Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ben
“Where are you going?” Laney asks from the sofa when I walk into the living room. The TV’s blaring some terrible reality show, and I can barely hear her over the noise.
“Can you turn that down?” I gesture at the TV, waiting as she lowers the volume with the remote. “I’ve got a date with Ash. Have you seen my keys?”
She scrunches her face. “Oh. You haven’t mentioned her in a while. So, you’re still seeing her, then?”
I dig through the sofa cushions for my keys and grab them when I spot them.
“Yeah, I’m still seeing her. She’s just been dealing with a lot lately.”
She rolls her eyes. “I hope you got her parents' permission to take her out. Does she have a curfew?”
“Laney,” I warn, not in the mood.
“I’m just saying what everyone else is probably thinking.”
I sigh. “No one except you is thinking that. Ashlyn is an adult.”
She laughs, but it’s void of any humor. “She’s seven years older than me, Dad.”
“I’m not doing this again. I get that it’s hard for you, but you’re not a kid anymore. Ash makes me happy.”
“Mom used to make you happy,” she whispers.
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I sit next to her on the sofa, my stomach in knots. “She did, sweetheart, but things changed. We grew apart long before the accident. You were just too young to see it.”
She shakes her head and turns away. “You should go. You’re going to be late,” she mutters, focusing back on the TV.
“Will you be okay?”
She shrugs without looking at me. “If I said no, would you stay?”
I drop my head, sighing. “Laney–”
“I’m fine, Dad. I’m meeting Chelsea later anyway.”
I search her face for any sign of hesitation. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Go.”
I stand and press a kiss to her head. “I’ll see you later. Have fun with Chelsea.”
Guilt presses down on me as I pull out of the driveway and head toward Ash’s place.
Maybe I should have waited until she left for college before starting anything with Ash.
But selfishly, I couldn’t stay away. I’ve done my best to be there for Laney since Molly’s accident, and it feels wrong to walk away when I know she’s upset.
Maybe I’m not the great dad I think I am.
When I get to Hope Creek, I park outside Ash’s apartment building and turn off the engine. I pull out my phone, half expecting a message from Laney, but there’s nothing.
With a quiet sigh, I step out of the car, grab the bouquet I picked up on my way home from work, and head for the entrance. I press the buzzer for Ash’s apartment and wait.
“Hello?” Ash answers, sounding a little out of breath.
“Hey, it’s me, Ben.”
“Hey. Come on up. I’m not quite ready yet. I’ll leave the door on the latch. Make yourself comfortable.”
Her words tumble out, and I can’t help but laugh as the door buzzes and unlocks. I walk in and head straight for the elevator. I ride it up to the third floor, and when I reach her apartment, the door is slightly ajar.
“Ashlyn?” I call as I step inside, closing the door behind me.
“I’ll be right out,” she shouts from somewhere in the apartment. “There are beers in the fridge if you want one.”
I’m hoping we won’t be here long enough for me to need a beer.
We have a table reservation in fifteen minutes.
I walk through the entryway, placing the flowers on the breakfast bar before heading into the living room.
The TV’s on, but the sound is muted. I groan when I see it’s the same awful reality show Laney was watching earlier.
As much as Laney’s not interested in getting to know Ash, I think they’d get along just fine.
My attention drifts to a small console table in the corner of the room, covered with framed photos.
I walk over and pick up one of Ash and her brothers.
It looks recent; everyone’s grinning at the camera with Ash in the center.
She looks stunning. I glance at the rest of the pictures.
They’re mainly family shots with a couple of her and Ivy.
It’s clear how much her friends and family mean to her, and I love that about her.
“Hey. Sorry I wasn’t ready,” Ash says from behind me, and I turn around, my breath catching in my throat when I see her.
She’s wearing a black dress that fits her body perfectly, the material ending just past her knees.
Her long blonde hair is curled over her shoulders, and the makeup around her eyes makes her striking blue eyes pop.
My gaze drifts down to her heels, making her legs seem to stretch on forever.
Suddenly, I need to pull her into my arms. I cross the room quickly, cupping her face with my hands.
“You look so beautiful, Ashlyn. Definitely worth the wait.”
Her cheeks flush pink, and I smile as she drops her gaze from mine.
“You look good too, Ben,” she whispers, her hands resting gently on my chest.
She looks up at me, and I lower my head, brushing my lips against hers.
Her hands slide up my chest, over my shoulders, and link behind my neck.
The kiss deepens, and when I run my tongue along her bottom lip, she opens up to me with a soft moan.
The kiss becomes more urgent, as though it’s been days since I last kissed her, not just hours.
It’s electric between us, and I can’t get enough of her.
After a moment, I break the kiss and rest my forehead against hers. We're both breathless, and it takes a minute for our breathing to calm down.
“We should head out,” I murmur, pressing another kiss to her lips. “We're going to miss our dinner reservation.”
“Okay. Where are we going?”
“I booked a table at Franco’s. Is that okay?”
She smiles brightly. “I love Franco’s.”
“Good.”
“Are those for me?” she asks softly, her eyes drifting to the flowers on the breakfast bar.
I grin. “They are.”
“They’re beautiful. Thank you.” She rises on her toes to press a gentle kiss to my lips, then steps out of my arms to fill the sink with water and place the flowers in it. “I’ll arrange them later. I don’t want us to be late.”
I nod, slipping my hand into hers as we head out of the apartment and into the waiting elevator.
“Maybe we could grab a drink afterward,” I suggest.
“Sounds perfect.”
Eden’s probably the best bar in town, so I’m guessing we’ll end up there.
I am a little nervous about seeing her brothers again.
I get that they’re protective, and I appreciate that, but as long as Ashlyn wants me in her life, I’ll do everything I can to show anyone who needs to know that we’re right for each other.
Ten minutes later, we’re walking hand in hand into Franco’s. I give the ma?tre d' our reservation details and she leads us to our table, handing us both menus.
“Your server will be over soon to take your drink orders,” she says.
“Thank you,” Ashlyn says with a smile, glancing at her menu. “What are you getting? Everything here is so good.”
“I've never been before. What do you recommend?”
“Their steaks are incredible.”
“Are you getting one?”
“Yep.”
I chuckle. “Well, that settles it.”
When the server comes over, we order drinks and two steaks. Once she leaves, I reach across the table and take Ashlyn’s hand, intertwining my fingers with hers.
“Did you see Sophie and the baby today?” I ask, remembering she was heading there after leaving me at work this morning.
Her face lights up. “I did. Hunter is so cute. Sophie’s on cloud nine.”
“When can they go home?”
“Hopefully tomorrow. Hunter’s doing great, and with Cade being a doctor, he’s in excellent hands.”
I nod. “And how’s Taylor?”
“She’s doing well too. It’ll probably be a few more days before she can come home, though Seb’s eager to get her out of there.”
“Things are good between them, though?”
Ashlyn had told me what happened between Taylor and Seb before the accident, how Seb had been keeping his feelings for Sophie a secret, and that’s what their argument had been about that night. From what she said, Seb had been scared that if Taylor woke up, she wouldn’t be able to forgive him.
“I think so. They seemed to be getting along when I saw them. I just need to talk to Taylor alone, but Seb’s been glued to her side.”
I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “I can’t blame him. I’m so relieved she’s okay, baby.”
“Me too.”
Just then, the server arrives with our drinks, and Ashlyn uses her free hand to take a sip from her wine glass.
As she drinks, my attention lands on the other side of the restaurant, where a group of women keeps glancing over and whispering to each other.
I groan internally when I recognize them as parents of kids in Ashlyn’s class.
The gossip that circulates among the moms during school drop-off is legendary, and I’m already certain that Ash and I will be the hot topic of conversation by tomorrow.
A few weeks ago, I would have been bothered by it, especially with the age difference, but after almost losing her, I couldn’t care less.
I’m here with her, and if anyone has a problem with that, it’s their issue, not ours.
“Everything okay?” Ash asks, noticing where my gaze is fixed. “Oh, God,” she groans as she realizes what I’m looking at. “By recess tomorrow, everyone will know about us.”
“I don’t care if the whole world knows, Ash.”
Her eyes widen in surprise. “You don’t?”
“Nope. I don’t care what anyone thinks.” I smile at her and give her hand a reassuring squeeze. “How about we really give them something to talk about?”
“What do you mean?”
I stand from my seat and walk over to her, lowering myself to her level. She looks up at me, and I lean down, pressing my lips to hers. The kiss is soft and brief before I pull back.
“I’m going to the restroom, baby. I’ll be right back.”
She giggles, and I glance over at the table of women, who are all staring at us with wide eyes.
I smile and nod toward them before winking at Ashlyn and heading toward the bathroom.
As I look back, I see her smiling brightly, and I smile in return.
What I said was true. I don’t care who knows about us. Let the gossip begin.