Spencer took the biggest breath of her life and stepped closer to Ashley cupping her face and lifting her chin till their eyes once again held each other.

“Ashley,” she started as calmly as she could, “what did you say?”

“I love you Spencer, I have from the moment I met you.”

———

Spencer shook with the sorrow of what she had once thought would be up there with the greatest memories of her life.

She and Ashley had spent several hours confessing their unrequited feeling for each other. All Spencer had wanted was to be with Ashley and when she had said they could only be together if they kept their relationship a secret, Spencer agreed without hesitation She understood why the secrecy was necessary at the time.

After all Ashley was heir to one of the largest corporations in America and it wouldn’t bode well if it was discovered that she was not only gay, but also involved with a member of the much loathed Carlin clan.

So they maintained their relationship in private for two years with only Aiden and his wife Madison knowing about it. It was hard on Spencer not being able to hold her girl or on the nights when Ashley had to go on one of the frequent blind dates that her Father had set up.

Spencer managed to pull her head from her thoughts when she heard the front door of her apartment open and then close again. Someone was making their way through her apartment and to her room, for a split second she allowed herself to believe it could be Ashley coming to tell her she’d made a terrible mistake and to beg her back.

Her bedroom door opened and not Ashley but Aiden stuck his head in.

“Oh Spencer,” he said rushing to her side, “what have you done to yourself.”

If he expected a response he didn’t wait for it. He simply pulled her into a hug and let her cry out the last of her tears.

When Spencer finally stopped crying she pulled back and looked at her childhood friend who offered her a warm smile and the concern in his eyes made her want to cry again.

“Come on Spence,” he said lifting her to her feet, “I’m going to make us some food and you my dear old friend are in desperate need of a shower, cause damn.”

And with that he left her room giving her the opportunity to pull herself together on her own but knowing full well that if she wasn’t in the shower in the next few moments he wouldn’t hesitate to put her in it.

His concern was touching, Aiden had always been a brother to her, and for the first time in days Spencer let a small smile cross her lips.

TBC