Authors: Amelia Whitmore
The next morning, Andy and I woke up at almost the same time. I woke up about two minutes before he did, but I was too drowsy to notice. "Morning,” he grumbled, his voice rough and sexy.
"Morning,” I whispered back. He pulled me in for a kiss. "Don't you have school today?" I asked suddenly, realizing that it was a weekday.
"I called my professors yesterday and told them I wouldn't be in today.” He said before kissing me lightly on the lips again. "What do you want to do?" He asked.
"I'm not really sure. I was kind of thinking I'd stay home and chill out.” I sat up to go to the bathroom.
"But you're home again. We need to celebrate that you're finally a legal adult. We didn’t get to celebrate your birthday as we should have.” He said enthusiastically.
I couldn't help but feel the pain from those lost weeks. "Can we just not talk about that?" I asked monotonously.
I could feel his confusion without even looking at him. "Aren't you happy to be home?" He asked.
I looked at him. "Of course, I am.”
"Then why can't we celebrate that you're here and that no one will ever be able to disrupt your life that way?" He asked.
I decided to just be honest with him. "Because I still don’t understand why she did all this. I never wanted to be with her. The fact that she didn’t really want to be with me hurts. I can't help but feel burned. It'll go away eventually, but for now I feel like I used to when she'd leave me alone for days at a time. She has never loved me. I've always known that. When I'm away, I trick myself into thinking she does. Then something like this happens, when I'm forced to spend time with her. Realization smacks me in the face,” I explained.
Andy was silent for a moment, taking in what all I'd said. "I'm sorry. I didn't even think of that.” He sat beside me on the bed and pulled me into his arms. "Of course, it makes sense for you to feel used and unwanted. But if it makes any difference, you'll never feel that way with me.” I reached up and placed a kiss on his lips, not a long one by any means, but a kiss none the less.
"That means the world to me, honestly, it does.” I told him softly.
"Can we go kidnap Lindsey?" I asked after a minute. She didn't know I was already home.
"Yes, but I don't think it's kidnapping if the person likes it.” He said with a grin.
I shrugged. "The bitch is going to be thrown in my backseat whether she agrees or not.” We both started laughing.
"Do we need to stop at your place for you to get changed?" I asked as I slipped on a pair of skinny jeans and a tank top. He walked over and wrapped his arms around me.
"I liked it better when you were taking your clothes off.” He grumbled into my neck. I giggled. "Will you go out with me tonight?" He asked.
I twisted in his arms so I was looking at him and wrapped my own arms around his neck. I went up on tippy toes and kissed his nose. "I'd love to.” He kissed my lips, holding me close.
"We better go.” I said eventually. He grumbled and let me drag him out by his hand.
I'd never been to his house before, so I wasn't exactly positive what to expect. "Guys, I'm home,” Andy yelled as we walked through the front door. The house looked nice, a little messy, but still comfy. We walked towards what I assumed was a living room since there were sounds of a TV as we got closer. "Guys, this is Ashley. Ashley, these are my roommates, Tim, Ash, and Reggie.” He introduced us. I smiled at Ash. "Nice name.”
He laughed. Andy pulled me upstairs to his bedroom. It was small, but completely like him. Everything was an organized chaos. "I like it.” I told him, sitting on his bed. He grinned as he pushed me back and lay on top of me, pressing his lips against mine.
He pulled back for only a moment. "Suddenly it's my favorite room in the house.” His lips touched me again and I giggled. His mouth trailed kisses down my neck, ending at my chest. I could feel both of us getting worked up and knew I had to stop us before we got too far.
"Andy, we should stop,” I gasped. He groaned and gave the top of my breast one last kiss before moving back up to my lips. "I hate it when you're reasonable.” He grumbled and nipped my bottom lip. Then licked it, and finally sucked it into his own mouth. The entire time, he was looking me in the eyes. Something in his gaze told me that I wouldn't be a virgin for much longer, and that thought excited me.
I pushed him back and sat up. "Let's go lover boy.” I grinned and he chuckled.
"I haven't even changed yet,” He pouted. I shook my head at him and told him to hurry up.
We pulled up to Lindsey's house, actually, around the corner, and I called her cell phone.
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" was the only thing I heard.
"What?" I asked.
"I've been waiting for you to call me and tell me you were back safely and you never did. I've been worried sick about you, you selfish bitch!” She yelled at me.
I bit my lip to keep myself from laughing. I rang her doorbell. "I'm sorry I never called, but I arrived late and I was feeling way too tired.” I rang it again.
"Oh yeah? So tired you couldn’t call me?" I heard her going down the steps.
"I guess…” I said vaguely.
"Ashley Jane, you tell me the truth right now or I'll…” The door opened and she dropped the phone. "YOU'RE HERE!?" She screeched. I could only nod as she threw herself at me.
"I was so worried and you didn't call and when you did, you weren't telling me anything. I was ready to kill you,” She cried. I hugged her tightly.
"I took a plane home, yesterday. I wanted to surprise you.” I told her. She hugged me again.
"I would kill you for that in another moment, but today I don’t care. You're back. Come on in. We’ll have a movie day.” She said.
I halted her for a moment. "Andy’s in the car.” I told her, biting my lip.
She sighed dramatically. "Why am I not surprised? Go get him and I'll call Bryan and order us a pizza.” She said.
"It's only like 7:00 in the morning,” I said. She shot me a look that told me to shut up. I nodded and ran over to Andy's car. I leaned through the open window. "We're staying here today. Is that okay?" I asked.
He grinned and got out of the car, taking my hand as we walked inside. Lindsey was putting a movie in when we walked up.
"Bry will be here in a little bit with the pizza.”
I nodded and started going up her stairs, leaving Andy in the living room. "Where are you going?" He asked, nervously.
"I'm not about to spend the entire day in skinny jeans just to watch TV. I'm changing,” I told him with a grin. I'd been over enough that I actually had my own drawer at Lindsey's. I pulled out my pajamas, which consisted of a pair of small shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top. I skipped down the stairs and flopped down next to Andy on the couch. He was staring at my very exposed legs. I blushed and rested my forehead against his shoulder. His hand rested on my thigh, making small patterns with his pointer finger.
I giggled. "Would you two stop it.” Lindsey grumbled. I blushed harder. Public displays of affection weren't really what I was used to.
"You're really fucking sexy when you blush like that.” Andy murmured into my ear, nipping at the lobe before he pulled away.
"Eww!" Lindsey exclaimed. "I don't know what you said, but judging from the look on her face, please never say it again.” Just as she was done talking, we heard a grumbling voice from the staircase.
"What the hell is up with all the screaming Linds? I'm trying to fucking sleep.” I tensed up, wishing he would just go back upstairs.
No such luck. Paul turned the corner and a grin took over his face. "Hello, Ashley.” I glared at him.
"Go away Paul. You've caused enough drama in the past month to last you a lifetime,” Lindsey warned.
"That's Paul, as in the guy who sexually harassed you?" Andy asked me. The anger already evident in his eyes. "What the hell is he doing here?" He asked, ready to stand up from the couch.
I put a hand on his chest. "Yes, that's Paul. He’s Lindsey's brother. It doesn't matter, though, that's in the past and already dealt with.” I gave both of them a warning.
Paul walked around the couch and sat down next to me, putting his arm around my shoulder. "Yeah, it's in the past. We're tight now.” He said cockily. I grimaced and sat on Andy's lap.
"Not that tight.” I felt Andy’s arms tighten around me. Even though his head was tilted so I couldn't see, I know he gave Paul a look that told him to leave or die because suddenly Paul was jumping up from the couch. "So, um, I'll be going now.”
Lindsey huffed. "You should have let me kill him when I had the chance.”
"He's your brother Lindsey.”
"You're my best friend Ashley.” I rolled my eyes.
Andy’s hand was rubbing up and down my side. "You okay baby?" He whispered. I gave him a reassuring smile and kissed his lips softly. "I'm fine. Promise.”
Shortly after, Bryan arrived with the pizza and a big hug for me. He truly is like a big brother to me. He kissed my forehead. "I thought I'd never see you again!" He said dramatically.
"I know! I almost died when I realized I wouldn't see your bright and shiny face every day!!!" I cried theatrically.
"That's what I figured.” He said arrogantly.
For the rest of the day, we vegged out and watched movies, until it was time for Andy to take me home so I could get ready for our date. Before we left, I whispered to Lindsey "If my Dad calls you, tell him I wanted to spend some time with you, so I won't be home tonight. I'm just not telling him I'll be with Andy.” She grinned at me and nodded.
We pulled up to my house. "What am I supposed to wear?" I asked.
"Something nice,” he said vaguely.
"Would you please just tell me where we're going?" I begged.
Andy smirked and leaned over the center to kiss me. "Don't worry about how you look. You’re always beautiful to me. Now get out so I can go home and change too.” He shooed me away.
"You're the worst boyfriend ever!" I grumbled as I slid out of the car. Then turned to wink at him, making sure he knew I was joking.
Inside, I looked through my closet. There weren't too many possibilities if I was supposed to wear something nice. I ended up putting on a strapless light gray dress with a pink floral design on it. I matched it with silver ballet slippers and a small necklace that rested on my collar bone. I tousled my hair and kept my makeup light. Using dark brown eyeliner and some mascara before adding some light pink lip-gloss. When I was looking at myself in the mirror, the doorbell rang.
Ashley answered the door looking more beautiful than ever. There was something innocent about how nervous she looked that I loved. She'd dressed perfectly for where I was taking her. "Can you tell me where we're going now?" She complained after I kissed her thoroughly, as a hello.
I put my arm behind her back and walked her to the car, opening the door for her. "Nope, but you look stunning this evening.” I whispered the last part into her ear and closed the door. She mock glared at me when I got on the other side. "I'm going to make you regret your secrecy someday," she threatened.
I rested my hand on her thigh and drove away from the curb. "Okay honey, I'll be prepared for it.”
"You won't even see it coming, I'll be sure of that,” she warned. I laughed and rolled my eyes. Ten minutes later, she was still whining. "Are we almost there? Please Andy, just tell me! I hate surprises!" She was literally twitching in her seat.
"Nobody hates surprises.”
"I do," she grumbled.
"I think you're lying.“ I taunted in a sing-song voice.
"I hate you, Andy Richmond.” She harrumphed and crossed her arms.
"I love you.” I told her, pouting.
She glanced at me and sighed. "You don't play fair, but I love you too.”
I grabbed her hand and intertwined our fingers, bringing them to my lips. I turned into the parking lot of where we'd be eating. "Happy now," I asked her with a smile on my face. She looked at me, blushing lightly and nodded.
We held hands as we walked inside. Ashley looked in awe, and I don't think she expected me to take her somewhere this nice. It was a small Italian restaurant on the beach that was fairly expensive, but also incredible. "I've got a reservation for two under Richmond,” I told the host. She looked down and smiled. "Yes, of course, Mr. Richmond, right this way,” She led us to a small table in the corner, next to windows that allowed us to look at the ocean.
"This is beautiful Andy.” Ashley told me once the waitress asked us our drinks. She'd recently given me that nickname. I couldn't lie, it made my stomach turn in delight every time I heard it. Our knees were resting against each other under the table.
"You like it?" I asked.
She looked at me like I was crazy. "I love it, but it's too much,” she said.
"I just wanted to make sure you knew that I love you, and I'll always want you with me.” I said, referring to her insecurities about her mother not wanting her.
She smiled a sad smile. "Andy, it's not the money you spend on me or the places you bring me that tell me how much you love me. It's just you being you. Like when you put your hand on my leg. It's not necessary since we're so close, but I love it just the same.”
I took a deep breath. "Just the same, would you be willing to wear this?" I asked, pulling out a small golden ring. It wasn't an engagement ring, or a promise ring that we'd always be together. "I'm hoping that it's small enough to fit on your pinky. I got it engraved to say 'I love you, always'. I want it to be like a pinky promise from me to you that even if some day we grow apart, you'll always be in my heart.” Her eyes filled up with tears as she grabbed it from me and looked at it. Then she slowly slipped it onto her pinky.
"It's perfect, thank you.” Her voice was heavy. I moved my chair so I was right next to her. I pulled Ashley into my arms and let her cry softly onto my shoulder. "I love you so much,” She whispered.
"I love you too baby.” I kissed her forehead.