Chapter 99

• Nicole took a deep breath and began to explain the situation to Ashley. "Ash, you know how Gage and I were in a friends with benefits agreement? Well, things got complicated. Gage fell for me, and I...I couldn't deny that there was something between us. Something that I couldn't connect with Jack."
• Ashley's eyes widened in surprise, but Nicole continued. "I know it's not fully Jack's fault that he didn't trust me. I never let him get close to me, not really. But with Gage...it was different. His touch, his kiss... it melted me, Ash. I couldn't deny it, no matter how hard I tried."
• Nicole's voice cracked as she remembered the pain she had felt. "And then Jack broke up with me, which hurt me, Ash. He said things that cut deep, and I realized that I deserved better. That's why I agreed to go to Paris, to get away from all this mess."