15
Ashlynn
Drink to Moving On – Grand National
A fter sending everything to Heath the other night, I have yet to hear back from him to see if the publisher wants me to change anything or rewrite certain chapters. It is kind of making me anxious and on edge. However, my brain is mush from going over everything they originally wanted, but I somehow made it happen.
As if he knew I was thinking about him, Heath calls me. Answering the phone nervously, I say, “Hey Heath! I hope you have some news about the book?”
“That is, in fact, why I am calling. The publishers liked everything you provided. They want to print copies right away and get them on store shelves. They also suggested that it would be a good idea for you to get social media so your fans can follow your work once you write other books.”
“Ugh,” is all I can muster at this moment. I never wanted to be on social media. I like being private, but I get what they are saying.
“So, do I need to do an account on all platforms or just a certain one?”
“Really Ashlynn? Would it hurt to have a couple of them? I can help you monitor them, too, since I know you don’t care about them at all.”
“Alright, I will do it. Anything else to do?”
“Yep, they want you to go and do some signings.” Holy shit, this is really happening. This is everything I have always wanted to do.
I want to call Anthony and tell him the good news, but I don’t want to bother him on his tour, since that is his time with his team. So, I call the next best person, Neha! Her phone just continues to ring and ring. Hanging up, I give up for the time being and start getting on social media to open my accounts. It feels very strange to put myself out there, but I get an excited feeling when I type “author” under my name and “coming soon Missed Calls ”. I may or may not have made a loud, excited squeal. As I am on Instagram, I go and follow the Overbear page and watch a few of the videos uploaded. I notice one of them is just a prank video that Anthony, Chase, and I assume one of the riders setting off freaking blackcats by the bed, where another person is passed out and covered in what looks like flour. I can’t help but laugh out loud at his reaction. I hope when they come through Colorado, I can meet the whole team.
Hearing my phone ringing, I pick it up and see it is Neha. I am so excited to tell her the news. I answer right away. “Hey, sorry I missed your call earlier. I was in a meeting.”
“No worries, but I do have something exciting to tell you! The publisher is going to start printing the book and get it in stores and they want me to do a few signings!”
Silence is coming from Neha’s end. Stunned, I am sure. “Shit, Ashlynn, that is so amazing. I am proud of you. We have to drink tonight to celebrate. Tell Heath his ass is coming with us too. We may need a DD.”
I smile to myself–Heath is the most self-controlled person I know, he only drinks water and iced tea, sometimes. “He would for sure be the DD; you know he doesn’t drink.”
A couple of hours later, Neha is at the house, and we're getting ready to head out for the night. Normally, I wouldn't do this. I’m an introvert and just prefer staying at home, but it's a special occasion. “So, have you told Anthony the good news?”
Turning toward her while I do my hair, I say, “No, I haven’t. I don’t want to bother him while he is doing the tour. He looks like he is having fun, though. I opened an Instagram page per the publisher’s request and followed Overbear.”
Giving me a strange look, she says, “You know he wouldn’t think you were bothering him; you know that, right?”
“Yeah, I know.”
I look over and she tells me, “You know I talked to him a couple days ago. Before you say anything, it was for the magazine. They want to get a spread done on him and his team for the park tour.”
Thinking to myself, that is awesome. “That’s great! When do you get to write it?”
“When they are out here in Colorado at the Memorial Skate Park.”
I probably should see if he wouldn’t mind me coming there, but I ask anyway. “Can I come with you out to the park and surprise Anthony?”
“Ah yeah, I think that would be a good idea!”
After getting ready and waiting for Heath to get to the house, I go through the mail really quick, and notice that there is a letter with no return address. Slowly opening the envelope, it is a single sheet of paper and all it says is “STAY AWAY FROM HIM.” Okay, this is freaky, but I don’t say anything to Heath or Neha about it.
We are soon heading out on I-70 to go to Denver, since they have more options for places to have drinks at, unlike Frisco being a smaller town and not much to choose from. “I can’t believe you both dragged me out with you and as your DD let alone!” Heath tells us from the driver’s seat.
“I am sure one drink wouldn’t kill you, Heath, but thank you for coming, anyway! We are celebrating you, too. Since you are my agent and all!”
“Yeah, yeah. Just please don’t get out of control. I know you think you are an introvert, Ashlynn, but once you start feeling good, you become a social butterfly!”
Neha laughs at this and turns around. “It is so true! I can’t get you to shut up when you are feeling the drinks; I love it though!”
Just as we pull up to the bar and park, I get a text from Anthony!
After sending the last text, Anthony calls me. “Hi, how are you?”
“I feel like shit, honestly. We had too much fun last night at a bar, and all of us got shitfaced. We are paying for it today!” I don’t think I have ever seen Anthony drunk before, only ever drinking a few beers here and there.
“At least you guys had fun, even though you all feel like shit!” I tell him.
“Ugh, yeah, I guess so. I never want to drink like that again. Anyway, what are you celebrating?”
I smile to myself because I am excited to fill him in on everything that has happened. Anthony stays quiet while I tell him everything about what the publisher said.
Finally, when I am done, he blows out a breath. “Fuck baby, I am so excited for you. What cities will you be going to for the signings?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t even think to ask. I am sure Heath knows.” Talking for a few more minutes, I tell Anthony I am going to go since Neha and Heath are waiting for me. “Ok have a good night, and Heath better make sure you make it home in one piece, safe and sound.”
“Anthony, he is our DD. He doesn’t like to drink. We are in good hands.”
All he says is, “Better be!”
After hanging up, I make it inside and look around to see where Neha and Heath are. I might have lucked out with this publisher moving forward with my book, but when it comes to being out in public, luck hasn't been on my side. Across the bar is Ryan again. He instantly spots me and gives me a cocky smile with a head nod. I just roll my eyes and continue on my way to find my friends. I am soon stopped, though, with Ryan standing in my way. “Ashlynn, how can I get so lucky to see you twice in a few weeks?”
“I wouldn’t call it lucky, more like a bad coincidence.”
Shaking his head at me, he says, “Why are you like that with me? I know I was an asshole, and I am sorry for that.”
I give him an odd look; he has never apologized before. “What is wrong with you? Why are you now saying this?”
“Yeah, I know I’ve never said sorry. Just seeing you these past few weeks made me realize how much I miss you–us!”
Dumbfounded, I don’t even know exactly what to say to him, but I find my words. “Well, apology accepted, but there will never be an ‘us' again. That ship has sailed.”
Ryan looks almost hurt by this, but also a little pissed off. “What do you mean that ship has sailed? We can work on it, and it will be good this time.”
Turning around to end this conversation, Ryan grabs my right wrist. Turning around and looking at him, I tell him, “I can’t be with someone who doesn’t support my goals in life.”
“This is about the book. I was just being honest with you about it; it’s not going to go anywhere.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose because–once again–he is being the biggest asshole. “It’s only okay for me to support your goals in our relationship, but not the other way around. Also, just to let you know, that same book was, in fact, picked up by a publisher and is going to print soon! So, I guess I didn’t need your support after all!”
“Must be a small publisher, if they liked that crap.”
Balling up my fist, I feel the need to hit him right across his freaking face. “I am serious, Ashlynn; I want to be back with you.”
Shaking my head with a wide smile on my face, I make eye contact with Ryan. “Well, I don’t want to be with you. I am seeing someone.”
His face drops with that remark. “Who are you seeing and for how long?”
He is unbelievable, but I let him know because he knows about Anthony and was always jealous of him. Standing on my tiptoes to speak right into his ear, I tell him, “Anthony Ville!” With that, I turn and walk away, finding Neha and Heath, with a drink already ordered for me!
Making it over to them finally, I grab my drink and take a sip. Feeling the whiskey burn, I say, “Sorry guys, I was talking to Anthony, and when I came in freaking Ryan is here and tried to talk to me, while I was making my way to you all.”
Both Neha and Heath look at each other, with Neha saying, “Yeah, we saw Ryan when we got in. I told him to leave you alone, but it seems he listens as well as a puppy!”
Neha makes Heath and I burst out laughing at calling Ryan a puppy. “He actually tried to tell me he wants to get back together; can you believe that shit?!”
“Oh eww,” Neha says. “I told him I was back with Anthony; he will dwell on that one all night, but I don’t care about him. I am not going to let him ruin this night!”
After a few more jack and cokes, Neha and I drag Heath down to the dance floor every couple of songs. As we dance away, I look over and Ryan is just staring at all of us. I just keep dancing but decide to flip him off while doing so. Throwing his hands up in the air, he turns and puts his arms around some girl who is with his group of friends I recognize. Getting back to the table, we order more drinks and decide to get some whiskey shots. After a while, Neha and I are feeling good. Thank goodness Heath is the DD. Just sipping away on his water.
After a few minutes, I think it’s a good idea to go back and talk to Ryan. “I’ll be right back; I have some beef to take care of.”
“Where are you going?” I hear Neha and Heath yell as I am walking away. I also hear Heath say, “Oh Shit” when he sees’ who I am walking toward.
“Ryan, I thought of a very big reason as to why I would never get back with you again.”
“Oh yeah? And what is that, Ashlynn?”
Smiling wickedly at him, I say, “You sucked in bed. You would get on top and you would just do this strange move, like a quiver or shake. I don’t even know what to call it. It started and ended so quickly. I faked all my orgasms, too. Didn’t you ever wonder why I never said it felt good?”
Right at that moment, his friend Nate chokes on his drink, saying, “Damn Ryan!”
I look over at the girl Ryan was all over and tell her, “You probably would have a better time with Nate. As you can see or more like as you heard, Ryan doesn’t know how to work his dick properly to pleasure a girl!”
As soon as I say this, arms are around my waist, lifting me up off the ground and turning to exit the bar. “Okay, Ashlynn, it’s time to go. That liquid courage is kicking in!”
Laughing like a crazy person, I look over at Ryan. Flipping him off with both hands, I yell, “Have a nice life, asshole!”
We make it out of the bar, and Heath puts me down so I can walk to the car. “Ashlynn, you are crazy. I think you shouldn’t drink whiskey. You get too courageous when it is coursing through your system!”
“That felt so good, though, telling him off, embarrassing him like that!”
Heath shakes his head at me. “He is an asshole, 100%. However, you don’t talk about a man’s bedroom performance in front of another girl! He won’t be getting any tonight.”
Neha is just cracking up walking next to us, listening to us throw jabs back and forth. “Well, Heath, he’s not the only one not getting any tonight. I won’t be either.”
“Yeah, me neither!” Neha says next to us.
“Oh my god, enough with talking about getting some! Sorry I brought it up. You two are like sisters to me; I don’t want to know about that shit. Get your asses in the car.”
Back in Heath’s Lexus IS 350 F Sport, we are headed home on I-70. Laying on the back seat, listening to music, my stomach starts making noise. “I’m hungry; let’s stop and get some pancakes!”
Neha makes an “MMM” sound in agreement and says, “Waffles too!”
“We can stop, but you both need to behave yourselves, please!” Heath tells us.
“OK,” Neha and I say in unison. We stop at a 24-hour place, get our food, and eat; then, we head back home.
I take the front seat, with Neha passing out in the back almost as soon as we make it onto the interstate. “Thanks for coming out tonight with us; it was fun. Even though I probably embarrassed you!”
“You didn’t. It was actually entertaining, watching you finally tell that guy off.”
Both of us are quiet for a bit before I tell Heath, “Anthony said you better get me home in one piece, safe and sound!”
“He has nothing to worry about; you will be in one piece--just maybe a little hungover!” Making it back into Frisco, Heath and Neha both just crash at my house for the night. Before I try to sleep, I send a quick text to Anthony letting him know we made it home safely.