Accident Prone

Angela thought that she can go through this like a grownup, but Derek's proximity shook her up more than what she was willing to admit, and the fact that Mia noticed, broke the last bits of the façade Angela managed to maintain so far.

Angela let out a long breath and spoke in a shaky voice while blinking away the tears. "You saw us at the hospital. Derek was great and funny, and he made me feel special. He dropped me off home and I thought that it would be a good idea to invite him up for a drink. At that time, I didn't think much of it other than I wanted to spend more time with him. The moment we touched, sparks flew. I was lost in the illusion that he feels the same I do, all until the point when I realized that Derek saw me as an easy fuck. That's it."

Mia's brows knitted in sorrow. "Oh, Angie, sweetie… I'm so sorry…"

Mia hugged Angela and Angela hugged her back. 

"Let it out, Angie… you need to let it out…", Mia chanted while rubbing Angela's back gently.

Angela dissolved into sobs. "I'm sorry, Mia. I truly am. I will never trust a guy or believe in romance nonsense I read in the novels… I was so stupid… Ash told me that I am immature and inexperienced and that my head is in the clouds... I always thought that he is making fun of me, but now I know he was right… I don't want him to find out that I am such a failure… He will send me back to the farm…"

Mia tugged Angela to get back into the restroom and she locked the door behind them after putting the 'closed for cleaning' sign. She didn't want anyone to see Angela in such a state, and Angela needed to cry it out.

What Mia didn't know was that she was too late. On the other side of the cloth divider was Ashton who was like a volcano on the verge of blowing up. Did his little sister say that Derek went up to his apartment after dropping her home from the hospital? And Derek saw her as an easy fuck? Didn't Ashton give Derek a warning that Angela is his sister before they left the hospital? What the hell? Even without a warning, Derek should keep his hands to himself!

…

In the private room of the restaurant that Madeline booked for this occasion, Sabrina noticed that Ashton is taking longer than expected.

Ever since they got married and confirmed that she is pregnant (not necessarily in that order), Ashton was hovering around Sabrina and he finishes any non-Sabrina related business in record time. He said that he will be back in a minute, and it was more than ten minutes already. That was unlike Ashton, and Sabrina had a bad feeling, so she went to check on him.

She found Ashton in the hallway, clenching his fists, and gritting his teeth. She never saw him that angry.

"Ash, honey? What happened?", Sabrina asked with concern obvious in her voice.

"Derek… bastard… seduced… Angie…", he squeezed through his teeth angrily.

It was not much, but Sabrina understood that Ashton's protective-brother mode was on to the extreme. Considering how Max and Hunter are shielding Sabrina, she was aware that Ashton is on the verge of exploding. Sabrina still remembers murderous glares Max directed at Ashton and how Hunter ended up fighting him. Sure, after Sabrina and Ashton became an official couple, Max and Hunter were treating Ashton well when Sabrina was around, but she knew that her brothers are giving Ashton a hard time whenever she stepped away. Only after Sabrina and Ashton got married, Max and Hunter eased up the icy treatment that always kept Ashton on the edge. 

She thought that this might be karma because Ashton never understood why Max and Hunter are so on guard against Ashton, or why Hunter went into a rage when he found out that Ashton and Sabrina are an item but she didn't want to bring up that karma point now. It would only make the current situation worse.

Considering where they are, Sabrina realized that she needs to pacify Ashton, or at least to get him to calm down a little. Sabrina spoke with Derek many times and she couldn't believe that he would do something against Angela's will, especially not because she is Ashton's sister, but Sabrina was also aware that Ashton was furious and that nothing will reach him at this point. However, she had to try something.

"Ash, love… this is my brother's wedding. My whole family is here."

Ashton closed his eyelids tightly and started taking deep breaths.

"I will not make a scene here…", he said stiffly and walked away.

Sabrina followed after him while keeping two steps distance.

Ashton's vision was focused on one person at the table who was working on his beer, and with every step, Ashton told himself not to break into a run and not to jump on Derek and shove that beer bottle down his throat. Not here.

"We need to talk."

Derek looked up toward the source of that icy voice and he met Ashton's glare.

"Alright…", Derek stood up and walked out after Ashton. He had a feeling that Ashton found out about him and Angela, and he was mentally prepared that this is not something they can clear up with only talking.

Derek's suspicion was confirmed when he saw that Ashton gestured to Sabrina to stop following them and to wait inside. Sabrina's concerned expression said it all, but Derek had no intention to avoid whatever is coming, because it would only delay the inevitable and probably make Ashton angrier.

Ashton and Derek stepped out on the street and then into the side-alley.

When Ashton was sure that they are deep enough in the alley so that people don't see them from the street, he stopped walking and faced Derek.

"What did you do to my little sister?"

"Nothing, man…"

'POW!'

Ashton's fist landed heavily on Derek's face, catching the latter by surprise.

"What the fuck, Ash!?", Derek roared. He knew that Ashton was angry but he hoped to get a chance to speak before punches start flying.

Derek would fight back, but he was aware that this was Ashton, and Ashton found out that Derek made a move on Angela, and at that moment, Derek was not looking at his friend Ash, but at Angela's older brother.

"Exactly, Derek!", Ashton shouted back. "What the fuck, Derek!? What did you do to my sister, Derek!?"

"I told you. I did nothing."

Ashton gritted his teeth. "Do you dare to look me in the eyes and tell me that you didn't touch her?"

Derek lowered his gaze. He can't say that he didn't touch her because his hands were all over Angela.

'POW!'

Another heavy blow landed on Derek's face, making him stumble backward.

Derek shook his head which was now buzzing. He lifted his hands in front of him defensively. "Calm down, man. You are overreacting."

Ashton saw red. "Overreacting!? She is my sister, you asshole! How dare you put your hands on her!? I thought we are friends, and that it means something! You don't go after your friend's sister!"

Derek spat a mix of saliva and blood on the ground. "You are the one to talk? You married Hunter's sister!"

"Do you hear yourself!?", Ashton raged. "I cherished Rina and I watched her from the distance for years, YEARS! I fought with every fiber of my being against that attraction until I confirmed that it's mutual and that we are not playing, and I married her. And you treated my little sister like a hookup! Do you see the difference? Or is your macho pea-sized brain not capable of realizing the difference between the two? Do you know how to treat a woman with respect, or you only know how to handle them like blow-up dolls!?"

"I know the difference, Ash! That is why I stopped!", Derek half-lied. If Angela didn't push him away, he would not stop. Only after he got home that day, Derek thought about everything and realized that he messed up, and that his action will probably cost him his friendship with Ashton.

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