The One The Whole Town Abandoned

Chapter 7 Bad News

Ashleigh's POV

We have been busier than normal at work and these are the shifts I need to be on my game. But I can't seem to take my mind away from Dominic. He has completely blown my mind.. blowing any standards I had for men out of the water.

It was so sweet how good he was with Aurora and she absolutely adored him. I just get such a good feeling being around him. I know I don't know him well, but I feel like I can be myself around him already. I never would have thought I would sing, reenacting my favorite Disney movie with this man and my daughter as the first time hanging out with him. It was amazing in its own way and I'm considering taking Aurora to go with him. I oddly trust him already and have a great feeling when I'm with him. My heart is jumping head first into this, just telling me to go with him. I'm just so scared to make a big leap of faith like that. What if it doesn't work? What do I do then?

I'm scared about all this, but I think it might be just what she and I need, even if it doesn't work out between Domonic and me.. at least a change of scenery would be good.. and we just wanted to move away from this hell hole, but I didn't have a specific place in mind, just anywhere but here. So going with him helps get this change started, as hard as it may be... I don't know yet.

The rush has finally left and we are starting to slow down so I can get a breather, even if it's just for a moment. It's at times like this that I wish that I was a smoker just to take 'smoke breaks' to get outside and get a breath of fresh air before having to work the rest of the night.

I'm cleaning up the mess the tornado of customers brought with them, when I hear from behind me, "Great job tonight Ashleigh." I look up to see Mrs. Willows, who owns this place, but I do hear people call her Luna sometimes too.

"Thank you," I say a little shocked. I have worked here for almost 4 years and she had never once said that to me before. I don't understand what's happening, but to say I'm suspicious about it is an understatement. I see Steven and Mike come in and sit down at their usual spot. I grab them a couple of beers like usual, heading over to them. "Hey guys, here's your usual," I say handing them their beers.

"Hey Ash, looking good today as usual. How about you and I.. um.. uh... Nevermind." Mike stops midway through his statement as he looks at something behind me. I follow his gaze as it crosses across the room and automatically locks on the muscular, tall frame of the gorgeous man from earlier, that has been plaguing my mind non-stop today. I turn around, walking right up to him from across the room, smiling a big smile at him as he sits down at the table next to him, smirking at me.

"So what did you do?" I ask as I pull a chair up, flip it around, and sit right in front of him crossing my legs. "What do you mean? I'm just hungry and heard there was a stunningly amazing waitress here, so I had to come see for myself." He says smirking at me... I'm not going to let him distract me with his good looks and compliments.

"What did you say to my boss and her son? They have never once been nice to me, except for the day they gave me this job and she has given me a compliment today and Mike didn't finish harassing me like he always does because he saw you. I'm not stupid, sorry if you thought that... So what did you do and why?" I ask almost demanding from him with a smirk on my face.

"Dammit, I knew you were too smart for my own good... Um, these are the people I'm staying with that I'm helping right now, so they kind of owe me. So I told them I liked you and asked that they leave you alone. They can't exactly turn me down in this type of situation.. honestly." He says to me with a straight face and has no signs of lying... I think he is serious.

"Wait.. you actually like me? That's why you're helping me? Really?" I ask with so much surprise in my voice, making him chuckle, shaking his head at me. "I thought I was making that obvious to you by throwing myself at you with all my comments, but I guess not, so I will just have to increase the comments and harassment tenfold so you will get it." He says smirking at me again as I match his smirk.

"I just don't remember the last time someone liked me. It's just strange. I haven't even thought about dating in so long that I'm sure I would be awful at all this. You know I have Aurora too. It's a two-person package deal when it comes to me though." I say to him giving him all the reasons to not be around me and leave if this isn't what he wants.

"I think we can make our own great memories together just like today and it doesn't matter if you haven't done this in a while, because that was new to me too, so you're not the only one... Let's just have fun together, the three of us... you are both adorable and an amazing package deal. I feel like I'm hitting the jackpot if you two are the prize." He says smiling at me as I feel my face getting red, so I look away.

"Today WAS so much fun and Aurora already adores you," I say softly to him. "I already adore her but you want to know a secret?" he says to me leaning forward. I smirk and match his movements, leaning forward, ready with anticipation for what he has to say. Then nodding so he continues in almost a whisper, "I think Aurora's mother is the most breathtakingly beautiful woman I have ever seen in my entire life.. and somehow, with those bimbo model good looks she has a brain, spunk, and is a lot of fun to be around. I don't know how I wouldn't be the lucky one if she decided to come with me." He says smirking at me as he closes the space between us, kissing me.

I just feel sparks on my lips, as the fireworks ignite between us with his soft lips touching mine. It's such a great feeling even though my heart feels like it's about to beat out of my chest. I can't help but kiss back, not wanting this to end. He pulls away, ending the most amazing kiss I have ever had, to my dismay.

"I'm so sorry Ashleigh, I wasn't trying to overstep boundaries. I just couldn't help myself. But that was amazing." Dominic says to me softly, with his breath fanning over my lips since they are still only inches apart. "Don't stress, I thought it was amazing too. Thank you, I think that's the breather I needed to get me through the night." I reply, making him smile. I sit back up and smirk at him before I say. "So can I get you something to drink or do you come in every bar sexually harassing all the waitresses?" I say with so much humor as he chuckles back.

"No my first time harassing, I told you I had to take the harassment up a notch to make sure you know I like you. I just had to see you again, so I guess I'll get a beer and the same meal as yesterday because it was amazing. I'll just snack and enjoy the view for a little bit." He says making me playfully slap his chest as he smiles even bigger at me. I get up and walk away to put in his order and I can feel his eyes on me, but I don't feel self-conscious for once in my life. I feel confident with him around. Dominic makes me feel so good. I feel like I can conquer the world right now. But as the saying goes, All good things must come to an end. I turned around to put in the order, as I feel my phone ringing from inside my apron. I see it's Stef calling and I always pick up when she calls, because she has my baby.

"Hey, Stef is everything ok?" I ask as my gaze trails across the room, locking gazes with Dominic. "Um, Phi I have to talk to you... I just found out that Mr.Stevens is being let out of jail and on probation for good behavior. He will be back in town... soon." Stefanie says with so much concern in her voice, making my breathe hitch and my heart race at the thought.

"What? When?" I say with so much panic in my voice as I walk out of the bar's front door to get outside to talk to her. "I just got a call from my mom and she told me she heard about that a couple of days ago and thought you should know. Just please make sure you're watching your back. You know he will try to have some type of contact with you. He was infatuated with you years ago, how do you think he feels about you now." Stef says to me with so much concern in her voice as she continues, "I'm going to stay with you tonight, maybe for the next couple of days, whether you like it or not."

"What am I going to do?! What if he tries to come to the place when I'm at work? You know where my gun is right?" I say to her as she hums and says, "Yes I know where it's at, don't worry. I will take care of Aurora, just make sure you are ok."

"I will... love you." I say as I hang up the call. I put my phone into my apron as I nervously play with my hair and start to pace back and forth. What the f*#k am I going to do?

Dominic's POV

Ok, Miles, I can't get too mad at you because that kiss was amazing, but you need to stop taking over and trying to claim her. We are doing very well so far and we will keep it going. Just don't push limits because that might push her away.

I state with so much concern about him kissing her for me. Of course, I wanted to, but I was holding back. I found myself staring at her luscious lips and the next thing I know, Miles is kissing her and man was it worth it. Memorable for sure. That kiss was electrifying. I have always heard about the sparks you feel between you and your mate, but this was mind-blowing. She tasted so good, I didn't want the kiss to end, but at least she said she even thought it was amazing too. I think I'm doing a great job of winning her heart, or at least I'm hoping and praying I do.

I watch her walk to the other side of the room, putting my order in with the kitchen as she turns around. I see her reaching into her apron, and pulling out her phone. She has a surprise on her face as she answers it instantly, "Stef is everything ok?" She asks as my heart races for her and I have no idea why. Maybe it's because I already care for Aurora, I don't know.

I hear her say with so much panic in her voice, "What? when?!" She walks out of the front door so quickly. Instinctively I hop up because I have to make sure everything is ok. I walk out the front doors right behind her, taking a look around as I see her off to the side of the building. She is pacing back and forth nervously as I hear her say, "What am I going to do? What if he tries to come to the place when I'm at work? You know where my gun is right?"

This comment makes me stiffen up and stop. Then I hear her finish her call with an, "I will... love you." She puts her phone in her apron as she continues to pace back and forth, playing with her hair nervously, and looking down.

"Is everything ok Ash?" I asked, making sure she knows I'm there. I need to know what's happening. She yelps and jumps, grabbing her chest when she realizes it's me. "Um.. yea.. sure.. um... I have to go.." She says trying to walk past me, but I grab her hand, igniting more sparks at our contact. I'm holding her hand tight, making her stop and slowly turn to look at me.

"I know it's probably hard to trust me because you barely know me, but I want to help. Please let me help... Just talk to me please." I practically beg of her as she shakes her head and says, "No.. if I do, then you could get hurt and I don't want anything bad to happen to you, you're the first person to be nice to me.. ever.. and I don't want anything to happen to you, especially because of me." She says letting go as she walks into the bar talking to the Luna and then leaves.

I of course follow her as she walks into the woods away from the bar. I'm worried for her, so I keep following close behind to make sure I don't lose her. We keep walking until we reach a little pond with trees all around framing it with some big boulders and some benches around it. She heads to the bench sitting down in a huff. Ashleigh puts her elbows on her knees holding her face in her hands as she cries alone over the water. It's almost poetic how beautifully sad this scene is, but I have to interrupt whether she likes it or not.

"I told you I want to help.. and I can handle a lot, more than you give me credit for. Please just talk to me. I might be able to help. Actually, I would bet money I could." I say to her with so much sincerity in my voice, making sure it's laced through every single word. I want her to feel it. I want her to know that I mean every word.

"It's hard because I would have to tell you about my f*#ked up life and it sucks to have to tell you this... It's not that I don't want you to know, I just don't want pity from you or to look at me differently. That's the only thing I hate. It's already hard enough to show the skeletons in my closet, but to be topped off with a pity look and see your opinion change of me, right in front of my face, is the worst feeling ever. I don't want to see it from you. Not you out of all people." She says to me with so much sadness that I think I can feel my heart clenching, so I instantly answer, "Nothing would ever make me do either one. I promise. Just give me a chance."

I can tell she is thinking about it as she huffs letting a breath out, looking at me before she starts.

"Um ok, I was in choir for years with the same teacher, Mr.Stevens. He was always really nice to me and said he saw something special in me. So we did so many concerts and competitions together. Some of them were out of town and my parents couldn't go with me, so he would take me, of course. But the problem was, the older I got, the more touchy-feely he got. When any boys would talk to me at all, he would get mad and get them in trouble, to the point no one talked to me because they were afraid they would get in trouble for it. He started getting braver with his affection toward me. They started with a brush of the shoulder or hip and went to full-out grabbing me. He started telling me I was his and how he loved me, but I didn't understand what he meant by that... Until he forced me to do things I didn't want to do, which have scarred me for life in more ways than one. He started slowly, getting things here and there, but I didn't realize what he was doing was wrong... I never knew someone I trusted could hurt me this badly... He tormented me in more ways than I would like to admit, but when that wasn't enough for him, he took the one precious gift I had away from me... As he covered my mouth so I couldn't be heard, he took advantage of me... He somehow thought my muffled cries and screams were a turn-on, because he didn't stop until he was all done with me. When he took me home after that concert, I walked straight to the police. I told them what happened and they.. um.. tested me and could tell by what they saw that I was raped and they used that in court to send him away for 10 years. Right after he was sent away, his wife said it was all me and that I wanted this because I threw myself at him like a wh*re. She said I made up the lies and that I just didn't want to get caught being the homewrecker I was. Everyone believed her and that rumor spread like wildfire. Before I knew it, everyone knew what they thought was the truth and everything just stemmed from there... My friends stopped talking to me, everyone avoided me like the plague, and my parents told me they were ashamed of me and sad to call me their daughter... even after I told them my side of the story, they still didn't want to believe it. So I left that night with as much as I could carry on my back and I have been on my own since.. it was a couple of weeks later I found out I was pregnant with Aurora. I went through the whole pregnancy practically alone because Stefanie's parents didn't want their daughter around me, the homewrecker.. but she would still sneak away to come to see me whether they liked it or not. When I had the baby, I didn't know what to do when they asked me who the father was, on the birth certificate, so I said I didn't know who the father was. Man in a couple of hour's span, I went from town homewrecker to town harlot. Who knew I could climb the slut ladder so quickly... not me... But I decided to keep it that way because I don't want him to know about her. He was obsessive about me and he took everyone away from me that I cared about and I'm afraid he would do that to me with Aurora and she doesn't deserve that... But things have been going alright... We have been surviving just fine on our own. That is until Stefanie just called me, she said he is being let out of jail.. like now.. for good behavior.. he is being put on probation. I don't know what to do. I'm so scared for Aurora. He can't take her from me I won't let him.." She starts crying as she yells in desperation, "She is mine and mine alone! I won't let him have her. She is MY baby!" I wrap my arms around her, pulling her to my chest protectively. I, of course, of course knew the main part of what happened to her but to hear her side is so heartbreaking. I wish I could take away all of her pain. She cries into my chest as she begs. "Please don't let him take my baby from me, please Dom... Please." I hold her so tight into my muscular frame.

"I will do everything I can to take care and protect the both of you, I promise." I whisper into her ear as she says, "We will move with you when you leave." My heart skips a beat at that comment making my breath hitch in my throat. "Really?" I ask completely surprised.

"I need to get Aurora and I out of here and away from him before he realizes where I'm at... I'm trusting you, Dom, not just with me but with my daughter as well, please don't f*#k this up because if you do I'm leaving and never coming back. That's your one and only warning." She says with so much threat in her voice. I sit back as she looks up at me. I slowly bring my hands to her face gently wiping away the stray tears as I say, "I will do everything I can to make sure you're both safe and happy." I press my lips to hers as those same sparks from before ignite again, making her moan into my lips and I purr at that sound. I'm so excited she is giving me a chance. I won't do anything to f*#k this up.