Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Erika
Me:
I’m mad at you.
Ash:
For?
Me:
Don’t play dumb, Ash.
Ash:
So, you’ve spoken to Leon… Can I ask? Which one are you angrier with me for? 1. Not stopping you from marrying Huck and telling you he wasn’t good enough for you, or 2. Preventing you and Leon from being together and acting like a protective ogre who thought he was doing the right thing by you?
Me:
Both. But more so on the second one.
Ash:
I’m trying to fix it.
Me:
By conspiring with Lily and Mom, and suggesting that we go on the honeymoon together? You set us up.
Ash:
Ah, so you worked that out?
Me:
No, Valerie overheard you talking to Lily at the church, and she told me over dinner tonight.
Ash:
Oops. It’s a great plan though *winking emoji*
Me:
It might be, but I’m still annoyed with you.
Ash:
Please don’t hate me.
Me:
I could never hate you. And this loathes me to admit, but you’re right, it’s what we need.
Ash:
So… have you and Leon talked?
Me:
A little.
Ash:
And?
Me:
We’re going to talk some more tomorrow after his team meeting.
Ash:
Leon’s a good man.
Me:
I know that. But he was going to stand back and watch me marry Huck.
Ash:
Because he thought you were in love with him. We all did. Although Lily suspected something wasn’t right.
Me:
Did she?
Ash:
She’s organized hundreds of weddings. She mentioned how unenthusiastic you were about yours.
Me:
I feel bad. I invited all those poor people to a wedding that I didn’t show up for.
Ash:
But you saved yourself from a lifetime of unhappiness, and that’s what really matters. I’m relieved, fucking ecstatic, actually. Leon’s the one you should be with and probably should have been with years ago. I see that now.
Me:
Do you really think that?
Ash:
Yes. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to be happy, and when you’re with Leon, you are. I thought I was protecting you from heartache. My intentions were always good, but maybe I went a little overboard with my protectiveness.
Me:
Dad would be so proud of you.
Ash:
I think he’d tell me I’ve been a dickhead.
Me:
He wouldn’t.
Me:
Leon said he hid his feelings out of loyalty to you and respect for your wishes. He didn’t want to lose either of us.
Ash:
He should have slapped me to wake me up from my stupidity. Because if he had, you could have been together this whole time. Or for however long you’ve liked each other for.
Me:
I was in love with him.
Ash:
Was? For how long?
Me:
I fell in love with him when I was eighteen. Throughout my twenties, I was obsessed with him. I still am.
Ash:
Fuck, now I feel even worse.
Me:
What is it you always say? There is always a perfect time for everything. Now is the time for us. You don’t need to worry about me anymore.
Ash:
I will always worry about you. Big brother rights and all that.
Me:
Okay, well, since I have sister rights, I’m going to tell you to go to bed. You have three kids and a physically demanding job to get up for. Thank you for everything.
Ash:
Love you, Erika x
Me:
Love you too xoxo