Chapter 9

I pushed open the door to Ash's apartment, and the familiar warmth of her space greeted me. The soft hum of the cooker from the kitchen made me smile. The faint aroma of something spicy and savory filled the air, a sure sign she was in the middle of another culinary experiment. Ash was always doing something—cooking, painting, or rearranging her eclectic collection of mismatched furniture—whenever I showed up unannounced.

"Ash!" I called out, shrugging off my jacket and tossing it over the back of a chair in the small but cozy living room. The sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains gave the space an inviting glow.

"In here!" her voice rang out, slightly muffled. I followed the sound eagerly, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The conversation with Hunter earlier had left me buzzing, and I couldn’t wait to tell her. Ash was my sounding board, the only person who could help me make sense of the whirlwind I’d found myself in.

She was at the stove, the light from the range hood casting a soft glow on her face. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, with a few loose strands framing her cheeks. She was greasing a pan with practiced ease, her movements confident and precise. The sight of her so focused made me smile; Ash always had this way of grounding me.

"You got off work early," she said without looking up, her tone more observation than question. She grabbed a bottle of olive oil and drizzled it over the sizzling pan, the sound filling the kitchen.

"Yeah, the girl taking the next shift came in early," I replied, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter. I sank my teeth into it with a satisfying crunch, the sweetness a small comfort as I tried to figure out how to drop the bombshell I was carrying.

"So, what’s up?" she asked, finally glancing over her shoulder. Her expression was curious but distracted. She was clearly more focused on whatever culinary masterpiece she was attempting.

"Hunter knows I’m Elaine," I blurted out. The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them, their weight hitting the air between us like a thunderclap.

Ash froze mid-movement. Her hand slipped, and the pan clattered to the floor with a deafening clang. I winced, biting my lip as she whipped around to face me.

"Say that again?" she half-yelled, her eyes wide with shock and something bordering on panic.

"Hunter knows I’m Elaine," I repeated, slower this time, the gravity of the statement sinking in.

For a moment, Ash didn’t move. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she grabbed a handful of vegetables from the counter and shoved them toward me. "Slice these," she ordered, thrusting a knife and cutting board in my direction. Her voice was sharp, but I knew her well enough to hear the worry beneath it.

"How did he find out?" she demanded, turning back to the stove and aggressively stirring whatever was in the pot. Her movements were quick and agitated.

"According to him, he’s just...curious. He figured it out on his own," I said, trying to sound nonchalant as I started chopping the vegetables. The rhythmic thud of the knife against the board felt oddly soothing, a small anchor in the storm of emotions swirling around us.

"He’s been snooping around!" Ash gasped, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face me again.

I shook my head. "I wouldn’t call it that, exactly...but yeah, maybe."

"And? What does he want?" she pressed, her gaze boring into me like she could extract the truth through sheer willpower.

"He offered to help me," I admitted, my voice softening. I focused on the vegetables, slicing them a bit faster to avoid meeting her eyes. "I don’t know why."

Ash let out a scoff, followed by a chuckle that sounded more incredulous than amused. "You’ve been around Hunter for two weeks. It’s obvious he’d do anything for you," she said, her tone dripping with teasing.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" I shot back, rolling my eyes. "He’s just helping me get Autumn back."

"You’re so clueless," Ash said, shaking her head with mock exasperation. She scooped up the chopped veggies and dumped them into the now-rescued pan. The sizzling sound filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of garlic and spices. "Seriously, though, how’s he planning to help?"

I hesitated, knowing her reaction would be anything but subtle. "We’re moving in together," I said finally, bracing for impact.

True to form, Ash’s jaw dropped, and the pan hit the counter with a loud thud. "You’re what?!" she shrieked. "Are you eloping and forgot to tell me?"

I groaned, throwing a handful of diced veggies at her. She dodged with a laugh, her wooden spoon raised like a shield.

"It’s not like that!" I protested. "It’s part of the plan."

"Oh, this I’ve got to hear," she said, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. Her expression was equal parts amused and skeptical. "Spill."

"We’re moving into the mansion next to the Riveras," I said, watching her closely for her reaction.

Her brows shot up. "And who’s paying for this mansion, might I ask?"

"Him," I said with a shrug. "Don’t ask me why."

"Oh, I’ll tell you why," she said, rolling her eyes. "Hunter likes you."

I ignored her pointed look. "It’s not about that. I don’t have a choice, Ash. This plan—it’s the only way to get close to the Riveras before their charity ball this weekend."

Ash sighed, her concern evident in the furrow of her brow. "And you’re okay with this? Pretending to be...what? His wife?"

"Exactly," I said, my voice quieter now. "It’s just a pretense."

Ash pressed her fingers to her temples, visibly overwhelmed. "Did you even think this through?"

"I did," I said, my voice firm. "This is my chance to make things right, Ash. I need you to support me."

I need to be closer to Autumn.

Her expression softened, and she opened her arms. I stepped into her embrace, feeling a wave of gratitude. "I’ll always support you," she said, her voice gentle. "Just promise me you’ll be careful."

"I promise," I whispered, pulling back with a small smile. "Thanks, Ash."

"So," she said, her tone lightening as a mischievous glint entered her eyes, "when’s the groom showing up?"

I groaned, and she laughed, tossing her apron aside. "He’s stocking the house with groceries before picking me up. So he said"

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Sounds like someone’s already playing the perfect husband."

"Whatever, Ash," I said, rolling my eyes, but I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips. The warmth of her laughter filled the room, momentarily easing the weight of the days ahead.

" How did he even get the money to buy a mansion?" Ash muttered more to herself.