I naturally leaned into Ashton. "Let's get out of here."

Walking to the parking lot, I hugged him tight. "Thanks for having my back."

"That's what boyfriends do. Nobody messes with you when I'm around," Ashton said with his usual confidence.

"Even though you handled it perfectly, people will still gossip," I said softly. "Some might start digging into my past..." Ashton just shook his head.

"I don't care what people say."

That hit home. Reminded me of what Abbot ...