Page 57 of Ash
“Mom!” Wade comes rushing back. “Look!” I follow my son's gaze and frown. It’s a ride where you sit in the car and shoot monsters with laser guns. Lasers can trigger a seizure and that is the last thing I want to happen today.
“Oh, ummm… I can’t–”
“I got it, Sunshine.” Ash kisses my temple, and–what the fuck is that?I feel my heart flutter at the sweet gesture while watching Wade and Ash run off to show their fast passes. I smile softly as I go and have a seat on the bench next to where they would exit.
I can’t believe how amazing this day has been. I’m certain my cheeks are going to be aching from the amount of grinning I’ve been doing. I stare at my phone as I smile to myself. When we walked into the amusement park, a worker offered to take our picture. I handed her my phone, and she captured the best picture ever. I stand in between Ash and Wade, both of them leaning in to kiss my cheeks, but I grabbed their cheeks in my hands and squeezed them, making them both have goofy fish faces. I change the settings so that the picture is on my locked screen as I continue to stare at it.
“Oh my god, Sunday?” My body goes rigid. I know her voice. I glance up from behind my sunglasses to see Shannon, Ash’s ex, standing there in a bikini top and brown shorts. I have to admit, she is very blessed in the breast area, bitch.
“Yes, ma’am.” I give her a small smile. “How are you, Shannon?”
She wrinkles her nose as she sits next to me. “Don’t call me ma’am. We can’t bethatdifferent in age.”
I laugh lightly. “I didn’t mean any disrespect, it’s just habit.” I look around the area for Hudson or anyone she might be with. “You here with a party?” I ask, trying to figure out why she is sitting right next to me and hoping that she leaves before Ash and Wade come out.
“Mhmm… my date is grabbing us some drinks.” I nod.
“Hudson, right?” Shannon laughs and I shift slightly.
“Hudson is my fiancé, not my date. No, I’m here with my personal trainer.” She lowers her sunglasses and gives me a wink. “Gotta keep your good dick and your money dick separate.” Oh my God, she is the absolute worst. I don’t want to be here right now.
“Well,” I stand up, brushing off my jean shorts. “Have fun with that. I need to wait for the guys.”
“Are you still fucking Ash?” she laughs. “Honey, he ain’t a good dick or a money dick. What are you doing?”
“Excuse me?” I snap, feeling a familiar urge to hit her. “Ash is an amazing person! Don’t talk about him like that. Actually, no, don’t talk about him at all.”
“Trust me, there ain’t much to talk about,” she mutters. “I mean, no money, no inheritance, and it’s constantly ‘I’m having a panic attack’. I can’t tell you how many times I had to tell him that he was a grown man and that grown men do not have panic attacks. I mean, fucking grow a pair. All he had going for him was his average looks and decent sized dick, not that he could even figure out how to use it.”
“You’re a horrible person,” I say firmly. “Ash is probably one of the greatest men I’ve ever met. And I’ve seen what your abuse has done to him. I’ve seen the scars you left. And I hate you for it. I hate you more than I’ve ever hated another human. I’m just thankful that you don’t have him anymore, because you never deserved him. He is a good man. He’s kind and caring and protective, and he deserves someone that will give him that in return.”
Shannon huffs as she stands up. “Oh, and I guess you think you’re that person? You think you’re perfect, don’t you?”
“No,” I say quietly. “Far from it. But for as long as Ash will let me, I will be here to show himexactlywhat he deserves. Which is everything you’re not.” I sneer at her. I glance in the reflection of her glasses and see the two male figures behind me. Whipping around, I see Ash and Wade standing there. Ash’s face is pale, and I wonder how much he heard.
“Ashy,” Shannon purrs as she brushes past me while waving her fingers in Ash’s direction. “Enjoy your outing.”
Once she is gone, Ash and Wade walk up to me. “How was the ride?” I try to fake a smile, but neither of them take the bait.
“Amazing! Can I go get a drink?” Wade asks me.
“Yeah, bud,” Ash answers him, but he’s still looking at me. He blindly reaches into his wallet and pulls out some money, handing it to him without breaking eye contact. “Grab your mama something too.” Wade nods and runs off.
“I could’ve paid,” I mutter and only then does Ash turn to watch Wade go into the concession store. Once out of sight, Ash turns back to face me and closes the distance between us, capturing my lips with his. I’m taken by surprise by his public display of affection, but I welcome it, wrapping my arms around his neck and standing on my tiptoes.
He breaks us apart after a minute and presses his forehead to mine. “I heard it all,” he whispers, kissing my lips softly. “Sunday, nobody has ever been…” I watch as he struggles to find the words and I kiss him again.
“I like you,” I whisper, and he chuckles.
“I know.”
* * *
“So,are you ever coming back to Hel’s?” Janie pants as she slides, very ungracefully, down the pole. I can’t help but laugh as she drops to the ground and groans. Indy continues to stretch slowly on the floor, reaching for her toes.
“I don’t know,” Indy mutters. “I’ve got to get myself strengthened back up.” This is the first time we’ve gotten to hang out with Indy since she ended up in the hospital. I suggested hanging out at Ren’s, but Indy wanted to move around, stating that it was best for her to start moving, at least a little now that she isn’t in a bed anymore.
“Well, take as long as you need.” Janie smiles from the floor. “Your spot is always yours.”
