Page 80 of Infinite
Mrs. Caputo gets up while laughing. “I’ll be right back.”
“Ma! Don’t you dare get that—”
She’s back before Ashton can finish. “I had it framed because it’s really something a person needs to see to understand.”
I look down and there’s Ashton in a stunning deep blue dress with a slit up the side. God, if I were a teenage boy, I would’ve given my left nut for a chance with her. She was beautiful even in high school. I don’t see how the hell she says she was awkward.
Then my gaze moves to the dweeb standing next to her. Oh, I can only imagine what she did when she first saw him. “How long after your date showed up was this photo taken?”
“Oh, do you mean to ask if our sweet, timid, little Ashton had a fit?” Mrs. C asks.
“I didnothave a fit. I merely told him that he could find a new date . . . probably one who was blind because there was no way I was going to prom with him looking like that.”
“Real sweet,fragolina. Timmy shows up for his big date with the hottest girl in school and you roast him.”
“His name was not Timmy, thank you very much. And I assure you, I was not the hot girl.”
I look at the photo and disagree. “You were hot, sweetheart.”
“It’s the boobs. I got those senior year.”
“God bless puberty.”
Ashton’s eyes blaze, and I swear my heart is about to pound out of my chest. The fire that I’ve loved for so long is burning bright, and I never want to extinguish it.
I’ve been close to telling her I’m not going anywhere anymore so many times over the last few hours. I didn’t want to from the beginning, but I thought it was what was best for her. I didn’t listen to her when she told me she needed space. I was so hellbent on fixing her, I thought she didn’t know what she wanted.
I won’t do that again.
I’m hearing her. She asked me to stay, told me she loves me and needs me.
I know that I need her.
So, tonight, I’ll tell her, and I hope it makes her happy.
I grab my phone and send a quick text to Jackson and Mark.
Me: Trip is off. I’m not going anywhere.
Mark: Finally. Took you long enough.
Jackson: I’m glad. We needed you here.
Me: I appreciate that at least ONE of you was willing to let me do what I thought I needed to.
I make the jab at Mark.
Mark: Or that ONE of us is smarter than the rest and knew that you were being a tool.
Me: I really don’t know why I’m friends with you.
Mark: Because I’m a goddamn stud.
“Everything all right?” Ashton asks, and I put my phone away. Mark doesn’t need a response.
“Never better.”
She smiles and then her father calls our attention back to him.
