Page 25 of Inevitable

“I am just messing with you. I didn’t think you would flip to murderous rage so quickly. The second place is for you.”

The smile she gives me makes my stomach flip. It is exactly how she use to smile at me before and I surprisingly find myself smiling back. I can’t remember the last time I was happy enough to give anyone more than a smirk.

I find myself pushing all the reasons why I shouldn’t spend time with her away for now and stride over to the table, taking a seat. It is just a meal, right? I haven’t eaten today, and it looks like Luis isn’t around, so I don’t really have a choice.

She seems pleased that I have accepted her dinner invitation and places a plate in front of me.

“Thank you, Ashlynn.”

“Careful,” she whispers conspiringly. “If you don’t lower your voice your staff might overhear and think you actually have manners.” She gives me a playful wink and I let out a full belly laugh that causes her blue eyes to sparkle.

Ashlynn gingerly grabs her own plate and settles herself in the seat across from me. She looks up and smiles once more before she digs in to her food. I watch her for probably a little too long, but I can’t help myself.

Her blue eyes lock on me and I know I have been caught, but she doesn’t mention it.

“So, how was your day?” She asks, as if this was a completely normal thing we do.

I let out a short chuckle and shake my head softly. I am not sure you could have ever convinced me two weeks ago that I would be sitting in my kitchen eating dinner with Ashlynn Adams and discussing how my day was.

“It was less than wonderful, and yours?”

She opens her mouth like she is about to ask more questions but thinks better of it and shrugs. “It was fine. Did some work, hung out with Luis for a while and then made dinner. I finished this today, do you like it?” She asks gesturing to her shirt that I admired when I first saw her.

“You made that? Today?”

She laughs lightly and shakes her head. “No, not just today. I have been working on it a little here and there when I had some free time. It is too simple for anything Camila would ever put her stamp of approval on, but I like it.”

“It looks beautiful. I always knew you were talented, but I do not think I knew just how much. Very impressive, Ashlynn.”

She blushes and ducks her head for a moment. My pulse stutters at the sight of it for a second before I clear my throat and sit up more.

“Thank you, Luca. I was barely able to apply an applique when you knew me though. When my Mother got sick, she taught me a lot. College helped fill in some gaps too.”

I nod and my brows dip slightly. I see a pained look cross her face, no doubt from the memory of her mother. Without thinking I place my hand over hers and electricity shoots through my arm at the contact of her silky skin against mine.

“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for your loss. I was very upset when your mother had passed. She was always very kind to my family and I.”

She fakes a smile and subtly dabs at the corners of her eyes with her napkin. “Oliva Adams really was an incredible woman. When she was gone, I looked around and realized I was completely alone.”

I wince at her words but don’t respond. She watches me for a second before she shrugs. “I am stronger today for everything I have endured, I am sure you can say the same.”

I bite the inside of my cheek and nod numbly. I am not really sure what to say at this point. Thankfully, Ashlynn has always been a conversationalist and changes the subject.

“With you keeping a close eye on me over the years did it ever get back to you the time Kiki and I got stuck in Mexico?” She asks with a mischievous smile.

I give her the ghost of a smile as I reach for the amber liquid that was set next to my plate. “I can’t say that it did. What did you do?”

“Hey! It wasn’t my fault, it was Kiki!” She defends with a mock scowl that is too fucking adorable.

She launches into a story about how her and Kiki were robbed by Kiki’s one night stand, passports included. They had to have her father bail them out and they both vowed to never go back to Mexico again.

We spend the rest of the night eating and laughing. She tells me all sorts of ridiculous stories that she has from over the years and a twinge of sadness runs through me that I wasn’t with her through them.

Being around her like this makes it easy to forget the dangers that are out there. It makes it easy to want this every day, forever. To make her mine and damn the consequences. I know I can’t though. I can be careless with my own life, but I will never do that to her. Her safety and happiness will always come first. Even if that means my own will suffer.

-

Since that night we have fallen in to a comfortable routine at the house. Every time I come home at a reasonable hour, she has dinner ready and waiting at our little table for two. I think she enjoys cooking mama’s meals for me. Maybe it makes her feel closer to her. I would like to think it’s because she likes being close to me. The nights I come home late I find the meal that she did make wrapped in the fridge untouched. I always feel like an ass that she sat around waiting for me.

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