Page 19 of Ash
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“Wade!”I holler as I grab my bag. I’ve already missed the bus to Stevie’s, and now I’m going to have to hope I can get an Uber both to Stevie’s then to the studio.
I rip open my door just as Ash walks out of his apartment. He looksreallygood. Light brown trousers and a fitted black button-down shirt that hugs his fit chest and muscular arms.
“Hey, Sunshine,” he gives me a tired smile and I have to pry my eyes off his body and look at his face. Wow, he looks exhausted. His usually clean-shaven face has a dark shadow, and his eyes have slight darkening rings around them. Oh God, did I keep him up all night?
“Too much alien fun last night, Charming?” I smirk playfully as I yell for Wade to get the lead out.
Ash huffs out a laugh. “No,” he smiles softly. “The aliens were fine. But your snoring was God awful.” I freeze, staring at him in indignation.
“I donotsnore.” He snorts a laugh as he scratches the back of his head.
“Sweetheart, either you snore, or a construction crew got ahold of your phone at about two this morning and started jackhammering near it.” I purse my lips together as I choose to ignore this other nickname. He needs to stop with the pet names, they do things to me I’m not comfortable with.
“Then why not hang up the phone, you idiot?” I raise a brow. Ash leans in closer and looks down at me. I pray he can’t hear the increasing pounding of my heart rate.
“Because,” he states, just above a whisper. “Then I couldn’t say I spent the night with you.”
Feeling way too claustrophobic, I step back just as Wade walks out. “Finally,” I grumble, ushering my moping son out the door. “I’ve missed the bus and now I’m not going to be able to drop you at Stevie’s because I’ll be late to class.”
“Mom!” Wade groans, “C-Come on!” His voice cracks in frustration and I would find it funny or cute if it weren’t for the fact that I’m going to have to deal with him at the studio all day being annoyed.
“I can drop you off at work.” Ash shrugs nonchalantly. “Then I can take him to Stevie, if that's where he’s going.”
“Or!” Wade interjects. “Why can’t Ash take me to the art store? Or take me to Hel’s?”
I groan and rub my hands over my face. “Wade, that’s rude! Ash has stuff he needs to do.”
“Actually, I was headed to get a massive coffee, so it’s not a problem. Besides, I need some new markers so I can take him.” I look between the two of them before sighing.
“I don’t have time. Okay, yeah fine. Ash, I appreciate it.” I shoot my kid a warning look because he and I will be having a conversation when we get home. We follow Ash to the elevator and once inside, I watch as he starts texting someone. It’s none of my business who he is texting, but when I happen to catch his text box saying something about a rain check, I don’t know if I feel happy or annoyed.
Chapter8
Ash
Well, taking Sunday’s son to the art supply store isn’t exactly what I had in mind this morning. But the kid is practically vibrating with excitement as we drive through the busy streets, heading downtown. I glance over at Wade. I’ve seen him a few times, obviously, but never in such close proximity. The similarities between him and Sunday are crazy. He has her honey-colored eyes and slender nose with freckles over the bridge. He’s close to thirteen, or maybe he already is. The occasional cracking in his voice gives away that he is startingthe change.
“Thanks again for doing this!” He smiles at me, and I chuckle.
“No worries, bud, I didn't have anything else to do and, like I said, I need some new supplies.” It’s a lie, I canceled a date, and my supplies are always bought wholesale by Janie, but whatever, he doesn’t need to know that.
“Mom is just so busy,” Wade sighs softly. “And when she isn’t, she’s tired or recovering from a seizure, like she should be doing now,” he mutters the last part. “Plus, I know Uber isn’t cheap, and she hates the bus.”
“So, does she not drive at all?” I ask as I whip into the drive thru at the coffee shop. I am going to need more caffeine today.
Wade shakes his head. “She has to be seizure-free for so long before her doctor will sign off on allowing her to get a license. I remember when I was younger, she tried to keep track for a while, but she never made it long enough and Josh used to make fun of it a lot, so she gave up trying.” It isn’t lost on me the amount of venom he holds in his tone when he says Sunday’s ex-husband’s name. I ask him if he wants a drink and raise a brow when he says water but do as he asks.
“Yeah, some stepdads can suck, or so I’m told.”
“Josh wasn’t my stepdad,” Wade states firmly, while reaching into his pocket. “I don’t have a dad, of any kind besides mom. And she’s better than any man would have been, anyway. Here.” He hands me two crumpled dollars after I take our drinks.
“Bud, it’s fine.”
“I can buy my own drinks. Mom gave me enough to cover the supplies with an extra couple dollars.” He stuffs the bills into my cup holder.
“That’s great, you know,” I say after a silent beat. “That you have such an amazing and strong mom.”
