Paths Crossing, Episode Four: Ash & Audrey

Chapter 1

Ash Adams

~

Billings, Montana

November

"The flip is going good," Ash said to his brother. "It'll be ready to list in a couple of months." He laughed and shook his head. "Although last night I dreamed I got my hand mangled by the garbage disposal. I hope that's not a bad sign."

Mason made a face, and Ash's smile broadened.

"This house doesn't even have one, so I think I'm okay."

"That's gross, I don’t want to imagine that when I'm about to eat," Val said from his right.

Val and Mason were Ash's younger siblings, twins, and he was sitting between them.

He had always been closer to them than they were to each other, so it was no surprise to catch him in that position even though it was their birthday dinner.

He had been talking to his brother, Mason, who was on his left, but he glanced at Val when she interjected.

The restaurant was packed, and they were sitting at a large table in the center of the dining room.

"You'd better get more thick-stomached than that if you want to work at a doctor's office," Ash said to her.

"One, thick-stomached is not a word, and two, I'll be in the office part—billing and whatnot."

Ash smiled at her. He was two years older than the twins, and he had always been protective of them both.

"Plus, don't tell me stuff like that. I don't like you dreaming about getting your hand caught in the sink," she said. "Power tools scare me. Dad said you were thinking about doing electrical work. What the heck, Ash?"

Ash shrugged. "It's just a few outlets."

"And some light fixtures," their mom said, chiming in. "Dad told me you were asking about ceiling fans."

"Ashh," Val said, looking worried. "You're not an electrician. Even the saws and nail guns scare me. Just get famous with your music already."

"I would if I could," Ash said, smiling confidently and shaking his head. "And I'm fine. Haden's an electrician."

"Haden, your bass player?" Mason said, knowing that was the truth but pushing buttons.

"Yeah, but he's got a day job," Ash answered.

The conversation changed around them, and Mason ducked to speak closer to Ash's ear. "Dude, over there, black coat, just walked in the door, an easy nine. Maybe a ten, honestly."

Ash instinctively glanced that way. Mason was twenty-two years old, and he was so full of testosterone that Ash didn't flinch when he ranked a woman by her looks. Ash grinned, scanning the restaurant lobby to see what got his brother all excited.

"She just walked in. You can't see her right now, but, bro…"

Ash continued to look that way while the others talked around them, and he watched as a young woman in a black coat walked through the crowded lobby toward the hostess area.

"I know her," Ash said the instant he laid eyes on Audrey.

"No way, bro, you do not! Hook me up for my birthday!"

Mason said that last part at full volume, and Val said, "Hook you up with who, bro?" in a sarcastic tone.

"That girl who just walked in."

Val looked toward the door.

"You can't see her now. She had on a black jacket." He looked at Ash. "Hook me up."

Ash shook his head and made a face of disapproval. "After what happened with Andi, we said we weren't doing that."

"You dated that girl?" Mason asked with his eyebrows furrowed. "You never dated her."

"Yes, I did. Briefly. She was out at the ranch when I was filming that series. Her sister is dating the director."

"Does she live here?"

"Josie or Audrey? Her sister lives in L.A., but Audrey lives here."

"Audrey? That's her name?" He pointed to the lobby. "Go talk to her for me, brother," Mason urged. "You didn't date her. Briefly? You haven't had a girlfriend in the last year. You told us a bunch of stuff about filming that series, and you never mentioned anything about a woman."

"What are you guys talking about?" Val asked, since the boys had been conversing quietly with each other.

"Ash won't introduce me to his friend."

"That's because she's not my friend," Ash said, shaking his head.

"You didn't date her. Do you guys know anybody named Audrey?" Mason asked the group at large.

"I didn't officially date her. But I've kissed her. Several times." People were listening now, and Ash hated giving them that piece of information, but Mason didn't seem to want to relent.

"What's happening?" their mom asked from across the table.

"Ash was dating someone, and he didn't tell you," Mason said, teasing them both.

Jamie Adams leveled her oldest son with a stare, squinting at him, and Ash responded by shrugging innocently. "I didn't date her," he said to his mom.

While they were talking, Audrey moved into view again.

She found a place in the crowded lobby and stood with her back to the wall.

There were two large rooms and several tables between them, and there was just no way she could see him or hear them.

She wore a serious, unreadable expression, and she took out her phone and started to push buttons on it.

"I’m going to say 'hello' to her before our food gets here," Ash said to anyone who was listening.

There were conversations going on at the table and other noises and murmuring at the tables around them.

There was music playing, and the place was more packed than usual.

His family had reserved the table, and it was a good thing because the tables were all full and the lobby was brimming with people who were waiting.

Audrey was still looking at her phone, actively using it, when Ash came closer to her. She was completely unaware of him.

"Audrey, hey, I wanted to grab a quick hug from you." Ash had no idea why he said that. He was nervous.

She glanced up to meet his gaze, and as soon as his words registered, she smiled and reached out to hug him. She smelled so nice, and it felt amazing to hold her and see her again. He didn't want to let go.

"Fancy meeting you here," she said. She pulled away and smiled up at him. "I was just texting James Blanchett. So funny. I'll have to tell him I saw you here."

James was someone else who worked with them on the movie, and Ash felt a wave of jealousy that she was texting.

Audrey had been an extra on set at the ranch.

James had more of a role than she did, but he was also an extra.

He was an okay guy, but Ash didn't see Audrey with someone like James, and he couldn't help but be a little jealous—especially with how she just randomly stopped talking to him on set.

"Are you dating James?"

"No, he's uh, helping me," she smiled and hesitated, glancing around. "I'm about to audition for a musical, and he's been helping me get ready for that."

"What musical?"

"Chicago," she said. She made a face after she said it. It was a precious little smirk, and he smiled at her.

"I remember you talking to him about musicals when we were on set. Is this your first one?"

"Yes, and I'm so nervous."

"Don't be. Did you say you haven't auditioned yet?"

She shook her head. "Not yet."

"What did you have to prepare?"

"I'm so sorry. Hang on. My phone's vibrating, and I'm sure it's James. They're waiting on me. I need to text him back real quick."

"That's fine, I'll let you get back. It was great seeing you."

"No, no, if you could just…" she hesitated, staring at her phone and texting before looking at him with an exasperated expression.

"I'm supposed to be there now, and there's fifteen minutes left on the pizza.

It's not for me. It's for the creative team of this show.

James asked if I could pick up some pizza so I could meet the director and everything.

" She made a hopeless face. "James said Domino's would be fine, and now I feel bad about coming here because I'm going to be late.

It's two pizzas. I called it in an hour ago.

I had no idea they would be so busy." She shrugged.

"I hate to complain. I've been in the weeds before at my place.

I'm just stressed because they were expecting me. "

"Yeah, I know that feeling when you have no control to make something go faster."

She made a face. "I can't believe how many people are here. Sorry I vented. I don't mean to keep you. What are you doing here?"

"It's my brother and sister's birthday," he said.

"Both? Do they have the same birthday?" she said, looking surprised.

"They're twins," he said.

"Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning that you had twin siblings."

Ash nodded, and then he turned and pointed to their table. Mason and Val's chairs both had a balloon attached.

"Oh, that's your family with the balloons?"

"Yes."

"How cool." She smiled and waved at Mason, who had been watching them and waiting for his moment to wave at her.

"That's my brother," Ash said, seeing what was going on.

"He looks just like you—not quite as handsome," she said.

"Don't tell him that," Ash said. "He thinks he's the most handsome guy on the planet."

"He's still up there," she agreed, like it was an objective fact. She took a deep breath and turned to stare at Ash again. "I ordered from this place to make a good impression, and now it's going to be a bad impression."

"Don't stress about it," he said. "Everything happens for a reason. You have to trust that. What if you took it on time and you got some big role, and it was the worst experience of your life?"

She laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. So, you're saying that failing to impress them tonight might save me from succeeding, which will save me from something terrible?"

"Exactly," he said with a nod.

She smiled. "Thanks," she said. "I think.

" Her teeth weren't perfectly straight, and it made her smile even more interesting and beautiful.

He had been attracted to Audrey Wells from the moment he met her.

But any man in his right mind would be. He thought of his brother, who was no doubt watching them at this very moment.

"Where's Bella Luna?"

Audrey smiled. "She still tells people that's her nickname."

"Who'd she tell?"

"Her coach the other day. She just started a little gymnastics class, and her coach asked them if anyone had nicknames."

"And she said that?"

Audrey nodded.

"Do other people call her that, or did she get it from me?"

"No. I'm surprised, but no one else has ever said it. I've used it a time or two since we met you. I call her Lu mostly. That's what I thought she'd tell him. I call her peanut, and pumpkin, and all sorts of other things. I never thought she'd mention that one."

She glanced over his shoulder and smiled, and Ash turned in time to see that his brother was walking toward them.

Mason, to Ash's horror, walked up wearing his most dashing smile. It was obvious to everyone that he was still checking Audrey out. Okay, maybe it wasn't obvious to everyone, but it was certainly obvious to Ash, who knew his brother and could see that confident lady-killer smile from a mile away.

"I'm Mason Adams, Ash's younger, more handsome little brother." Ash stood back while Mason offered his hand to Audrey.

"Hey, Mason, nice to meet you. Happy birthday. Ash told me you were here celebrating. I'm sorry for stealing him for a second. I was telling him about my daughter starting gymnastics. I didn't mean to steal him away for so long."

"No worries!" Mason said, holding a sincere smile and not flinching when she mentioned her daughter. He was a gentleman at heart in spite of his rascal tendencies. "Well, our food arrived, and I figured if I didn't come get my brother, we might never see him again."

"Oh, yeah, I know he's got a party to get back to. Nice meeting you, and happy birthday." She glanced at Ash before reaching in for a quick hug. "I'm glad you came over here. It was great seeing you."

Mason was waiting for him, and she was obviously saying goodbye, but Ash didn't want to walk away so quickly.

He paused. "Good luck with the… audition…

" He said it in a hesitant tone because he was thinking about adding that she should check in with him about it later.

He wanted to know what role she got and when he could come see the show. He didn't say any of that.

She smiled and waved. "Thank you, Ash. I'm glad you came over."

"Me too. See you, Audrey."

They did an awkward little handshake thing as he turned to walk away with his brother. The lobby was crowded, and it was good for him to leave her and walk back to his table. He just didn’t want to.

"Dude, you did not tell me she had a kid," was the first thing Mason said to him as they walked back to the table.

Ash glanced over his shoulder to see if they had been close enough for her to hear, but she was moving and not paying attention to them. She was at the counter now. Ash glanced her way several times as he took his seat, but she never glanced at him.

"What happened?" Val asked as they sat down. She was right next to Ash, talking straight to him.

"Nothing. I just said 'hi' to my friend."

"She has a kid," Mason said, leaning around Ash.

"She does?" Val asked, seeming surprised.

"Yes. Luna."

"How old?"

"Five," Ash said.

"Just one?"

"Yes," he said.

"Just one what?" their mom asked from across the table.

Everyone was preoccupied with eating, but half of them looked at Ash when his mom asked that question.

"We're talking about how many children my friend has," Ash said, trying not to feel embarrassed.

"I thought you said she wasn't your friend," Aiden said.

Ash ignored him because, at the same time, his mom said, "How do you know her?"

"From the series we filmed."

She glanced over her shoulder with a look of concern.

"She's a nice person." He paused and then added, "She's a chef, and she's trying out for a play—a musical." He knew they weren't asking for more details, but he didn't want Luna's existence to be the one and only thing his family knew about Audrey.