Page 23 of So Wrong, It's Wright
“I don’t think I’ve ever been carried to and from the bathroom before,” I say as he sets me back down. “And breakfast in bed on top. Careful, I’ll develop expectations.”
Ash laughs a little then reaches over to the tray, lifting a bag of frozen peas off it. “I’m happy to wait on you while I’m here. I’m well aware that what we did last night won’t be easy on you today. So…” He holds the bag of peas out to me.
“What’s this for?” I ask, taking it and frowning.
“For your…” He frowns then clears his throat, gesturing to my general pelvic area.
“Oh! My hoohah.” He smirks and shifts back, making me giggle. After everything we did last night, and the amount of time he’s spent with this face shoved against it, it’s kind of adorable that he’d be even a little awkward discussing my private parts.
“You didn’t have an ice pack. Figured this is the next best thing.”
“To be honest with you. Those peasaremy ice pack. Never did enjoy eating them. But they should help make we walk a little less cowgirl before long.” Lifting the blankets, I position the peas between my thighs then sigh in relief as the cool eases the swelling slightly. “Oh yeah, that feels good.”
“I’m sorry. I hate that it hurt you.” With my ‘icepack’ in place, he picks up the breakfast tray and sets it over me so I can eat. There’s waffles, strawberries, syrup and freshly brewed coffee. Plus, a glass of water and a bottle of Tylenol—for the pain, I assume. He’s truly thought of everything.
“It was worth it, Ash,” I say, placing my hand on his arm. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
“A heartbeat?” he quirks his brow like he doesn’t believe me and I laugh.
“Well, maybe once the peas and the Tylenol have done their job,” I say, giggling as I down the medicine and pick up a strawberry to chase it. “I’m gonna need some more preparation before you’re back in town.” Testing the waters, I watch him curiously while slicing off the corner of a waffle with a fork and taking a bite.” He frowns.Not a good sign.
“About that…” He worries his lips together as he pours the coffee, waiting on me like he’s my servant or something. It was swoony gorgeous a moment ago, but now I’m quickly flipping back to feeling wary.Is he just trying to let me down gently?
“Oh, my god. You’re dumping me, aren’t you? God. I’m so stupid when it comes to men! I just—”
“What? No!” Ash sits on the side of the bed, his pink tongue sneaking out to wet his lips as he adds cream and sugar to my coffee like he needs to be busy or he won’t get through whatever it is he’s about to say. “I’d never…”
“OK. If this isn’t all to say thanks before you walk out of my life, then what?”
His eyes lift to mine, and I hold my breath. I’m not sure who’s more nervous here, but I do know that I’ve become incredibly attached to Ash in a very short time. There’s something about just being near him that feels right to me. And I don’t want that to end.
“Tahlia, I don’t want to be the guy who flies into town for my cousin’s functions occasionally and fucks you when I’m here,” he starts, making my chest get even tighter. "I want more than that. I wantusto be something more. What I’m trying to say is that I want to date youproperly.”
Full of relief, I let go of my held breath, but it makes a sound akin to a goose being stepped on, and it’s not pretty. “Haaaaaaaaaeee.”
“Shit. Are you OK?” He quickly moves the tray to the side and reaches for me, but I shake my head while trying to breathe and hold him back because Ineedhim to keep going.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” I manage. “It’s just… You want todate me? As in, I’ll be your girlfriend?”
He pauses and his mouth quirks into a half-smile. “Yes. If that’s what you want too.”
“Want? Oh my god, Ash. Yes, I want to be your girlfriend! I have no idea how that’s going to work with you in Atlanta and me in New York, but I want nothing more.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Throwing caution to the wind, I shove the frozen peas to the side and kneel on the bed in front of him, taking his face in my hands as I gaze deep into his gorgeous blue eyes. “We like each other enough to make this work long distance, right?” I slide myself onto his lap and his big hands come up to my waist and wrap around me.
“It won’t be easy. But until we work out a better solution, yeah, I think we can,” he says, smiling up at me before his hand curls around the back of my head and he brings his mouth to mine, kissing me in a way that lets me know that everything is going to be just fine. Ash wants me. I want Ash. And somehow, he just became the first guy to ever ask me to go steady.
TAHLIA
“So, what color does Coco want to wear this week?” I ask, as Darren and I trawl through racks of dresses, looking for the perfect find. Drag queen clothes are over the top and dramatic. So when I find a purple ballgown, it feels like I've struck gold. “Please tell me it's purple.” I suck in an excited gasp as I pull the dress from the rack and hold it up. Darren's jaw hits the concrete floor when he clocks it, then he comes rushing at me making grabby hands.
“Oh my. You, my good friend, have now ben upgraded to fairy godmother status. This is going to beperfect.” He takes the dress from my hands and holds it against his body, sweeping across the store until he's in front of the mirror, sucking in his cheeks and turning side to side as he poses. “A little snip, a little tuck, some bedazzling and ... yes. This is the one.” He turns to me with a brilliant smile, and I can't help but smile right back. There's nothing but like seeing a queen find the right dress. “I love it, fairy godmother. I shall wear it to the ball and dazzle my prince.”
“Fairy godmother, huh? Isn't that what you said you'd be to Ash the last time you saw him?”
“Probably,” he says as he drapes the dress over his form and turns back to the racks. “He was mooning over you so hard, and I do enjoy fairy tale euphemism. How is the giant of a man, anyway? It's been, what—a couple of months since he was here last?”
