51. Ashley
CHAPTER 51
ASHLEY
I wake up and find the left side of my bed empty. My stomach dips. Did I dream the whole thing about Sean? I sit up, rubbing my eyes. The blinds in my room are shut, so it’s pretty dark. I turn on the nightlamp, then reach for my phone on the nightstand. It’s seven-thirty in the morning.
Morose, I look at the empty side of the bed and see a folded piece of paper on the pillow. My heart skips a beat. I didn’t dream that Sean and I are back together after all. I read his short note.
Went to grab us breakfast. I’ll be back soon.
Love,
Sean
I’m sure there’s food in the house, but maybe he had something specific in mind. I get out of bed and trudge to the bathroom. I need to shower and get ready. Today, I’m meeting with my academic counselor to see what my options are. I’m not sure if it’s possible to catch up after I missed a couple weeks of classes. I hope I can. Not being able to graduate in May would suck.
Since I washed my hair yesterday at the hospital, I can skip it today. I should avoid lifting my arms as much as possible. I bet Sean would help in the shower if I asked him. A smile tugs at the corners of my lips. Even though we couldn’t fully engage in sexual activities, last night was amazing. There’s still a slight throb between my legs.
I’m out of the shower and dressed in comfy but cute clothes in less than fifteen minutes. Then I spend another fifteen putting on makeup, because I’m still a sickly color from the hospital.
Sean comes into the bathroom as I’m putting on the final touches of mascara. He grabs my hips and kisses my shoulder. “Good morning, gorgeous.”
“Hey, careful. I almost got a smudge on my cheek.”
“Sorry. Are you hungry?”
“Yeah.” I put the mascara back in the makeup bag and look at him through the mirror reflection. “What did you get us?”
He grins. “It’s a surprise. Come and see.”
Curious, I follow him, but because he’s so tall and his back is so wide, I don’t see the surprise until he moves out of the way. I stop in my tracks and stare at the giant teddy bear that’s as tall as the kitchen counter, and the heart-shaped balloon attached to it that says Happy Valentine’s Day . There’s also a bouquet of red roses on the counter, which Sean grabs.
“Happy belated Valentine’s Day, Ash.”
I take the flowers from him and smell them. “How did you manage to get all this at this hour?”
He rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish and cute as hell. “Well… I got the teddy bear and the balloon while you were still in the hospital. And the flowers I got this morning when I made a run to—” he turns and lifts a box of Ditzy Donuts that I didn’t see before “—get breakfast.”
I get misty eyed and choked up. “You planned all this without even knowing if I still loved you?”
He nods, then kisses my cheek. “I did. Even if you had stopped loving me, I’d fight to make you fall in love with me again.”
Now I’m crying. “You have no idea how much I wanted you to tell me that in the last three years.”
He wipes the moisture from my cheeks. “I know, babe. I know. And I wanted to tell you.”
I rise on my tiptoes and kiss him. He circles his arms around my waist, but he keeps his hold light. The care and patience he’s been able to muster since I got released from the hospital just makes me love him even more.
He pulls back and stares into my eyes. We don’t speak, but we don’t need words. The love between us can be felt in the air; it crackles as it wraps around us.
Our moment is broken by the loud rumbling of my stomach.
“Someone is definitely hungry.” Sean laughs.
“Oh man. That was embarrassing.”
He shakes his head and opens the box of donuts. “Nonsense. I got your favorite flavors.”
“You remember.”
“I remember everything about you, Ash.” He runs his fingers down my back, and the warm and fuzzy feeling in my chest spreads throughout my body.
“I remember everything about you too.” I fish the pink glazed doughnut out of the box and take a big bite. “Oh my God,” I moan. “This hits the spot.”
“What time do you have to meet your counselor?” he asks.
“In half an hour. But don’t get any ideas.”
He widens his eyes innocently. “What ideas could I be having?”
“You know very well.”
His phone rings on the counter, and we both turn toward it. Sean makes a face before he ignores the call from his mother.
“What was that about?”
“I don’t want to speak with her right now.” He takes a chocolate-covered doughnut and eats half of it in one bite.
“Does she know about your blood test results?” I ask.
“Yes,” he replies but won’t meet my eye.
I touch his arm. “Talk to me.”
He turns and then sighs. “She thinks I’m angry with her. I’m not, but she wants to talk about the man who fathered me, and I have zero interest in knowing anything about him. Chris is my dad.”
“You’re not even a bit curious?”
“Nope.” He looks at doughnut box. “Can I have another one?”
“There are ten left! Do you think I can eat all that?”
“Not right now, but maybe later.”
“You can eat as many as you want. But don’t change the subject. You didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m not curious about the man.”
“But what if he has other kids? You might have other siblings.”
Sean rubs his face. “He doesn’t. According to my mother, I was his only oops.”
“Oops?” I snort. “Did she really call it that?”
He lets out a sigh. “Yes. Before I stopped her from giving me his entire rap sheet, she managed to tell me one important detail about him. My biological father is…” Sean seems to zone out. “He’s a priest.”
My jaw drops to the floor. “You’re not serious.”
“I am.” He meets my stare. “It’s funny though. I said those exact words to my mother.”
I shake my head. “Holy cannoli.”
“Now you know why I don’t want to talk about him with her.”
“Wait, he’s not the priest from our parish, is he? What’s his name again?”
“Father Samuels?” Sean twists his nose. “No.”
“So how did your mother hook up with a priest?” My eyes widen. “I bet he was hot as sin. I mean… look at you.”
Sean narrows his eyes. “You’re getting way too invested in this.”
“Oh come on. I attended a Catholic school. Banging a hot priest was on everyone’s bucket list.”
He puts his hands on his hips. “Excuse me?”
I laugh. “Don’t worry. The only guy I want to bang is the captain of the hockey team.”
He snakes his arm around my waist. “Better.”
Running my fingers over his chest, I say, “But if you decide dress up as a priest for Halloween, I won’t complain.”
He grabs a fistful of my hair and brings his mouth close to mine. “If I dress up as priest, what are you going to be?”
I bite his lower lip, tugging a little before I reply, “Whatever you want me to be.”
“I think you’re going to be late for your meeting.” He crushes his lips to mine, and I know he’s right. There’s no chance I’ll make it in time. Oh well. Priorities.