“That’s amazing, Ash. Are you happy with how the album turned out?”
“It’s awesome, better than anything we could have done on our own. Bernie really knows his stuff.”
“Hey, where are you? It looks pretty dark.”
“In the hotel's stairwell. The boys are partying, it’s pretty noisy in our room, so I came out here.”
My stomach drops at his words. Does he mean girls? Booze? Drugs? I don’t question him out loud. The last thing I want is to be a whiney girlfriend, although his new life worries me. I brush it aside, trying not to dwell. Then he asks, “You okay? You’ve gone quiet on me.”
“I’m fine. I was just thinking it’s not fair on you having to stand in some stairwell just to keep me happy.”
“Hey, this is the only free time I’ve got. I can’t think of any other way I’d want to spend it other than talking to you.”
“You say the sweetest things, but don’t say them to make me feel better. I get you need downtime.”
“Downtime to spend with my girl. What more do I need and since we’re on the subject, I want to say?—”
A knock on the door interrupts him. Bugger, what if it’s Eddie again? What if he followed me home? The last thing I want is for Ash to think I’m entertaining other boys.
“What’s going on?” Ash asks.
I whisper, “Someone is at the door. If I’m quiet, they might go away.”
“Don’t you think you should check who it is? It could be important.”
“No, nothing is more important than this call.”
There’s another knock. This time, whoever it is, uses force. “You sure about that?”
“Shit,” I huff out. “Stay right there,” I point at the screen, a half-smile to my face.
I place my laptop on the kitchen counter as I pass it on the way to the door, but I’m huffing and puffing because whoever it is, is now knocking relentlessly. “Alright, alright, I’m coming,” I bark, swinging the door open with a scowl on my face, but as I do, my heart jumps in my mouth.
Leaning against the door frame, black jeans, torso hugging t-shirt, leather jacket and slightly longer than normal dirty blonde hair, stands the love of my life.
“Jesus, I thought I’d be out here all night.”
I don’t give him a second to say another word. I launch myself into his arms, wrap my legs around his waist and cover every single inch of his face with kisses. He laughs while walking us both into my dorm, closing the door with his foot. Somehow, he manages to disconnect our call and place his phone on the side before I’m dropped onto the bed, with him on top. I continue to kiss as much of him as I can until I stop to take in the blue of his incredible eyes. My hands roam over his cheeks, his jaw, his hair. “Is this actually happening? Is it really you?”
“I bloody hope so, otherwise you’re in the habit of pouncing on strangers, which I’m not so happy about.”
“I can’t believe you’re really here. When did you get back?”
“Early this morning. I called in to see Mum, then came straight here.”
“How is she?”
“Good, despite the ugly divorce.”
“So, it’s going ahead? Oh my God, Ash, why didn’t you say before?”
“I wanted our calls to be happy ones, not depressing, and I want this visit to be the same, so let’s move on.”
“You sure? Because if you want to talk about it?—”
“I will, just not now.” He presses a kiss to my lips. “We only have tonight, so let’s make the most of it.”
I take his head in my hands, kissing his forehead, his cheeks and his lips. “You’re actually here, I can’t believe it, Ash,” I say between kisses.
