He pauses before walking through the exit. Nodding at him reluctantly, he nods back and gives me a small smile before leaving. I watch him leave as Toby walks in.
“Sia. Oh my gosh you’re here then?” He hugs me, and I let him console me for a minute or two. “I missed you yesterday, but I want to know everything - where you were and whether you were with the Hulk because that man is fine!”
I loosen my hold on my best friend and tell him to take a seat, he’ll need one. I launch into full exposure of the last 36 hours, the attack, what happened with Ashton - everything. By the time, I’m finished even Toby is lost for words and that never happens. I may even deserve a pat on the back for leaving him speechless.
“Sia, Jesus. Why did I let you walk to your car alone? I could have walked you out - or Landon could’ve. God, I feel so guilty. I’m so sorry.” Toby covers his face with hands in regret.
“Stop it, Toby! I mean it. It was my decision to walk down that alley, I was so tired that I didn’t give it a second thought about walking on my own… and you know this wasn’t the first time I did that.”
Shrugging with a heavy sigh, I go on, “It was just bad luck, I think.” I say, wishing I could turn back the time to that night and stay away from that alley. Something else to add to my list of regrets.
Toby wraps me in another hug mostly to reassure himself that I’m fine, I know. After he finally loosens his grip we set about opening up for the day and Lily shows up just at the right time for the lunch rush.
In this bar, I’m in my own space, my element. Brushing off my regrets of the last few days, I get ready for a busy day.
~*~
I wasn’t wrong earlier about the busy day, we’ve been run off our feet. We close the bar and walk to the parking lot together. We’ve vowed now that no one leaves the bar alone at night anymore. Even though we are safe in numbers I still don’t walk down the alley - I can’t.
We all walked around, Toby and Landon waited until Lily and I were in our cars and pulling away, then they pulled out after us. Once I’m home the thoughts of Ashton flood back again, I can’t handle this, I grab a glass of water and go to bed.
I lie there for hours tossing and turning. There is a coldness coming from the inside that I can’t shake. Getting out of bed, I grab the thick throw from the cupboard and place it over the bed and get back in. Physically, I’m warm, but emotionally, nothing has changed. I’m numb.
I must have fallen asleep at some point as I wake up to banging on the door. Picking up my phone I check the time it’s five in the morning.
Who could that be?
I decide to leave it, they’ll go away eventually, but when the banging doesn’t stop I put on my robe and walk towards the front door. Looking through the peephole, I see Ashton.
What the fuck is he doing here?
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I open the door to a tall, brooding, figure of a man. His look is smoldering as he takes me in. He doesn’t say anything just looks, his eyes flit all across my face, from my mouth to my eyes as he did the night before, then steps forward cautiously.
“Acacia,” Ashton breathes my name, all the emotion I’ve been feeling comes bubbling up to the surface, like a volcano ready to erupt.
He reaches out his hand, I watch as his fingers reach my face, he cups my cheek and strokes my face with the pad of his thumb tenderly. I lean into his big hand, the feelings I have overcome me. Tears well in my eyes.
Ashton has that look of confusion. “I had to come, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think. I needed to see you.” His words are slurry, I know he is drunk.
“Ashton, you’re drunk,” I murmur even though all I want is to kiss him.
“Yes, because of you!” he snaps.
His body is flushed to mine. Our lips are only inches apart as he looks at me with lust and anger.
“What are you doing to me?” he hisses.
“Nothing,” I whisper.
“You complicate my life. You mess with my mind,” he growls. “You’re making me forget her!” He hits his fist onto the wall right next to my head, making me jump.
“Then let me go,” I whisper again.
“I don’t want you to go. You’re doing something to me, something I can’t explain, but you’re making me feel alive like I didn’t die with her that day… I want you in my life.” His voice was soft and intense. I know he is talking with his heart and soul.
A feeling in my stomach like butterflies starts to flutter around as he leans toward me. He uses his other hand to cup my neck, and his thumb goes under my chin. He tips my head back, his fingers tangle into my hair at the back of my neck, and he inches his mouth closer to mine.
Ashton stops merely millimetres from me until I can feel his breath on my face. “But I hate you for making everything so hard for me!” he hisses again.