Page 29 of Ash
The inner corners of her eyebrows raise and a look of sadness or possibly rejection washes over her.God damn it! I take it back!
She nods and I see her walls go back up, her eyes harden and her jaw sets. “Yeah, you’re right. Let me get dressed and we can go.”
* * *
Sunday rodein the back with Wade on the way to the resort. Wade spent the time ‘mothering’ his mother. The poor kid had been stressed about her seizure yesterday and had a million questions to ask about how she was feeling once we came back from the most awkward coffee run ever. I rejected her. I mean, I didn’t, but I know that’s how she took it. But what was I supposed to do? Kiss her again? Fuck her in my mom’s guest room with the pine air freshener misting us with every thrust while trying to keep her quiet so her son didn’t hear her in the other room?
I grab the bags out of the trunk and turn to face the resort. I stop at the curb beside a stunned Sunday and finally, she looks at me to speak.
“Your Christmas-loving mama is getting married in a tropical beach resort?” I laugh lightly while adjusting the bags as we start up the palm tree lined path to the entrance.
“Well, Neil is a beach guy so, he lives in a Christmas themed house for her and if they travel or have a wedding, it’s tropical. You know, give and take.” She nods as we walk into the stucco hotel. The lobby is huge and filled with giant tropical plants and a massive water feature up front.
My tiny mom squeals as she spots us and then glides over and hugs me tightly. “I just want to say it again,” she beams. “I am so happy you brought your beautiful girlfriend and her handsome boy with you! Now maybe you and Huddy can bury the hatchet.” Her voice is filled with excitement and hope, but it doesn’t stop my stomach from dropping and I feel an ice-cold whoosh fall over me.
“H-Hudson is here?” I manage to get out despite how tight my throat feels. “A-already?”
Mom winces. “Ash, baby, it’s been years, where are you going!?” I ignore my mom's calls as I walk away and head out of the lobby. I don’t know where I’m going, I just know I need to go. I could go to my room, I know the number, but I don’t have the keycard, it doesn’t matter. I need to get as far away from everyone as I can.
* * *
I am sittingon the floor in front of my hotel room when I see a set of feet in orange flip-flops with grey painted toenails appear in front of me.
“You forgot your key,” Sunday says as she drops the card into my lap. I grab the card, but don’t make any movements to get up. Sunday sighs and grabs the card back and then leans over me, unlocking the door.
“Get inside, Charming, you can be all-brooding in the room,” she says as she pushes open the door and gives my leg a nudge with her toe.
“I’m not brooding,” I mutter. “I’m fucking pouting.” She chuckles while trying to drag the bags in. I sigh as I stand up and help her get the bags into our room. I see the king-size bed and pray that she allows me to sleep there tonight, even if I need to put a pillow barrier between us for her comfort. My fucking back is killing me. I’m trying not to complain, but spending my days hunched over in weird positions to draw or tattoo, it’s wrecked me and the last couple days of a lot of driving and then sleeping on the floor, it’s put me in a shitty as fuck mood due to the discomfort.
“So,” Sunday starts as she sits on the edge of the bed. “Who is Huddy?”
I snarl my lip at the name. “Hudsonis my cousin. He is some hotshot financial guy who spends his time traveling from his Malibu mansion to his high-powered, high-paying gig on Wall Street in his private jet.”
Sunday nods. “Sounds like a real piece of shit. How dare he be successful.”
“Ha ha. It’s not his success that I hate. It’s–” I grimace. I really don’t want to talk about this, but she needs to know so we can act accordingly. “He’s with my ex. Shannon.” Sunday’s face twists as she stares at me.
“Oh. Shit.”
“Yeah.” I force out a laugh. “My abusive, narcissistic, cheating ex is somewhere in this resort, and I will undoubtedly have to interact with her at some point this weekend. I was hoping to have a little time to work up to it. You know, get our story straight.” I go to rub my chest, but Sunday beats me to it. I look down at her small hand over my heart and close my eyes while wrapping my hand over hers.
“The story is that I’m your girlfriend,” Sunday says softly while looking up at me. “I assure you that you will get what you are paying for.” Raising a brow, I laugh lightly.
“I’m not paying you?”
She scoffs and rolls her eyes. “I seem to remember promises of orange starbursts, sir.”
“Oh, I like that.” I smirk suggestively. “Call me ‘sir’ again.” She smacks my chest.
“Asshole,” she mutters. Her face softens as she turns back to me. “Kiss me.”
I inhale sharply, too sharply. So sharply that the saliva in my mouth flies down my windpipe, causing me to choke and start coughing. “W-what?” I sputter out between coughs. She’s one hundred percent unamused.
“I said, kiss me, you idiot!”
“Why would I do that? No one is here with us.” She smacks her forehead.
“If you and I kiss for the first time–”
