My Despicable Ex - Book 2 Read online

  “So…what’s our next stop?” he asked.

  “It has to be the cherry blossoms. We can’t miss them. They’re in full bloom right now, and they don’t last long.”

  He smiled. “Then cherry blossoms it is.”

  We decided to get lunch because our flight didn’t leave until four p.m., but after what we thought would be our last meal in Paris, our taxi driver got lost on the way to the airport, so we missed our flight.

  I glanced down at my watch. “Shoot. The next flight doesn’t leave till two hours from now.”

  “It’s okay,” he said. “I can think of a few ways to kill time,” he teased, winking.

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, I could really use a drink,” I said.

  He grinned. “You don’t have to get me drunk to take advantage of me, Ashly. I’d rather be sober so I can pay better attention.”

  I laughed. “Well, at this point, I’d have to be drunk to take advantage of you,” I said.

  We sat down on the barstools, prepared to pay a pretty penny for drinks at the airport.

  I sipped on a glass of ridiculously overpriced wine. “So, Jake, why don’t you tell me about your last date?”

  “Not much to tell. It was three months ago.”

  “Interesting. Care to elaborate?”

  “Wouldn’t wanna make you jealous,” he said, then took a gulp from his own glass.

  My gaze narrowed. “Hmm.”

  “Fine. I’m not usually one to kiss and tell, but—”

  “Just spill it!” I laughed.

  “Well, Roberta is eighty years old. She wore a blue dress with buttons going all the way up to her neck, and one of those broach things like my grandma used to wear.”

  “Jake! Stop messing around.”

  “I’m serious,” he said, and his face echoed that.

  I gulped my wine. “So you’re into cougars now, huh?”

  “Not usually, and no disrespect to Roberta, but she’s a little beyond the cougar years.”

  “But there was something special about her?”

  He smiled. “You could say so. She won me at a charity auction for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. She paid $10,000 to go out with me.”

  “Wow.” I grinned. “You’re the sweetest, Jake, doing something like that for all those sick little kids. See? Somewhere beneath all that cocky jerkness, you’ve got a heart of gold.”

  “Meh, all the firefighters did it.”

  “Maybe, but it was still for a good cause.”

  “She was so quiet that I couldn’t hear her when she talked. She couldn’t hear me either, so she turned up her hearing aid. When I moved closer so we could hear each other better, she yelled, ‘What are you doing, young man? Don’t you try to get fresh with me on the first date. I’m no hussy!’ Everyone stared at us when she yelled, and she threw a glass of water in my face.”

  “Oh my gosh, Jake,” I said, trying to stifle my laugh.

  “The whole thing was filmed by a news crew, since the media wanted to record the event, and the tape proved I was innocent. When she beat me with the umbrella, the whole thing went viral.”

  I laughed even harder. “But it was for a good cause. She just made a mistake.”

  “Yeah, well, if you look up ‘Old Lady Umbrella Assault’ on YouTube, you’ll see that I’m the one who needed charity that night!”

  We both burst out into laughter.

  “Think you can handle me on a nonstop, twelve-hour flight to Tokyo?” Jake asked.

  I laughed. “I have a laptop, don’t I? But be warned. I also have an umbrella, just in case you try to get fresh with me, young man.”

  He chuckled, grabbed his carryon, and walked toward the gate.

  * * *

  I slung my carryon bag securely over my shoulder and followed Jake onto the airport shuttle bus so we could head to the Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel.

  Once we were checked in, Jake smiled at me. “Wanna get a drink at the rooftop bar?”

  “I need to unpack and get online first.”

  “Why do I have the feeling that once you get on that laptop, you’ll never get off of it?”

  “Ha-ha. Just go enjoy a drink. You don’t need me to have a good time.”

  “Nah, maybe later,” he said.

  Our suite was located on the thirty-sixth floor of the high-rise hotel. It was spacious and contemporary. There was a little sitting area by the large bay window, furnished with a small table and soft, padded chair with a matching footstool—the perfect reading and working nook. When I peered out the window, I gasped. I was literally taken away by the gorgeous, panoramic view of Tokyo.

  “I wonder what this place looks like at night, all lit up.” Jake asked, looking out.

  “I can’t even begin to imagine.”

  I scooted into the window seat to look out the bay window. My palm touched the cold glass as I stared out. Skyscrapers, the harbor, and buildings dominated the landscape, and the majestic Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, made for a spectacular backdrop. I knew Mount Fuji was more than just a pretty mountain. In fact, it was a conical, active volcano, but it hadn’t erupted for 300 years. It was nestled in the middle of a beautiful mountain range, and I couldn’t stop staring at its perfect symmetrical shape and its snow-capped cone. It was breathtakingly scenic, and I needed to capture its beauty. I grabbed my camera and started snapping away.

  “This place is huge!” Jake called from the bathroom. “There’s even a tubside view! It’s like a spa in here!”

  I smiled. “Another great hotel. Mom sure had taste.”

  “Runs in the family,” Jake said as he walked out of the bathroom.

  When I walked into the bathroom and found out that Jake had left the toilet seat up again, we got into a little spat that escalated into a battle. When the tension got as thick as poundcake, I felt it was time to take a break, so I decided to leave. Jake beat me to it, and I wasn’t sure where he was going, but when he grabbed gym clothes from his suitcase, I assumed he was going to work off some steam at the fitness center. I had given him the cold shoulder, and he was obviously trying to give me some space to collect my thoughts.

  I left anyway. Luckily, all the shops were within walking distance. I spent the day checking out all of the hottest fashions, updating my blog, writing, talking to business contacts, and, finally, I went in for a quick dip in the indoor pool. The pool and hot tub were surrounded by large windows, giving me another spectacular view of thriving Tokyo. I sat down at one of the patio tables, the perfect place to work on my article a little more.

  My cell phone rang, and I glanced at the caller ID.

  “Hey, Nadia. What’s up?”

  “I’m just checking out your photos you sent. You’re so lucky, Ash! I love Cuddles, the baby alligator.”

  “It’s a croc,” I corrected.

  She laughed. “Whatever. It was still cool, and all those places are gorgeous. What a fabulous vacation. I’m so glad I made you go.”

  “Did you get the pics of Mount Fuji yet?”

  “Yes! And I’m putting Japan on my bucket list. I’ve gotta see it with my own eyes someday.”

  “It’s beautiful here.”

  “I’m surprised you haven’t headed for the hills,” she said.

  “Yeah, well, I’m tolerating him as best I can.”

  “So he’s behaving?” she said.

  “Not exactly. He insists on sleeping naked, and—”

  “Hmm…” she said, as if she was imagining it. “Talk about amazing views.”

  “Nadia!”

  “C’mon, Ashly. Jake will always be Jake.”

  “Well, it kinda sucks being with him at all these fantastic locations we talked about visiting. It’s like going on the trip of a lifetime with the jerk of a lifetime.”

  “Are you at least on speaking terms?”

  “We weren’t at first, but we’re talking now.”

  “I’ve got a fabulous idea,” she squealed.

  “What?”

/>   “Why not enjoy your vacation? Let your hair down and relax in all that tropical ambiance. I’ve got work covered, and you’re visiting all the places you’ve ever wanted to go. Why not just put aside the anger, bitterness, and resentment and just be his friend? Go have fun. Go swim with dolphins, collect seashells on the beach, and visit the Tiki bar. You’ve gotta try mai tais and zombie cocktails. I’ve heard they’re fabulous.”

  I sighed. “That would mean forgiving him.”

  “Yes, forgiving him,” she snapped, “and moving on with your life.”

  “I’ll think about it,” I said.

  “That’s all I’m asking.”

  We talked for another hour, and I told her about all my experiences, from the wonderful to the scary. She said she almost peed herself when I told her about the lions outside our tent.

  Back in the hotel room, Jake had a surprise waiting for me. He’d made a special picnic, all spread out on a red-and-black-checkered blanket, right by the window so we could look out at the twinkling Tokyo skyline. Hundreds of buildings and skyscrapers were transformed into a million glittering lights, literally taking my breath away.

  “This is the perfect,” I said in awe, with my long towel draped over my shoulders.

  “Dinner is served,” he said, motioning to the feast on the floor.

  I wrapped my towel around me and sat down. “Good. I’m starving.”

  “I was hoping you didn’t already grab something to eat.”

  “I was going to, but I was too tired to go anywhere, so I was just gonna order room service. This is way better.”

  He smiled proudly.

  “We always talked about having a picnic in our hotel room, but I thought it was supposed to be in Paris.”

  “It was, but I was afraid if I did it there, you’d take it wrong and think I was trying to seduce you. As you can see, there’s nothing romantic here—not even one lit candle. We’re just a couple of old friends having a little fun and enjoying a big bucket of chicken.”

  “You even got my favorite side dishes, macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes—and in Tokyo! Thank you, Jake.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “This looks so delicious.” I looked up and smiled. “You’ve outdone yourself.”

  “Don’t say that,” he said, winking. “I’m full of surprises.”

  I smiled. “That you are.”

  “I just wanted to do something special, something we could connect to. Does it bring back any memories?”

  I sipped my drink. “We ate so much fried chicken, almost every single weekend. We kept Colonel Sanders in business!” A laugh escaped my lips. “I can’t believe we never got sick of it.”

  “My brother used to bring it home for us after his shift.”

  “Yeah, and he always made those stupid remarks about free breasts and thighs.” I laughed.

  “Do you know what tonight is?”

  “Saturday,” I said, a smile growing across my lips. “You’ve reenacted our Saturday night tradition.”

  “I’m glad you’re not mad. I had this vision of you throwing all the chicken at me.”

  I swallowed hard and recalled Nadia’s wise advice. “I’m sorry I’ve been so cold to you lately. I’ve been so grumpy, and—”

  “Spiteful, hurtful—”

  I let out a sigh and held up my hand and cut him off. “I’ve been a real bitch to you, Jake. I know this has to be awkward for you too, so I’m so sorry.”

  “I apologize too.”

  “It’s just…well, I’m trudging through a whirlwind of emotions. I feel like such an idiot.”

  “Truce?” he asked, waving a white napkin.

  “Truce,” I said with a smile.

  He opened the container and put a big drumstick on my plate.

  I took a bite. “Oh, man. This is delicious.”

  “And can you believe it’s still warm?”

  I smiled widely. “I got here just in time.”

  “Cherry blossoms are first on the agenda tomorrow, right?” he asked, wiping extra-crispy crumbs from the corner of his mouth.

  I wiped my face with a napkin. “Yes…and I can’t wait.”

  His face beamed. “Me neither.” He poured me another plastic cup of soda.

  I thanked him and smiled. “I’m gonna head to bed at nine, so I’m all refreshed for tomorrow,” I said, sipping my soda.

  He motioned downward. “Well, I guess I’ll head to the floor then.”

  “You know what? I’ll sleep on the floor tonight. You deserve a turn in the bed.”

  “No,” he said. “I don’t mind. I’m willing to do whatever makes you comfortable.”

  I held my plastic glass up. “A toast, to the greatest guy in the world.”

  “The greatest guy in the world? You mean, the one who left you at the altar.”

  “No…I mean the one who dates old ladies for charity and lets me have the bed.”

  He smiled meekly.

  We clinked our plastic cups and laughed.

  After dinner, I took a hot bubble bath in the huge bathtub. Jazz played softly from my Smartphone, and I lit a couple of candles. I sipped on a glass of wine and gazed out the bathroom window, staring at the glittering lights of Tokyo. Just as I began to get lost in my thoughts, Jake knocked on the door.

  “I’m gonna finish off this wine, if you don’t mind.”

  “I’d like a little of it.”

  “I’ll save some for you.”

  “Just pour me another glass, please.”

  He creaked the door open. “Are you decent?”

  “I’m covered in bubbles.”

  Beaming, he walked over and filled my wine glass.

  I took a sip and smiled. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He stared into my eyes for a long moment. “I love the way the candlelight flickers in your eyes. We’ve seen some beautiful things and places out here in the world, but none of them compare to you. It’s hard to stay in the friend zone, especially when you’re all I think about.”

  “Jake—”

  “No, please don’t say anything. I know we’re just friends, and I don’t want to put any pressure on you. I just wanted to tell you I really enjoyed having dinner with you tonight.”

  “I had a delightful time too.”

  “Goodnight, Ashly.”

  I smiled. “Goodnight.”

  He shut the door softly and went to bed. Part of me thought about asking him to join me, but the words just wouldn’t come out of my mouth.

  Chapter 7

  It was seven a.m., and I walked into the bathroom to take a shower, only to discover that Jake had shoved my stuff over; his was now dominating the entire counter. I heard the hotel door open and wrapped a towel around me.

  “I’m back,” Jake said.

  “Why’d you move my stuff?” I asked, cracking the bathroom door open. “You know I like to keep everything organized.”

  “You just want the whole counter for yourself.”

  “How long is this bathroom war gonna go on?” I asked.

  “Until you learn to share,” he retorted.

  I blew a strand of hair out of my eyes. “So every morning, I have to do a search-and-rescue mission for my stuff?”

  “Your stuff takes up too much space,” he said.

  “So does yours.”

  “But I need my stuff.”

  “And I need mine.”

  I shut the door and kicked his dirty clothes out of the way. “Your clothes are everywhere,” I said.

  “I can’t help it if I’m not a neat freak like you. Our relationship’s gonna be a whole lot better if you stop sweatin’ the small stuff,” he said. He tried to sound as if he was joking, but I saw nothing funny about it.

  “We don’t have a relationship,” I snapped.

  “I know. I was just trying to fire you up,” he called from the other side of the door.

  “I thought you were supposed to put fires out, Mr. Firefighter, not start them.”


  “Ha-ha. “It’s okay. Most couples argue.”

  “Ha-ha yourself. We’re not a couple.” When I looked down and noticed that the toilet seat was up again, I was sure he’d done it on purpose, just to annoy me.

  He suddenly knocked on the door.

  I cracked it open once again. “What?” I asked.

  His eyes were twinkling. “I got you a coffee from Starbucks. There’s one across the street by Shibuya Station.”

  I reached for the warm cup and smiled. “Thank you. Consider yourself forgiven…for now.”

  He chuckled as I shut the door.

  I knew I was being somewhat childish, but my personal space was being invaded. Still, I was fighting over stupid things, “the small stuff,” as he’d said, and I just needed to let it go. Spending all that time with him was constantly wearing on my nerves, and I kept overreacting to everything.

  I slipped into a short, pink dress with a bow on the front, then threw my hair into a cute, messy bun, hoping my outfit would complement the fragrant cherry blossoms we were going to see. When I stepped out of the bathroom, I saw that Jake was wearing brown slacks and a cream-colored top; whether I liked it or not, we did look like a couple.

  Shinjuku Gyoen was one of Tokyo’s largest, most popular parks, just a short walk from Shinjuku Station. I peered ahead at the spacious lawns and meandering walking paths, all lined with hundreds of cherry trees in full bloom. A fragrant, fruity, almost almond scent drifted in the air. Glancing upward, I stared up at the pretty trees. Soft sunlight shone through the magnificent display. I was mesmerized by pinkish-white glow of the delicate petals, and I smiled as a gust of wind brought down a flurry of flowers. Petals fell like pink snow and sprinkled the ground like a pink carpet.