Ashley took the balloons outside, and sure enough, Chase had a boy under each arm, stomping his way towards her. “Free shots, right here, Ash.”
Tyler and Mike howled in protest until she threw the first water balloon, showing how bad her aim was. By the third throw, they were taunting her. Even Chase was trying not to laugh.
She decided to aim for the biggest body, and the next balloon hit Chase squarely in the forehead and exploded.
He was coming up on her fast, and she threw the last balloon, but it landed several feet in front of them.
Chase let go of the boys and grabbed her up instead. “Out of water balloons, missy?”
She laughed as he lightly tickled her sides. “Chase, you’re all muddy and gross.”
It was the wrong thing to say because he wiped his muddy cheek against hers, and then wiped a streak of mud down her nose with his finger. “Much better.”
She smiled up at him, and his expression changed, growing serious, his eyes questioning. The arm around her tightened slightly, drawing her closer.
“Ew, they’re going to kiss.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Ashley saw Tyler coming at them with the hose. And then the water hit.
***
Chase looked in on Ashley as she was reading to Gabby at bedtime. After showering, Ashley had changed back into her light blue dress. It had tiny buttons all down the front and swished around her knees when she walked. He really liked her in dresses, but then, she looked amazing in anything she wore. She glanced up at him, and her eyes communicated pure joy.
He’d always thought she’d be disgusted or overwhelmed by his life, but here she was, insisting on being a part of it, embracing all of it, including helping Tyler clean the mud out of his ears. There was a long scratch on her arm, probably from a tree branch. It was the tree he used to climb when he was a kid. Seeing her scramble up it had been like seeing his past, present and future colliding.
Her words from last night sunk deep into his chest. Loving me means you have to give me everything, even the things you hide. It means you have to accept that I have a past that’s not so great.
Today he’d tried to give her that first part. It still stung when he thought about Reid and her other past boyfriends. He wished he could go back in time and tell her he loved her then, but maybe she would have dated them anyway and rejected him outright. Maybe she was right about him, and it had only been an infatuation back then. They would never have become friends. He’d be just another guy at that office trying to capture her attention.
But it wouldn’t do any good to dwell on regrets or what-ifs. And forcing Ashley to face her regrets by using them against her in an argument was not the kind of person he wanted to become. He might not be the first guy she’d ever noticed, but he wanted to be her last. Being jealous of something she couldn’t change was just asking to ruin any chance at a future together.
Tyler was supposed to be brushing his teeth, but it had been quiet for a while, and Chase went to go see what mischief his brother had gotten into.
He let out the breath he’d been holding when he found Tyler drawing comics on his bedroom floor in his underwear. His pajamas were in a heap next to him. Rather than asking, he went and inspected Tyler’s toothbrush, which was, of course, dry.
By the time he got to escape to the couch with Ashley, it was almost ten. Beth went into her room and closed the door, giving him a wink.
Like he needed more pressure. He felt like a spy who’d been undercover for years and was suddenly expected to give up his secret identity.
He sat rigidly next to her, watching the news and trying to get his heart to stop galloping.
The next story was about a local festival where people could buy fresh vegetables and get their hair braided.
“That’s exciting stuff right there.” Ashley leaned into him, and he shifted down so she could rest her head in the crook of his shoulder. She snuggled into him, laying her head on his chest instead.
Now she’d know how fast his heart was beating, but he had to remind himself it didn’t matter. There was nothing to hide anymore. “Thanks for hanging out with us today. Next time, you don’t have to be such a good sport. It’s okay to be annoyed with them sometimes, especially if you get sprayed in the face with the hose.”
“Next time?”
Chase slowly nodded. “Next time.” He ran a hand down the silky strands of her hair, feeling like everything he’d ever hoped for was falling into place.
Ashley tilted her head up. “Pay attention, Chase. You don’t want to miss this next story. A fist fight broke out at a school board meeting.”
“You’re mocking me.”
“Yes.” She poked his side.
“Ash, are you going to get that order of protection tomorrow?”
