Their Second Chance

Chapter 6: Not in a million years

Autumn Pov:

    I’m at the gallery up in the studio when I hear Maggie calling me down. I groan not wanting to deal with clients this early in the morning. Sometimes clients commission their on paintings from me. At first I turn them down. Some days later I thought about it.

    I think is best if I do some paintings to have more income. The gallery and restaurant are draining me a little. I don’t need the money, but I can’t keep using mine. I need to start seeing some investments. Also I haven’t put the works of the artists signed with me. I really need to get to that.

    I’m walking down the stairs when I hear some laughter. I stop and scrunch down to see Maggie laughing at Ashton. What is he doing here? I go back to the studio quietly and close the door. I try to calm my heart down. Why does he still make me feel this way?

    It’s like I’m seeing him for the first time. I look at the full mirror up here and cringe at my appearance. My hair is all over the place from how many times I tug on it. I try to tame it but see my hands full of paint. “Ugh. Why me?”

    I rush to clean my hands and fix my hair as Maggie screams at me two more times. After I look decent enough I take the courage to go downstairs with a cold expression. Sue me for trying to not look crazy in front of him. I see him and Maggie talking now. He has two cups of coffees in his hands. I check him out; he’s wearing a tight gray shirt, dark jeans, and white sneakers. Those muscles of his always makes my mind crazy.

    My expression falters as I ogle at him. He notices it and smirks. I snap out of it. “What are you doing here?”

    He lifts his eyebrow. “Brought you coffee. You’re favorite.” I look at Maggie and she wiggles her eyes. “Can you give us a moment Maggie?” She leaves for my office not before flashing me her big smile. “She’s nice.”

    “She is.” He looks at me up and down, slowly. He doesn’t concerned himself about hiding that he is looking at me like he used to do when we were together. “Here.” He gives me the iced coffee and moves a little to me. I take a step back.

    “It’s just coffee.” Really? He is going to go with that? “A few days ago you practically told me that you weren’t going to let me go again. So it’s not just coffee with you.” He shrugs his shoulders. “True.” He still has his hand stretched to me. I cross my arms over my chest making them more bigger. I know he’s looking.

    “You don’t want it?” He gives me a cocky look. The question came out low and rough. He knows how to play with me. But I ignore him. I start pushing him out the gallery and he protest. If he really wanted to stay I wouldn’t have been able to push him out the door.

    “Bye, Ashton.” I close the door. “See you tomorrow, beautiful.” I roll my eyes.

    Ashton walks away and I let out a sigh I didn’t know I was holding. “He’s hot.” I looked back at Maggie. “He clearly likes you. You should go out with him.” I shake my head. “Never going to happen. Not in a million years.” She gives me a look that she doesn’t believe me.

    I don’t even believe me. Maybe I said them to convince myself. Is it that easy for him to melt the ice wall I’ve built over this past five years? Am I that easy? That stupid? I really need to get ahold of my emotions whenever I’m around Ashton.

    “Whatever you say boss.” It’s all she says and goes back to work. I decided then to hang the other art works in the gallery. Work always makes my mind blank. I never worry or think about my problems. Work consumes my thoughts.

    “Help me take some paintings from the storage. I’m putting them up.”

    “Really?” Maggie gives me an eager look. “Yes.” She smiles at me. Maybe some part of me didn’t put them up so that if I had the chance to leave I will do it in a heartbeat and not think it twice. It was a long day, but it was worth it. I didn’t even think about Ashton and my emotions whenever I’m around him.

    He kept his promise. He came the next day with an iced coffee in hand and one hot coffee for him. He’s using the coffees as an excuse to come see me. I again don’t take it and push him out the door. Another long day. I had meetings and interviews with different nannies and babysitters. I didn’t like any of them.

    The next day he came again with the coffees. Mine this time was a bigger size. If he thinks he can bribe me with just coffee he is wrong. I again push him out the door. Doesn’t he have work? Maggie has gotten so used to him coming that she doesn’t even look up to see who it is. He always comes at the same hour.

    I’m walking down the street with Anna’s hand in mine. We are going to the bridal store to check the dresses are ready for us. She’s telling me about school, Mary, and the boy that is always bothering her and pulling her hair. I know that little boys do that when they like a girl. But if this keeps going on I’m going to talk to the principal.

    I haven’t done it because Anna has forbidden me from doing so. I respect my little girl and her decisions, but she is still a kid. I’m not letting a little crush become some case of bullying. I stop walking and look around. I’ve have this feeling that someone is watching me since we left the gallery.

    The bridal store is down the street. Anna looks at me confused, “Mommy what’s wrong?” I don’t want to worry her. “Nothing baby. Mommy thought she saw an old friend.” For the past week I feel like someone is following and watching me. Maybe I’m paranoid and imagining things that aren’t there.

    I don’t see anyone I recognize in the streets. I push the though to the back of my head. We continue walking to the store. My maid of honor dress is a dark shade of pink with an open slit that starts mid-thigh and has a V-neck opening. It hugs my body perfectly. The dress is sleeveless and has a mash in the middle of my cleavage. The rest of the bridesmaids dresses are the same but a light shade of pink.

    Anna tries on her flower girl dress, as always she looks beautiful. It’s the same color as mine. It’s a ball gown with a full tulle skirt and lovely lace bodice, and a heart cut-out and bow in the back. The bottom of the dress has rhinestones scattered all over it. She said it looks like stars.

    I take some pictures and send it to my family and our friends. They all say she looks beautiful and cute. “Mommy there’s a guy looking at us.” Anna points behind me and I turn to look out the window. I don’t see anyone. “Are you sure baby?” She nods. Okay, this is getting creepy.

    I stand up and look through the window, but I don’t see anyone. I mean everyone is walking in the sidewalk and aren’t looking in our direction. The only ones are women who pass by the store.

    I take my phone off and call him. “Sweetie go change.” She does as I tell her. He answers fast, too fast. I don’t wait for greetings. “Are you following me?” I hear people speaking in the background. He most be at work or outside who knows. “No?” It came out as a question.

    “Really? Ever since you said that you won’t let me get away again I’ve been feeling someone watching and following me. Where are you?”

    “What the f**k Autumn? I’m at work. Who is the s**t that is following you? Are you and Anna okay? Where are you?” He sounds genuine. Like he doesn’t know what’s happening. I’m overreacting. But I have a little smile that he is worried about us. “We’re fine. Forget I called you.”

    “No, no, no. Tell me where you are.” I don’t answer him. “I got to go.” I end the call once I see Anna walking back to me. I hide my paranoid feelings and put on a smile. We paid for the dresses and walk back to the gallery. I don’t feel a presence like before.

    Once in the gallery and in my office I ask her some question. “Sweetie have you seen the guy that was watching us before?” She shakes her head. “Was he doing it for a long time?” She nods. How long has he been watching us? It scares me that someone is doing this.

    “Mommy is that the old friend you told me about?” I don’t want to lie to her, but I don’t want to worry her more. “Yeah. Maybe he saw that we we’re busy and didn’t approach us.” She opens her mouth, “Oh.” I look at her blue eyes that always remind me of him, even thought they aren’t related by blood. This time they calm me.

    “Sweetie if you see him again. You tell me okay?” She nods and gives me a hug. “Mommy is that old friend bad?”

    I close my eyes. She must’ve seen me panic or catch up on my discomfort. “I don’t know, sweetie.” After that we went home. I try to push the thought away, but I can’t. I’m pacing in my room when I hear a car driving to the house. The doorbell rings and rings nonstop. I go downstairs and Julius opens the door. Ashton barges in and looks around.

    His eyes lands on me. “Excuse me sir.” Julius tries to get his attention. It doesn’t work since he is concentrated on me. Claire and Nick walk out of the kitchen looking worry. I put my hand to them and mouthed It’s fine. “What are you doing here?” He walks the last steps of the stairs to me. “Are you okay? Is she okay? Where is she?”

    “You haven’t answer my question.” He looks desperate and worried.

    “You haven’t answered mine either.” He walks up the stairs and starts looking for Anna’s room. I follow him,     “Ashton.” He ignores me and stops in front of her room. The door is open. He sees her playing with Sammy and finally calms down.

    Why does my heart feel relieve that he is acting this way towards us? That he is worried and care about us. “What happened?” He turns around and whispers. Anna hasn’t seen or heard us. “It’s none of your business.” I walk to my room so that she doesn’t hear us. He follows me like a lost puppy.

    “It became my business when you blame me for following you and Anna. And when you called me.”

    I roll my eyes. “I thought it was you playing a sick game on me.” He gives me a disgusted look. “I will never do that to you. Specially to Anna. She may not be mine, but she is your daughter and a little girl.” He has made it perfectly clear the last days that he hates that Anna isn’t his daughter.

    From what I seen he is sad that he isn’t her dad. It makes me a little sad too. He really loves her from the beginning. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m just freaking out.” He looks around the room. Ashton sees that it’s mine and scratches the back of his neck. It makes me smile a little. I hide it once he turns back to me.

    “How long have you been feeling like someone is watching and following you?” He always wanted to protect me. I can see that hasn’t change.

    Is it bad to want to give him another chance? No, Autumn. Don’t think that. “About a week. Since we moved here.” He walks to the balcony and starts to observe the patio and fence of my house. “Are you sure?” I nod but quickly say, “Yes.” Since he can’t see me. He stay like that maybe for five minutes or more.

    I got tired of being up and sit on the edge of my bed. “How did you know where I live?” Now that my mind was clear I thought of this. “I know what you’re thinking and no. It’s not me.” He throws his arms up and shakes his head. Ashton walks towards my bed, slowly. “I had to get it out of Kenneth. Sarah wouldn’t budge. The only reason he told me was because I explain what happened.”

    “I didn’t want to worry Sarah.” He stops in front of me. His hand is up and close to my face. He pulls it down. “But I was worried about both of you. Sue me.” He gets closer and closer. Ashton drops his head a little. Is he going to kiss me? My phone starts to ring. “Don’t answer it.”

    “Hello.” He lifts his head but doesn’t move away from me. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you call me?” Oh god, I shouldn’t have called him. “I’m fine.” I put my legs under me. I’m looking at Ashton as he looks at me. “You are not fine. I can hear it in your voice.”

    “Oh.” I heard an echo and Ashton is seeing something behind me. I turn and see Sarah standing there with her phone on her ear and her mouth open. “Ohhh.” She looks at Ashton, then at me. “Oohh. Got it.” I shake my head and walk to her. “It’s not what it looks like.”

    “Hmmm. I wasn’t born yesterday.” Sarah looks at us one more time. “Where’s my goddaughter?”

    “In her room playing with Sammy. She’s fine.” The last sentence she didn’t hear it since she walk away. I follow her, but a hand stops me. Ashton. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach whenever he touches me. “Let her.”

    I haven’t move from his hold. I look back at him and his face is pleading me to stay with him here. I turn my head so that he doesn’t see me. I close my eyes. My free hand is on top of his and pull it away from my other hand. He groans but doesn’t do anything. I snap my eyes back to the door and walk away. I don’t hear him following me.

    I go to Anna’s room and see her and Sammy with Sarah. I feel movement behind me. I move my head a little and see Ashton. I don’t know what happened but next thing I know Anna is running towards us. She hugs Ashton by his legs and he lifts her in his arms. He looks more handsome like that.

    “Hi Ash. What are you doing here?” He chuckles and gives her a smile. “I came to see you.” She smiles and talks about the boy that is pulling her hair. He gives me a stare that says who is this boy? His face is giving off a don’t mess with her kind of vibe.

    “I want to meet this boy that keeps bothering you, princess.” I smile at her nickname. I’m hopeless.

    Sarah looks at us and she is happy. “What?” She shakes her head and walks towards the stairs. “No, take the elevator.” She groans but listens to me. I don’t want her to trip in my stairs or something. My niece or nephew will always be safe in my house.

    Anna and Ashton keep talking. I enter the elevator as the doors closes. “He really loves her.”

    “I know. You should have seen him when he got here. He was so worried it pained me to see him that way.” The elevator doors open, and we walk out. “They seem like daughter and dad.” I also know that. And she knows that I know. “Kenneth told me what happened. Are you sure you both are okay?”

    “I’m fine Sarah, really. If this happens again I will tell you okay?” She points at me. “You better.”

    “I’m leaving now that I know my girls are safe. I have a date with my future husband. Bye.” She waves and lefts me standing there. Sammy comes down the stairs and sits in front of me. “What do you want? Did Anna kick you out?” He barks. “She did huh.”

    “Mrs. Maverick.” I turn and see Julius, Claire and Nick watching me. I really need to get a hold of my senses. “Yes?” They look at each other, doubting to tell me something. “What is it?” Claire nudges Julius and Nick nods his head at him. Julius clears his throat before speaking. “Who is that man that barge in like this is his house?”

    Either they are sweet and worried about us, or they want to gossip. “A friend.” I don’t give more explanation and walk to the kitchen. I hear some steps heading to the kitchen. “I told you guys he is a friend noth-” I don’t get to finish my sentence since Ashton is there with my phone in hand.

    “I’m a friend?” I’m dumb found. Snap out of it. s**t I say that to him. It wasn’t for him. I take my phone. “Someone named Sally was calling you.” I went to dial her back. Ashton moves to me and gives me a smile. “I’m not going to be your friend much longer. Remember that. Anna is in her room. Bye beautiful.” He kisses my cheek, winks me and leaves.

    I touch where he just kissed me. Am I blushing? It’s been a while since I blush this way. Only he makes me all jelly and putty. I’m done.