Their Second Chance

Chapter 12: Spending time with them

Ashton Pov:

    I’m working out at the gym and every person here that’s sexually frustrated is looking at me. I should have done the five-mile run.

    I’m angry that I was sent home with no pay because of the stupid thing. I know it was wrong of me, but the board took it way too harshly on me.

    I’m not working, no pay today, and my shifts are know going to be on nights not through the days. Now it’s going to be harder to see my friends, Autumn, and Anna. Even to talked to my family.

    The women are looking at me with hungry eyes. I internally roll my eyes.

    Some of them walk over and talked to me, but I only told them I wasn’t interested. Others started doing squats in front of me, thinking that my body in some way will react to them. The jokes on them, I only wanted one woman in my life.

    I ignored them. That was about thirty minutes ago. Now two more are trying to get my attention in the treadmills in front of me.

     Fifteen more minutes. Only fifteen minutes and you’re done. Ignore them. They all look or watch or stare like I’m a f*****g candy bar. I know I’m f*****g hot as hell, but they need to learn to find self-control.

    I turned up the volume of the music blasting through my airpods. Thirteen minutes. I chant in my head. A little bit more and then I leave this place. The music stops and another music comes in. Someone’s calling me. I take my phone out and see it’s Kenneth. I answer it.

    “What’s up?” I hear him talking to someone. I recognize the other voice as his assistant, Miller.

    “Have you talk to Sarah?” I see one of the woman walking over to me. Nope, no more. f**k this bullshit. I’m out of here. I take my stuff and start walking out of the gym. “When she drop Sammy. Why?” I say goodbye to the receptionist, she’s nice. “I can’t reach her. And I don’t know where she is.”

    “Last I heard she’s sleeping at Autumn’s. She looked tired and a little pale. So Autumn told her to sleep, that she will take care of the restaurant. Try calling Julius.”

    I get in my car, a SUV black Lexus. I have this car for over three years. I bought it with my own money, not my dad’s or grandad’s. I’m proud of it. “I will. Thanks man. One more thing.”

    “Yeah.” I mumble already knowing where this is going. “Hurt her again and our friendship is over.”

    He didn’t wait for me to answer him and ended the call. Anyone would think that he is her best friend and not mine. I drive out of the parking lot and drive home. It’s been days since I’ve been there. I go through the mail. I have a ton of, since I let it build up.

    I put the mail on the kitchen counter and strip from my clothes to shower. I have to buy a little princess a dragon book. I can’t believe she likes them. I’m not going to fight or push Autumn. I’m going to give her time and space, like she told me she needs. I just hope it doesn’t take long.

    For now I’m content that she is even considering giving me another opportunity and that we are having some fun. I don’t take long on the shower. Looking at the time I see that it’s close to twelve. I drive to the bookstore and see that it’s not like she said. It’s not empty, it’s pack.

    She’s doing it on purpose. This is payback. I had to wait in line for over two hours to paid the book. Apparently a new YA book was release today and that’s why the store is full. Weird for a Monday. But whatever. I found another book of dragons and bought it too. I hope that Anna doesn’t have it.

    I texted Autumn that I bought it and if she wanted me to drop it at the restaurant or later at her house. She said her house. Okay. Now I have like an hour to kill the time. What should I do? My phone starts ringing. The screen says realtor, I take it. He greets me and we talked for half an hour.

    Deciding not to wait anymore I drive to Vita. Autumn is inside talking with some people. I walk to her slowly. She hasn’t seen me or hear that someone entered. I start walking behind her and surprise her. “Boo!”

    She jumps, I can’t contain my laugh. Autumn turns around. Oh, she’s glaring at me. Not good. Not good at all. I can fix this. I pucker my lips and move to her. She slaps her hand over my mouth. “Nope.” I pout once she moves her hand away from my face.

    “What are you doing here?” I follow her like a lost puppy to an office. “Wanted to see you and I was bored.”

    She sits down on a chair and crosses her left leg over her right. It makes her thighs more tight and more hot. I can see the outline of her butt. Get a hold of yourself, dude. “Ah. Where’s the book?” I sit in the only other chair in here. “In my car.”

    She looks through some papers on the desk. I watch as she works, it’s something that I will gladly do for the rest of my life. Autumn bites her pen and reads the papers in front of her. Images of us having s*x come to my mind. She moves around while still seated.

    I looked like a creep or stalker. Or a pervert. “Still bored?” I shake my head, no. It’s never boring watching her. “Then stop. You’re distracting me.” I puff my cheeks out. “Don’t you need to pick Anna from school?”

    She looks at her watch and she gasps. “s**t. I’m late and I haven’t finish.”

    “I can pick her up.” I stand up in front of her. She looks at me with admiration. “Thanks but you can’t.” I frown. Why? Doesn’t she trust me? I will never harm Anna. “Why?” She organizes the papers and puts them on some files. “You aren’t on the list.”

    “What list?” I ask annoyed. She sighs and looks at me. “The one where you are permitted to pick her up. That list.”

    Oh. Well that’s sad. “I’ll meet you at your house?” She nods picking up the papers. I walk over to her. “What are you doing?” I peck her lips. I’ve missed them and I’ve wanted to kiss her since I got here.

     She doesn’t pull away from me, so I kiss her more, this time faster. I grip her waist and pull her to my chest.

    Autumn pulls her lips away from mine. “I have to go.” She says between breath, and I let her go. We leave the office and see the place empty. Where did they go? We walk out and she locks the place.

    With my hand on her lower back I walk her to her car. She didn’t push me away. f**k yes! “I’ll see you in a bit.”

    I give her one more kiss and she gets in. If I have to kiss her all the time to get her to finally accepts to be together, I’ll do it. I’ll do it for the rest of my life. I don’t care if I have to wait that long for her. She is it. She is the one.

    I get in my car and drive to her house. I know she’s going to take longer so I wait for her outside. I’m not going to barge in like I did a few days ago looking like a lunatic. I check my text messages, my e-mail, everything.

    I should call my family soon. Mason sends me a text; Are girls always shopping? I laugh. Is he referring to Ruby?

Ashton: Are you talking about Ruby?

Mason: Yeah, the triplets, and Selene. I need to spend more time with my guy friends. They don’t use me like a chauffeur and potter.

Me: Maybe you should. Are they really always shopping?

Mason: Nah. Sometimes we hang out at the mall. Just curious.

Mason: Spoke too soon. They’re shopping again. They have a tone of clothes were do they put it?

    I’m laughing as I read the text. I get out of the car and recline against it. He doesn’t text me back. I really pity my little brother surrounded by girls. Deep down I know it’s because he really likes Ruby. What do we, the Mercer boys, love the Maverick girls?

    We both love them at first sight. They immediately stole our hearts.

    Autumn’s car approaches the house. She drives pass me and I see Anna with a big smile and waving at me. So adorable. Autumn parks and I walk to her car. Opening the backdoor Anna says hi.

    “Hello princess. How was school? Did you have tones of fun?” I take her out of the car seat, and she jumps out of the car.

    “It was a lot of fun. Mary and I played together. She’s my friend. And the boy that was pulling my hair isn’t bothering me anymore.” She whispers the last part. We walk inside and she tells me more about her day. She rambles on and on.

    All I can do is listen to her with a big smile on my face. How can anyone not love this angel? Autumn stands by my side as she too pays attention to Anna. She’s looking at her with love, with all of her love. I want to be part of this family so badly.

    Anna asks her mom if she can go play. “Do you have homework?” Anna shakes her head. “Already done.”

    She finished them? Already? She just got home. “She likes to do them between classes.”

    My eyes are wide. Do we have a little genius between us? She runs off downstairs with Sammy trailing behind her. That dog is always following her.

    “You have a little genius.” Autumn smiles a little. I love it when she smiles. “I’m proud of her either way.”

    “Where’s the book?” Right. I forgot them. “In the car. I’ll go get it.”

    “No. I’ll go. I forgot the papers that I brought from Vita.” I walk to her and open my palm. “I’ll do it. Give me your keys.” She gives them to me with a little reluctant. She’s slowly letting me in. Her walls are crumbling.

    I walk outside and see a guy in front of the house looking at it. He sees me and walks off. Weird. He was far away so I couldn’t see him clearly. Except that he has brown hair and is tall.

    I take the papers and books and go back to the house. I don’t see her where I left her. She may be upstairs. I go to her room and hear some sounds from the bathroom. I put the stuff in the en-suite of her room. Walking to the bathroom I see her going to the toilet.

    I beeline out of there and sit on her bed. I drop my upper body down putting my hands above my eyes. I can’t seem to shake the weirdness I felt from seeing that guy in front of her house. I don’t know if to tell her or keep it to myself.

    I mean if I tell her it would only worry her more. But if I don’t and something happens I would never forgive myself. Better safe than sorry. Worse, if she finds out I knew and didn't tell her, that’s the end of everything.

    She walks out of the bathroom without the jeans on or her shirt. I don’t think she realizes that I’m here.

    “What are you doing here?” She tries to cover her body. Why do that? I already seen you naked. A f*****g million times. I frown at my thoughts.

    “Brought the stuff. It’s on the en-suite’s couch.” She walks over there and confirms what I told her.

    “Next time tell me you’re here. You scare the s**t out of me.” I ignore her comment and avoid looking at her body. She doesn’t want me to see, I won’t. I hear her walking to her closet.

    She emerges with a short red tank top and black denim shorts. Beautiful as always.

    She can wear a garbage bag as a dress, and she will still look beautiful to me. “Come here.” I motion with my hand for her to come to me. She slowly does with a confused look on her face and stands in front of me.

    “Why are you so beautiful?” I take her hands in mine, my thumbs caress the back of her palm, I look at her.

    She rolls her eyes but smiles. “Were not having s*x. Anna is in the house and awake.”

    “I know dummy.” I flick her forehead and she rubs the spot where I hit her. Such a baby. I didn’t even left a mark. “I don’t want to traumatize her.” She gasps and does the one thing I never expected that she would do. Autumn gets on my lap and straddles me.

    “Funny. You didn’t want to have s*x. And here you are.” I put my hands on her waist and hold her.

    “I can move away if you want.” I hold her. Not giving her way to move. She whines a little but doesn’t fight me. “You win.” She puts her arms around my neck and drops her head on my shoulders. I start moving my hands on her back. She feels nice in my arms.

    “I have to tell you something.” She looks at me confused and a little worried. “I saw a guy looking at the house when I went to get the things from the cars.” She gives me a confused look. “Has that happened before? Here?”

    “No, never. That one time a few days ago, the day you barge in here. I didn’t even see him. It was Anna who did.” I hum in response. Now more concerned than before.

    “Did you get a good look of the guy?” My hands are still moving up and down her back, relaxing her. I think I’m going to stay tonight too.

    “No. Only that his tall and has brown hair. He saw me and walked off. He wasn’t there when I was waiting for you to get home.” She sighs and rubs her forehead, this time in frustration.

“I’ll stay tonight.” I kiss her on the lips. “You don’t have too.” I hear footsteps running on the hall to her room, Anna.

    “But I want to.” I move her from my lap, and she stands up, not questioning my actions. She heard her too. “Mommy where are you?” Anna walks in and looks around the room. She sees me and smiles. “Is Ash staying for dinner?”

    “He is sweetie.” She jumps up and down. “He also brought something for you.” Anna looks at me.

    “What is it?” Autumn gets the books and gives them to her. She goes to me, “Two? I told you one.” I shrug.

    “I wanted her to have another. Tell me she doesn’t have the other book.” She looks at me with admiration in her eyes, her hands goes to my back and starts moving it up and down, like I did to her.

    “No.” After that Anna ran to her room to put them next to her bed to read it for bed time. We talk and spend time together. Then have dinner courtesy of Nick and his magnificent, glorious hands.

    I’m outside with a glass of wine in hand. Autumn is helping Anna in choosing her pajamas.

    I’m looking at the beautiful now dark sky. Thinking of the last two weeks. It’s incredible of how much has happened. Thinking back on how I reacted about Anna thinking that she was my daughter it makes me cringe at how I made Autumn feel, bad.

    I made her cry too. I’m an i***t, for not believing in her when she told me the truth.

    She didn’t had any right to tell or explain to me her situation. But I’m still glad she chose to do it. It gives me hope that maybe she isn’t that close up towards me. And last night prove that. Now all I have to do is win her heart again.

    I turn around and saw her walking to me. She isn’t smiling but doesn’t have a serious or cold expression. I hand her the glass of wine back. “Thanks.”

    “Did she decided?” She chuckles. “Still debating, but she shoo me away. Already annoyed that she can’t choose one.” We sit in one of the chairs there and stay silent. A few minutes later I broke the silence.

    “I want to tell you that I won’t be coming around more like this past few days. My new work hours are horrible. I know they said a month, but I’m hoping it only last a week or at least two. No more.” I turn my head to the side and see her moving the glass in little circles.

    “A month?” She bits her lips. Is that sadness I see?

    “It’s okay. We’ve been fine without you around before.” That hurt. That really hurt. She didn’t meant it. I hiss, “Wow. The words pain me.” She looks at me with regret. “You know it wasn’t meant to be heard like that.”

    She looks at the ground, ashamed. She isn’t one to be shy so easily, but apparently she is like that around me. I see that hasn’t change either. Good. I love it when I make her blush. I stand in front of her.

    “I know.” I give her a smile and she returns it with a small one.

    The little action makes her eyes look even more beautiful. “Has anyone told you that you have beautiful eyes?” It was a rhetorical question.

    Her demeaner changes completely at my words. What just happened? “Don’t say that. I hate their colors.” What made her think this?

    I frown at this. No she doesn’t. She loves her eyes. Always have. “Autumn.” She stands up. “It’s late.” And walks back in the house.

    What just happened? I walk back in and see that she’s heading to the door. I wanted to stay, because of the guy that was watching the house, but I guess that’s my que. I’ll just ask her another time. But something tells me I’m the one that made her hate the colors of her eyes.