Avenging You

Chapter 33

Parker

The closer time gets for me to see Ashton again the more nervous I feel.

I am angry over the situation.

If this is him then I never should’ve left, and I should’ve kept fighting Hunter… I would’ve found Ashton a lot sooner if I had done this.

I’m so angry with myself.

At the same time, I’m not convinced it’s really him.

I have to keep AJ safe no matter what so even if it pisses Ashton off, I refuse to let them meet right now.

I’m trying to keep my distance from Ryan. I told him that I didn’t see us breaking up yesterday and yet here I am about to go on a date with my supposed to be dead husband.

I am an awful girlfriend.

But I can’t tell him about it. What if I’m wrong and it’s not Ashton?

Or worse… what if it is Ashton and I actually have to make a choice between them?

I could lose Ryan being in my life forever… but I’ve lost Ashton once already… could I really be okay with losing him again?

I groan and throw myself back on my bed and coincidentally the door opens at the same time. I hear Ryan’s concerned voice, “You okay, Par?”

I look up at him and watch as he comes and sits in front of me and puts his hand on my knee and says, “You can tell me anything, you know?”

I nod and smile at him, “I know Ryan. It’s just something I’m going through that I need to process.”

He nods, and I can see he’s struggling not to say more. I ask, “Do you think there’s any chance Ashton lived?”

He gives me a peculiar face and asks, “Why would you even think that?”

I don’t answer immediately, and he asks, “Is that something Hunter put in your head?”

I bit my lower lip and nod, and he growls in frustration. He lies down beside me, and I turn towards him and I can see the creases in his face showing how tense he is about this possibility. I say, “Ryan, I’m sure it’s not true.”

He turns towards me and I notice his bottom lip quivers before he asks, “If it was, would you leave?”

I want to tell him I wouldn’t. I want to tell him that he’s the only one I want to be with now.

But I can’t say any of that. Because the truth of the matter is, I have no clue what I would do if this is true.

I whisper, “I don’t know.”

He huffs and nods in understanding and says, “Okay.”

He breathes out and comments, “It’s not like the possibility of him being alive is that high anyways.”

I murmur, “Yeah.”

My thoughts turn back to him and his smile and I wonder whether or not he is real.

The rest of the day is pretty uneventful.

Ryan didn’t pressure me anymore and I am so thankful for that because I’m scared to talk about all of this with him.

I lie in bed with Ryan and I wait for his breathing to steady and to hear his soft snores. I don’t tell him that he snores because I know it would embarrass him and I think it’s cute. It’s never loud or obnoxious it’s very soft like a little animal.

Once I’m sure he’s asleep I sit up and run a brush through my hair and get ready to teleport myself to meet Ashton. I look over at Ryan and kiss his forehead softly which makes him smile in his sleep. I smile in response- a part of me hopes this Ashton is fake because I honestly don’t know what I would do if Ryan wasn’t in my life. And I don’t think I’d ever be able to get back to normal with him.

I close my eyes and teleport myself out of the bunker and near the area where I met Ashton last night. I walk out of our borders and stand where I saw him yesterday. I pray this isn’t a set up because no one would have any idea where I went because I didn’t go in front of any cameras.

I take a deep breath as I wait and when I hear his voice it makes my knees feel weak. I turn towards Ashton and he is holding a lantern up and smiles at me, “Hey Parker, I’m glad you came.”

I look at him skeptically- my first thought is why the hell does he have a lantern when he has the ability to wield fire?

He seems to notice my gaze because he brings up his other hand and snaps his fingers showing off a spark of fire. He says, “I still have my powers, Parker. Just had a plan and thought this would look more romantic.”

I mean- he’s not wrong. We’re in the woods and the only light is from the moon, the stars, and his lantern.

I nod and mutter, “Sorry.”

He sighs, “It’s fine, Par. You have a reason to be skeptical. I just wish I could have been around all this time for the past five years.”

I nod in agreement and he asks, “You ready to come check out your surprise?”

He holds his hand out to me. Inviting me- beckoning me to come with him.

I gulp and take his hand and his smile grows bigger as he leads me further away from the borderline.