••• THIRTY-SEVEN •••

Ashton

It had been three days since Sophie left me, and I'd been an absolute wreck. I'd been giving her space because I didn't want to overwhelm her, but I missed her and Rory so much. It was my fault she wasn't speaking to me. If only I had told her about that stupid lunch with Lindsey—which was most definitely not a date—and how she kissed me for a brief second before I pushed her away and explained that I had no feelings for her. This could've all been avoided.

But I didn't want to bring up the past. I didn't think it was worth telling Sophie because, in my mind, nothing happened. But I knew Lindsey still had a crush on me. I just never thought she'd go this far.

I walked out of the elevator after practice, so tired from lack of sleep that I didn't even notice Katie standing outside my apartment, glaring at me like she wanted to kick my ass. She did say if I didn't take care of Sophie, she'd hurt me, so I guess she was here to keep her promise.

"Katie, listen—"

"No! You listen, Maverick," she cut me off, jabbing her finger into my chest. "You hurt my best friend, and I should kill you for that!" I nodded, hanging my head in shame.

"But I know, and deep down Sophie knows, you wouldn't cheat on her. Not after everything you two have been through. Not after you stuck by her side through the coma, her memory loss, and becoming parents."

My heart filled with hope at her words, and I took a deep breath to calm my racing heart. "Katie, I swear we never went on a date, and she kissed me! I pushed her away the second her lips touched mine. I just didn't tell Sophie because she was in a fragile state with her pregnancy and our relationship."

"Well, she's in a much more fragile state now, don't you think?" Katie shot back sarcastically, folding her arms across her chest before sighing. "Look, I didn't come here to yell at you, Ashton. I came because I won't allow you two to push each other away again. You're meant to be together! If you don't work this out, then true love doesn't exist, and you're both cowards." She huffed and started towards the elevator.

"Wait, Katie! How am I supposed to win her back?" I asked, panic rising in my voice. Katie turned around and shrugged.

"You'll think of something in that big head of yours, Ash. Just fix this." She stepped into the elevator and gave me a small wave as the doors shut. I took a deep breath and let her words sink in.

Katie was right. I couldn't lose Sophie and our daughter because of a stupid mistake. I quickly climbed out of the shower, changed into jeans and a T-shirt, then took off towards Sophie's mom's house, praying the whole way there that she'd give me another chance.

The drive to her house gave me time to plan out what I was going to say, but the second I got out of the car and practically ran to her front door, something caused me to freeze before I could ring the doorbell. My heart hammered in my ears as fear crept in, the fear of being rejected by Sophie. I didn't think I could go through that pain again.

I loved Sophie more than anything in this world, and the thought of her not hearing me out made me want to turn around and go back to my car. I was about to step back off the front porch when the door suddenly opened. Sophie stood there, staring at me in disbelief and it felt like time had stopped.