Chapter 206

My phone buzzed again before I’d even finished reading his last message. Ashton: [If I ask properly this time—can we go public?] The screen lit up with the text, plain and cold. But somehow I could feel him in it—tense, holding back, waiting for me to say yes. I just sat there, staring. A minute ago I’d been ranting about the event organisers and reminding him to stay the hell away from Rowan Hale. I was about to say goodnight. Then this? I reread his message. My brain stalled. My limbs felt heavy, like I’d just walked in from the snow. The phone dinged again. Ashton: [Would you be okay if I tag you in my next post? As my wife?] Okay, so I definitely didn’t misinterpret his last message. A long moment later, all I managed to come up with was: [Let me think.] Ashton: [Okay.] I tossed the phone aside, slapped my cheeks lightly and sat up straighter. Did I want to? Yeah, I liked him. I wasn’t embarrassed about it. I didn’t mind people knowing we were together. But going public online wasn