“Then what’s the problem?”

“Nothing. I have a meeting in five minutes. Can I call you later?”

“Sure.” Kate wondered why he didn’t sound happier for her.

Enjoying a rare night off from the band, Kate snuggled up with Reid to watch a movie in bed.

“I can’t keep my eyes open,” she said with a yawn.

“Don’t bother. It’s not that good anyway.” He shifted a pile of contracts he was reviewing so he could kiss her. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”

She pushed his papers aside. “I don’t want to sleep.”

“Well, what else is there to do?” he asked with a sly grin.

She pulled him down to her. “I’m sure we can think of something.”

A crash downstairs startled them.

“What was that?” Kate asked.

Reid got up and pulled on a pair of jeans. “I don’t know.”

“Dad?”

“Shit!” Reid moved fast to zip up his pants and get to the bedroom door.

“Dad, wake up. I’m coming in.”

The door swung open before Reid or Kate could move.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Ashton’s face twisted with anger as he looked from his father to Kate in the bed. “What a fucking idiot I am!”

“Ashton, wait.” Reid held up a hand to stop his son from coming any farther into the room.

Ashton pushed his father aside. “No, you wait. What the hell are you doing? She’s younger than me!”

“Ashton,” Kate said as tears rolled down her face.

“You knew I cared for you, Kate. You must’ve gotten a real kick out of having a father and son competing for you.”

“No,” she said. “I cared for you, too.”

“But not enough to level with me, huh? Is this the guy you were so heartbroken over, the one you cried about?”

Kate looked away from him.

He snorted with disgust. “You both had ample opportunity to tell me about this. Instead you made a fool out of me. You two liars deserve each other.” He turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Stay here,” Reid said to Kate. He chased Ashton down the stairs and out the front door. Reid was bare-chested and bare-footed, but he never felt the cold, just the chill in his heart over the searing pain on his son’s face. “Ashton, stop!” He grabbed Ashton’s jacket and spun him around. “Don’t leave like this.”

“I asked you point blank if you knew who she was involved with, and you said you didn’t. You lied to my face. Is that how it’s going to be between us now? I can’t trust a goddamned word you say?” Ashton’s voice broke along with Reid’s heart.

“Wait, son.” Reid put his hand on Ashton’s shoulder to stop him from walking away. “Talk to me.”