“Whatever you do, don’t start crying again,” someone said from her right as she struggled to open her eyes before adding, “He really seems to hate that.”

“Who?” Ashley tried to get out, but between the grogginess and the soul crushing pain that was currently tearing her body apart, she barely managed to get out a weak grunt.

“The asshole,” he answered anyway as the bed that she was on was jostled, letting her know that he’d decided to join her on the bed, a first for her, but something that she was going to have to ponder later.

Right now, she had other things that she needed to worry about.

“Good job keeping the tears at bay, sweetheart. Appreciate you taking one for the team,” he said dryly as she registered the feel of a large hand giving her head a condescending pat that left her battling the overwhelming urge to slap the owner of that hand.

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