Page 14 of Ash
“Yes!” Janie throws her fist in the air in triumph. “We are getting wasted!”
* * *
Wade shakeshis head in disappointment as I groan and try to shove his dumb chicken off of my ass. He had gotten home from the bus stop about ten minutes ago and found me cuddling the girls on the floor. All of us passed out while Alice chose to claim my ass as her pillow.
“Get Alice off,” I whine, shoving the bird again, only to have it hiss at me. “I will deep fry you, bitch.”
“Wade, did you find In–what the fuck?” I bolt up, causing Alice Cooper to squawk and scamper up. Ash stands in my doorway, his eyes wide. I watch as he looks from me to Alice pecking at the leftover chips, to his sister, passed out around my leg.
“Okay,” I start out, trying to defuse the situation. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Ash raises a brow and crosses his sexy, thick, tattooed arms over that massive chest.
…I might still be a little drunk.
“Really?” he asks, looking around and I start to wonder where Luca got to. “Because it looks like you and your friends got shit-faced, brought my baby sister into it and… let a chicken loose in the apartment?” I see the look of confusion on his face as he stares at Alice.
“Okay,” I say, my voice raspy. “It’s apparently exactly what it looks like.”
“Is that your chicken?” he asks slowly.
“Alice is mine,” Wade sighs as he scoops up his bird and takes her to the coop we have set up for her.
“Ash, I’m sorry. We were celebrating and…” I trail off as I try to stand but stumble. Ash grabs my arms to steady me. I place my hands on his chest to balance and my eyes stare up into his. I feel it, his rapidly pounding heart. Why is it beating so fast? It can’t be because of me? Can it?
“Is she alright?” Ash asks as he steps back, putting an obvious amount of distance between us. I look down to Indy and nod.
“Yeah, she is kind of a lightweight. I think she had a shot and a beer.” Ash chuckles as he walks over and easily lifts the raven-haired girl into his arms.
“Yeah, she’s not supposed to drink with her medication,” he mumbles as Indy groans.
“So, are you alive?” Wade deadpans as he walks back into the room. I roll my eyes at him.
“I don’t need your attitude. I got a little intoxicated while you’re at school for the first time in months, geez.”
“I’m going to get out of your hair,” Ash interjects my squabble with my son. He gives me a small nod. “Have a good evening, Sunshine. Night, Wade.”
I smile weakly, “You too, Charming.” The door closes behind Ash, and Wade gags.
“You too, Charming,” he mocks and makes a kissy face.
“I will end you,” I warn as I throw a pillow at him. “Now help me wake these assholes up.”
* * *
I pinchthe bridge of my nose as I close my laptop. The dance studio I was planning on buying once I moved to Alabama was bought, and demolished. Now I have no building in the area I had been planning to move to with no others in my price range. I rub my temples as I let out a breath while trying to figure out how to adapt to this. After all, that’s what I do.
My phone vibrates and I let out a sigh. It’s nearly midnight, so the only person who could be texting me is Janie. But when I look at my phone, I see that it’s very muchnotJanie.
Charming: Hey Sunshine
Charming: What does a house wear?
I read and re-read the text.What does a house wear? Is he high?
Me: I don’t know Charming, what does a house wear?
Charming: Address
