillar? You aren’t a good guy Rory! Wake up or did you forget fucking Yasmine while we were together and I forgave you. You aren’t the man for me but you are human. We all are and I thought that I could trick love. God I thought I could be the woman you needed but the only person you need is Yasmine. I’m done with this so if you can’t understand then go to hell. I don’t want your last name. I don’t want you. Now does it hurt because you are a passive man who couldn’t even admit to himself that you aren’t in love. You can’t love anyone but her because you lost her and she left you, so your ego is wounded. I used to think you were smart but Rory you couldn’t be because you wasted our time together. If you were a man she wouldn’t be with Jayden right now would she? The truth hurts you have watched the love of your life slip away and now you need to make me the bad guy. No, I want to tell you the truth so you blame your elitist sister, yourself, and then me. But you don’t get to sit here and make me feel badly or talk to me like I’m trash!” She screamed at him. 

“For once I know who I am and it isn’t who your sister thought I should be, it isn’t who you wanted me to be and I don’t want to be alone anymore when I had a man laying right next to me. You didn’t even notice how unhappy you made me because she consumes you. That’s fine Rory she can have you now. I’m done.” Aspen picked up purse. “Please don’t be here when I pick up my things because I don’t want to see your face. Maybe I was crazy to ever believe we could at least be friends. But I got me back, I have a piece of myself that I haven’t had in years. I’m Aspen Sinclair and she’s enough. She’s amazing and she will always thank-you Rory. You have shown me what a man should never treat like. So I appreciate it. Thanks for the lesson but my heart and mind aren’t at war anymore. I know that I’m worthy of love and I’m worthy of more than you!” Aspen spewed at him. “Oh and Khalil has been trying to get with me for months and just so you know I will be with a man who will do me better.” 

Rory stood there mouth open while he stared at her, moving his feet back and forth because she was right he had lied to her. Really lied to himself over everything when it came to his entire relationship with both Aspen and Yasmine. She wanted him to be honest with her. He supposed that he owed her that much, even though he didn’t want to hurt her or her feelings. “Fine you want the truth I’ve never loved you not in the way you so clearly deserve and that makes me an asshole, I own it. I’ve been in love with Yasmine since I saw her on a pole at the club, is that what you’ve wanted to hear? You’ll never be Yasmine Aspen to me or maybe even Khalil. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted but I messed up and I let her go thinking it was the right thing to do. I tried to move on with you, but I can’t. I certainly didn’t mean to hurt you or cause you to lie to me either. I won’t be here when you get back and it’s better this way since you apparently hate my family so much. We won’t have to interact.” Rory said, casting one last glance at her, his eyes a mixture of sadness and coldness before he walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to his office, shutting the door behind him letting the echo of the click fill the cold condo.

*****

Khalil was on the couch the TV on absently in the background while he was on his iPad going through plays and everything for his next game. For him it was easing his mind or at least he was trying to let it, the encounter at Aspen’s dad’s house playing over and over in his mind. He had fought off enough hardons over it through the day and he wondered if she hadn’t stopped what would have happened. The likely would have fucked and then regretted it much like that time that they did it after her miscarriage too, when she sought comfort from him and then went right back to Rory. Honestly Rory annoyed him to no end, why was it that he got to treat girls and women like this and he was esteemed as some good dude all the time? Back in Scottswood there would be a few words that he would be called and none of them would be good and he picked up his phone checking the time and a text from Connor. He was still shocked that Connor was married to the woman he filmed a tape with and had a kid that was fucking wild.

When the knock on his condo door happened he muted the TV and walked to it looking through the peephole at Aspen on the other side. The dress she was wearing fit her in all the right places and he wondered if she had upped the timetable and felt not waiting till the next day was worth it and dumped Rory. He debated for a moment before biting his bottom lip at her and opening the door. Once she was in he closed the door behind her and eyed her up and down. “You look good. What brings you by? I thought you said you wanted to wait till tomorrow?” He saw her eyes and she’d been crying and instantly he felt like a damned ass. But maybe it would work to his advantage this time that she finally had enough of Devonshire bullshit and threw it in with Rory and walked away. “So you wanna talk or?” He offered looking, at her already mentally taking that dress off her body deciding where it would land on the floor.

Aspen left the condo and got right into her car driving not to the club but to her man. He literally said Khalil nor him could get over Yasmine but he was wrong. He couldn’t help it even after all her words and her fury Rory couldn’t help one last dig. Khalil was over Yasmine and in fact he wanted her. He truly wanted her something Rory never did. The fact was he was miserable, he didn’t have enough gumption to go after what he wanted and she wouldn’t allow herself to be that. She wanted Khalil, he wanted her and they would be together. She sat for a moment she actually thought speaking the truth would end things on better terms. Somehow she forgot how petulant he could be. After all he was a Devonshire. Tears were falling down her eyes as she swerved down the streets of Atlas Falls. As she pulled up to Khalil condo she wiped her face. She wanted Rory to pay for what he did. At this moment he was cold and callous just thinking that she was going to let him talk to her any damn way. Hopping out of the car she strutted in the cold to his door. As she knocked on the door she knew that she wasn’t looking back. 

“I left Rory tonight.” She said triumphantly. “I’m no longer going to be second to Yasmine or be treated like that. He thought I was going to just let him speak to me like I was trash. I stood for my self respect and he wasn’t going to belittle me when he had been fucking lusting after that girl since we got together. I refused to let him skate through as if he was a victim. He plays like he’s a nice guy but Rory isn’t and I’m no longer letting him have a pass. I told him he’s just like the rest of his family. He just dresses it up nicer. So I’m done and tonight I’d rather slit my wrist than go to that house. Or a hotel when I have you. I have you and if you want to you can have me. I need you tonight Khalil. I need to sleep somewhere I feel safe. How didn’t I see it? How didn’t I notice how he never could be the guy for me? When you were just waiting I’m so sorry.” Aspen said, reaching out to him, grabbing his hands. “I need you and only you.” 

Khalil had waited almost over a year for her to say that she had left Rory, honestly he didn’t get the hype the man was a playa that liked the game maybe not intentionally but it was what Rory was used to. Using his name, money and clout in order to get what he wanted when he wanted it and everyone else be damned along the way. The difference between others he knew was that Rory masked it like Aspen just pointed out by pretending to be a good man and guy. But the woman before him, he was amazed at how she handled it. Honestly everything about Aspen intrigued him, she was different and that was why she had worked her way into his heart when he didn’t think he had space after Yasmine. It wasn’t that he didn’t love Yasmine, he did as a friend he was over the high school love and feelings he had for her. He walked to her, taking her purse from her and putting it on the counter and then wrapping her in his arms. He needed her too and he wasn’t about ready to let her go to some hotel room for the night. She was clearly welcome here.

“You’ll stay here as for the rest you already know now I feel about you. Aspen I only want you.” Khalil said leaning in and taking her lips with his own, this time he didn’t think there was anything that would stop them. There was no Rory or Yasmine, no other third party so they could finally really see what this was. His hands traveled down her coat gently letting it fall to the floor, his hands went to the back of her dress lowering the zipper. Breaking his lips from hers long enough to watch it pool to the floor before kissing her again. He wrapped his arms around her waist and then lifted her up, he wasn’t sure they would actually make it to the bed at this point, he’d waited so long to be with her. He finally broke apart from the kiss while he let his fingers snake around the fabric on her thong pulling it to the side while his fingers sank into her. His lips traveled down her neck sucking and teasing while he fingered her, pressing her into the wall. “I’m not sure I can wait till bed.” He whispered his lips traveling down before he added his tongue to his fingers. Sucking and teasing, lifting her legs over his shoulders while he feasted on her, inhaling her scent that he realized he missed lapping and licking, hearing her moan while he worked on her clit.

Aspen nodded when Khalil said she could stay with him for the night. Honestly she just wanted to be up under a man who saw her as the prize. Fortunately that was Khalil and something about his energy showed her that he needed her as much as she needed him. When he began to disrobe her she leaned in and kissed him swiftly. It was the sweetest kiss and for the first time she felt a warmth she had never felt when she gave her body to Rory. It was only lust but she could feel the passion radiating off of this man. When he began feasting on her body she began to shiver passionately. “Khalil.” She said as she groaned again his fingers digging deeper into her love canal and her pussy was dripping wet. Her lips quivered as she felt his tongue lavishing her clit in warm kisses. When he grabbed her legs and wrapped them around his shoulders she giggled because her man was a basketball player and he was lean but strong. This man solidified everything she wanted. Aspen began to ride Khalil’s face; she gyrated her hips on his goatee and let him take in her scent. She was marking him in a way, letting him know that her body was his and his only from this point on. 

She didn’t know what time he stopped eating her body; her pussy lips were swollen from all the flicks of that magical tongue. This time she was going to show him exactly how much she needed him. Swinging her legs off of his shoulders, her heels slammed against the marble of his floors. She playfully pushed him down. Then went down to his gym shorts yanking them off with one pull. Aspen felt him lifting up and when she looked down she saw eight or nine inches of beauty. Unpinning her long luxurious red hair, a spiral of curls fell down her face and she threw her hair back. Lowering her head she kissed his thighs then her tongue traveled to his scrotum gently sucking each ball. As her tongue slid up his shaft until her lips wrapped around the head of his penis. Opening her mouth wider she began to devour him as if he was a popsicle on the fourth of july. Relaxing her throat she took him in her mouth inch by inch. Her neck rotating to the rhythm of his moans. She finally deepthroated him, taking his entire penis in her mouth. Aspen came up for air and moaned. She knew he was feeling it and she kept going. Her eyes traveled down to his feet and saw that his toes were curling. As she saw his eyes rolling back in his head she stopped. Then out of pure hunger and lust, Aspen mounted Khalil immediately sliding down on his already wet cock. Inch by inch she hissed; he was girthy and thick as she cried out in passion her hips and ass began to rise up and down on him. Her hair once again fell in her face and she threw it back with a hair flip as her bountiful breast bounced riding her lover

Khalil had wanted to please her first and had been all about doing that while he worked his lips and his mouth on her exploring and feeling her gushing, when she thrust her hips back into his he let out a moan against her center. He wasn’t sure how long he stayed like that until her heels hit the floor and he snapped back to reality he wanted to make her cum first and it wasn’t fair she denied him. He watched in awe as she took control shoving his shorts and boxers down exposing him in the foyer before her mouth wrapped around him. He let out a moan throwing back his head as her tongue worked along his vein and he eagerly shoved his hips up into her lips, feeling his tip hit the back of her throat. Jesus, how was she doing this to him? He honestly hadn’t been with a woman that gave as good head as she did and he let out another moan while his fingers traveled into her hair urging her on while she sucked him, he felt his toes curling and his eyes rolling but he was not going to let the moment go to waste and nut in her mouth, not that it would be a bad thing he just wanted to do it in her.

When she stopped it took him a moment to move his legs before she was on him mounting him and he let out a moan as she slid down onto him, he was fine with her having control while he stared up at her watching her breasts bounce while she threw her ass. He left his hips up off the floor to slam into her pretty sure whoever lived below him was going to hear them. His finger tips dug into her hips and then lifted his body up to sit leaning on the wall while they fucked and he leaned down taking a nipple into his mouth and tugging holding her. “I love you Aspen.” He managed to get out content to let her ride him, sweat dripping down his chest while he rode him and then he moved his fingers to her clit circling a few times feeling how soaked she was and he was certain that he wouldn’t last much longer. “I’m going to.” Khailil said, finally feeling her start to shake and he couldn’t help it while he felt himself unload into her. He wasn’t sure she heard him while he moaned again. “Fuck Aspen.” He said again while he felt himself unload a second time feeling the mess on his lap and then he looked up at her. Watching her finally come and he leaned in kissing her pulling back and hearing her moan.

Aspen continued to ride him furiously; she had to show him how she appreciated how he waited until she could see he was her man. As placed her hands on his chest as she continued to ride him as she felt herself coming closer to the peak of ecstasy. Swirling her hips she began to shake uncontrollably as she began crying out in pleasure. Aspen felt him releasing shortly after as she felt two or three powerful explosions inside of her body. She didn’t release him she just collapsed on his chest. Letting Khalil just stay inside of her. She was on birth control and wouldn’t be having a situation like with Lex. Their bodies were just sweaty and she saw how messy they were. “I love you, I should have said it back earlier. I should have known it earlier but right now I just wanted to show you how much I do care. I thank you Khalil for loving me because I love you and we have a lot to catch up on handsome.”