Hello Mr. Arrogant

Chapter 19

[Not edited] 

Chapter 19: {Garden Kiss}

Somehow, in my nineteen years of life, I'd never been to the Brooklyn Botanical. 

And somehow, in my nineteen years of life, I'd never been so moved as I am right now.

I stood in the background, watching Ashton help a little girl retrieve her ballon from getting caught in a tree. 

We were walking, so close our hands almost touched, when we both heard sobbing from around the corner. The girl was all red-faced and had tears streaming down her cheeks. Her cute pigtails flopped around as she tried to jump at her balloon. 

Being the loving person that I am, I rushed over as soon as I saw her and tried to calm her down. Her mother and father just watched me as I also tried to jump and get her balloon down. Unfortunately, also being a midget, I had trouble reaching the string.

Mr. Cocky behind me just laughed his ass off, amused at my distress. He took his sweet precious time before he decided he would help me. And I was about to tell him off when I saw the pure hope in the little girl's eyes when she saw him. So I stepped back and forgot about my frustration.

Ashton bent down to the girl's level and smiled softly at her. "Here. I think this is yours." The girl's smile spread from ear to ear, showing off her two missing teeth. She grabbed the balloon from Ashton's hand and giggled.

"Thank you, Mister," She said. Right before he could stand, she grabbed him around the neck and squeezed him tightly. When she pulled back both of their faces were flushed.

"Mommy! Look what I found!" The girl ran off towards her parents who were waiting with open arms for her. They both hugged her tightly and waved at us as they walked away. 

I placed my hand on Ashton's shoulder. I noticed his muscles were tense and his breathing a bit labored. "Are you okay?" I asked, worried he might be coming down with something. "Are you actually sick?"

I remembered how he coughed in his office and how frightened I was. I knew his work meant everything to him, and being sick was not an option for him. I really was worried, but when he seemed healthy I thought he was playing with me. Now I wasn't too sure. 

"I'm fine." His voice had a strange gruffness to it that I didn't understand. What happened to that loving Ashton just seconds ago?

"Obviously, you're not. What changed?" I demanded, turning him around so we were facing each other.

"Lydia, leave it alone," He said through clenched teeth. No way was I letting him walk away from this. I was going to get answers.

"No!" I whispered, trying not to draw attention to us. I stood on my toes to get up to his height and pointed my finger in his face. "Tell. Me. What. Happened."

"Lydia," he growled. He seemed to be holding on to his very last strings and I was rethinking my actions. Maybe I didn't want to push him. But a part of me wanted to see how far I could get him. How far I was willing to get to know him before........ before........

Before what, exactly?  

What did I want from him?

"Back down, Lydia. You do not have any authority to demand anything from me, do you understand? I will not allow you to disrespect me like this."

I scoffed. "Disrespect you? Seriously, you're acting like a child, Ashton." 

"Move."

"No."

"Out of my way, now."

"Move me!" I challenged. We were both fuming at each other, however, I had no idea why he was angry in the first place. He grasped my shoulders firmly and pushed me out of the way, but he stayed rooted on the gravel walkway.

I frowned, but stood straighter and held my chin higher. I was determined to break him until he spoke to me. That same determination I had on my second day. I wanted to prove to him I was good enough, and now I was going to prove that I can stand against him.

"Don't do that," his voice wavered as he broke eye contact. His defensiveness broke and I saw a glimpse of himself again.

"Do what?" I prodded. I crossed my arms over my chest and stood my ground against the raging bull. Right now, though, I felt like a red waving flag saying, "I'm here! Come and get me!"

"Showing your confidence, Lydia. You stand taller and lift your head and you have this gleam in your eyes. Don't do that."

"Why? Does it bother Mr. Arrogant?" I know I sounded like a b***h. And I know I had no right to be so snarky, but there was something inside me that loved the way he spoke about me. He notices the little things I do, and it sparked my heart into a race. 

"Yes!" he snapped. "Yes, it bothers me because you're beautiful. Yes, it bothers me that you're fearless. Yes, it bothers me that when I look at you I can't stop myself from wanting you!"  

I couldn't stop the tears from forming in my eyes. Did he want me? After fighting my feelings for so long, and hiding them from even myself, he finally admits his heart to me. And it means nothing because of her. Because he loves Jenna, his wife, more than his want for me.

"I'm sorry, Ashton," I mumbled, trying to form words with my pounding head. "I'm. So. Sorry." I had to forces the words to spit out of my mouth. It pained me to see him like this. He looked so torn and broken, but I knew if I tried to help he would be even more ripped apart. I took a step back.

"Lydia." he reached his hand out for me, but I dodged it by taking another step. "Don't do this."

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Ashton. Honestly, I didn't." I said holding back all the tears that threaten to spill over. I felt so horrible and sick. I felt like I was about to vomit. The rush of emotions through me off balance into a spiraling mess. I was a mess.

I had only imagined what it would be like if we were together. Working together would be so much nicer. Waking up in that huge bed of his and seeing his smiling face every morning. Making him breakfast and him taking me out places. Going home and relaxing on the couch with popcorn and a cheesy movie. 

"You didn't hurt me." He brought me out of my daydream by grabbing my forearms gently. By doing so, he made sure to comfort me and to not let me escape at the same time. "Today was supposed to be fun," he chuckled to himself, pulling me to his chest in an embrace.

"Yeah," I nodded against him. His warmth was all I needed to straighten out my emotions and get myself together. 

"Let's not talk about this anymore, okay? I wanna take you to my favorite spot before the sun sets." I took my hand in his and started pulling us to the parking lot. 

Remember that determination that I had a minute ago?

It was back.

"Ashton," I tugged at his hand.

"Yeah?"

Jerking his arm, I forced him to come closer to me. Without hesitation, I brought our lips together in a hard kiss that was sloppy and seemed only one-sided. That was until his arms wrapped around my waist and yanked me closer. His lips were soft and everything I had expected. His cologne swarmed around me and sent every nerve ending I had on fire. 

Before I knew it, he had pulled away and we both stared at each other in awe. Even I was surprised by my actions. I was a stupid fool, but I never thought I'd get this dumb.

"Come on," he smiled pulling at my hand again. This time I followed without a second thought. Everything was going well in my life so far. I have a stable job, I got a dog, my mom seemed to have seen the error in her ways, and Ashton said he wanted me.

Yet this was only the beginning of something horrible to come. This was the eyes of the storm and I was slowly reaching its end.