Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ashlyn
Ipull into my parents’ driveway and turn off the engine.
I always come straight from school on a Thursday and get some work done while I wait for everyone else to arrive.
Ben needed to check on Laney first, though, so he’s meeting me later.
I can’t help but feel a little nervous, especially since I have no idea which of my brothers, if any, will be here tonight.
After Laney’s reaction to our relationship last night, I’m not sure I can handle another evening of judgment.
“Are you coming in, sweetheart?” my mom calls from the front door.
I force a smile, step out of my car, and grab my bag from the back seat.
“Hi, Mom,” I say as I climb the porch steps and press a kiss on her cheek.
“Everything okay?’ she asks with a frown. I should have known I couldn’t fool her with a fake smile.
“I’m not sure.”
She smiles sympathetically. “Come inside and you can fill me in.” I follow her into the entryway and drop my bag on the floor. “I’ll get us both a coffee,” she says, disappearing into the kitchen.
“Where’s Dad?” I shout as I head into the living room, expecting to see him.
“At the store,” she shouts back. “He won’t be long.”
I kick off my shoes and sink into the comfortable sofa, tucking my legs underneath me. A few minutes later, my mom walks in, handing me a steaming cup of coffee.
“Thanks,” I tell her as I take it from her, and she sits down next to me. “Who’s coming tonight? I ask before taking a sip of the hot coffee.
“Everyone other than Wyatt, I think.”
My eyes widen in surprise. I was hoping at least one of my brothers would be working. It seems not.
“Seb and Taylor too?”
She nods. “Taylor wanted to come, even though she’s only been discharged today.” She takes a mouthful of her drink. “Why do you ask?”
“Do you remember Ben? He came to the hospital just after Taylor’s accident.”
“Your boss, right?”
I nod. “He’s not just my boss.”
She smiles. “Honey, I worked that out when I saw the two of you together. No boss of mine ever held me like Ben held you.”
I feel my cheeks flush with heat. “I’ve invited him over for dinner tonight. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it’s okay.”
“I wanted you to meet him properly. I was hoping Nash and Cade would be working.”
“Why?”
I arch a brow. “You already know the answer to that.”
She offers me a small smile. “You know your brothers are just overprotective because they love you?”
I sigh. “I know, but I’m so sick of it. Ben is older and things are complicated. They’re already giving me a hard time about him.”
She frowns. “Complicated how? How old is he?”
I take a mouthful of coffee, swallowing slowly. “Age is just a number, Mom. It’s not important.”
“Ashlyn.”
I blow out a breath. “He’s forty-three.”
Her eyes widen. “Okay, and it’s his age that makes things complicated?”
I shake my head. “Not exactly. He’s married–”
“Oh, Ashlyn, no,” she exclaims, interrupting me.
“Wait. It’s not what you think.”
“How is it then?”
I take a few minutes to update her on Molly, Laney, and the unbearably awkward drink Ben and I had with Laney last night. When I finish, she remains silent, making my stomach twist. With Seb being the only one in my family supporting Ben and me, I need my mom on my side more than ever.
“Mom,” I prompt when she still hasn’t said anything.
“Everyone has a past sweetheart, but it sounds more than a little complicated.”
“I think he could be the one. I’m really falling for him.”
She reaches for my free hand and squeezes gently. “Then you have to follow your heart, sweetie.”
“His daughter hates me,” I whisper.
She shakes her head. “No, she doesn’t. She only thinks she does.”
I raise my eyebrows. “I’m pretty sure that’s the same thing.”
“It’s not. Give her some time. She’ll soon see how incredible you are.”
“I wish I had your optimism.”
“Her dad can obviously see it. She’ll come around.”
“Thanks for listening, Mom.”
“Always, honey. We all just want the best for you.” She leans across and presses a kiss on my cheek. "I can’t wait to meet the man who’s stolen your heart," she says with a smile. "I should go check on dinner."
She leaves the room, and I sink back onto the sofa with a sigh. I’m still anxious about Ben meeting everyone properly, but having my mom’s support makes it a little easier.
Ben
“I'm home!” I call out as I close the front door behind me, dropping my bag in the entryway. “Laney, are you here?”
She shouldn’t be anywhere else after being grounded last night. I head into the kitchen. Empty. The living room. Empty too. Taking the stairs two at a time, I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear music coming from her room. I knock on the door and step inside.
“Hey, did you eat yet?” I ask.
She nods. “Yeah, I stopped by Grams and Gramps’ place after school and had some of Grams' meatloaf.”
“Good. You remember I'm out tonight?” I told her this morning about dinner with Ash’s family, but she wasn’t in a great mood, so I’m not sure it stuck.
She scowls. “How could I forget?”
I choose to ignore her sarcastic comment. “I’m going to shower. I’ll come and say bye before I go.”
She waves me off dismissively, and I leave her scowling in her room.
I take a quick shower, not wanting to linger under the water overthinking tonight. Seeing Ash’s family again makes me uneasy, but for her sake, I hope it goes well. I know how much their approval of our relationship means to her.
I poke my head into Laney’s room and say goodbye, but her silence speaks volumes about how she feels. As if meeting everyone tonight wasn’t nerve-wracking enough, I can’t shake the guilt of leaving her behind.
Even though I’m an adult, the nerves still hit me hard on the drive to Ash’s parents’ house.
It’s been years since I last met a girlfriend’s family, and I want to make a good impression.
I met them briefly a few weeks ago, but sitting down for dinner with everyone is a whole different story.
I have no idea how much Ashlyn has told them about my situation, and while she’s accepted it, her parents might not.
I let out a sigh of relief as I pull into the driveway and see only Ash’s car.
Maybe she was right about her brothers being at work.
Before I even step out, the front door swings open, and Ashlyn appears at the top of the porch steps.
She looks stunning in a black pencil skirt and a white silk cami.
As I climb out of the car, she jogs down the steps to meet me.
“Hey. You look beautiful,” I tell her, leaning down and pressing a kiss on her cheek.
She smiles. “Thanks. You look good too.”
Her eyes roam over me, full of heat and desire. I love the way she looks at me. I reach for her hand, wrapping it gently in mine.
“You should stop looking at me like that, especially when we’re at your parents’ house.”
She smiles. “Looking at you how?”
I gently tickle her side. “You know how.”
She laughs and pushes my hand away. “We should go inside. My parents are looking forward to meeting you.”
My eyes widen. “They are?”
“Yes! Don’t look so surprised.”
“Do they know…” I trail off.
“They know everything. Well, my mom does. I’m sure she’ll fill my dad in later.”
“And she was okay with it?”
She shrugs. “She said everyone has a past. She knows that better than anyone, I guess.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
Before she can reply, a car pulls into the driveway, kicking up a spray of gravel.
She glances past me. “I’ll tell you later.
Cade and Sophie have just arrived.” Giving my hand a squeeze, she adds, “All of my brothers are coming except Wyatt. Sorry. I know he’s the one you were most looking forward to meeting.
” She playfully sticks out her tongue, and I roll my eyes.
“But seriously, this is going to be a baptism of fire. Are you ready for it?”
I lean down and capture her lips with mine. “I’m ready,” I whisper against her mouth.
“Okay. Here we go then.”
Hand in hand, we walk over to where Cade and Sophie have parked.
“Hi,” Sophie says as she steps out of the car and heads toward us. I let go of Ash’s hand as Sophie pulls her in for a hug. “Nice to see you again, Ben,” she says, stepping back from Ashlyn before leaning in to press a quick kiss on my cheek.
I nod. “Good to see you again too, Sophie. And congratulations on your son.”
“Thanks,” she says with a warm smile.
I look past her to see Cade pulling an infant carrier from the back seat, juggling it with a large diaper bag.
“Hey, Cade. Here, let me help with that,” I say, stepping around Sophie and reaching for the bag.
“I've got it,” Cade snaps, despite clearly struggling with both the carrier and the bag.
I hold my hands up and step back.
“Stop being an ass, Cade, and take the offer of help,” Ashlyn says, plucking the diaper bag from his hand and passing it to me. She kisses Cade briefly on the cheek before peering into the infant carrier.
“Hello, gorgeous boy. God, he’s grown already,” she says, looking over her shoulder at Sophie.
Sophie laughs. “I’m not surprised. All he does is feed.”
“We should get him inside,” Cade says.
“Are you going to speak to Ben, Cade?” Ash asks as the four of us walk toward the house.
Cade comes to a halt, and I brace myself for whatever’s about to follow.
“I thought you were done with him,” Cade says, his eyes fixed on me.
“Cade!” Sophie snaps.
Ash doesn’t flinch. “We’re together,” she says firmly, irritation lacing her voice.
Cade exhales, his expression hard. “Look, Seb told me about your... situation, and what happened with your wife. I’m sorry for everything you’ve been through. But that doesn’t mean you’re the right person for Ash.”
“With all due respect, Cade, that’s not for you to decide,” I say, trying to keep my voice in check.
He shrugs. “Maybe not, but I’m still going to voice my opinion.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” Sophie says before lowering her voice and leaning in toward me. “Ignore him. He’s just sleep-deprived and cranky.”
Ashlyn slips her hand into mine as Sophie and Cade go on ahead.
“One brother down, two to go,” I say quietly, trying to lighten the mood.
“Cade's a jerk. I can’t believe he said that to you.”
“It’s fine, Ash.”
She tugs on my hand, stopping me in my tracks. “It’s not fine.”
I lean down and press a soft kiss to her lips. “Maybe not, but at least he knows the truth. He loves you. They all do. I understand.”
She lets go of my hand and wraps her arms around my neck. As I rest my hands on her waist, I gaze down at her.
“You’re amazing, you know that? Most guys would have run for the hills by now.”
I smile. “I could say the same about you after the way Laney was last night.”
She sighs, resting her head against my chest. “Are we always going to be fighting for everyone’s approval?”
My chest tightens. “I wish I had the answer to that.”
“Me too.”
I hold her close for a few moments before stepping back. “Let’s go inside. I’m sure you’re dying to see Hunter.”
She smiles. “He is pretty cute, isn’t he?”
I chuckle. “The cutest.”
We head inside, but her words linger in my mind. Between Laney and her brothers, I can’t shake the feeling that we will always be fighting for approval. No matter how hard we try, will it ever be enough if no one wants us to be together?