I put my phone in my pocket and headed back into my living room. It was only 8pm, and I needed to calm down.
Luna zoomed by me.
"Did you find your quarter trick?"
"Yes, it's right here," she said, running.
"Be carefulll!" I called.
I went back into the living room with my family. My mom was sweeter and more tenderhearted than she usually was with me. I wasn't sure what could have caused the change. Maybe she loved Broadway musicals.
Either way, she was warm and nostalgic, and the four of us girls had a great time, making cookies and playing Pass the Pigs. Several times, it was on the tip of my tongue to tell Mom and Lu that I was going out with Ash tonight, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew he was happy to see me, and I knew he had cut his short trip for me, but I still had a hard time believing it was solid enough to tell other people. Josie knew Ash had gone to great lengths to be at the show, and she saw the beautiful flowers. She knew he was more special to me than I was letting on.
I was thinking of these things as I showered. It was nine-thirty by the time I got Luna in bed and told my mom goodnight, and I went straight to the shower. It was the first time for me to stand under hot water all day, and it was actually glorious. My hair and makeup were plastered for the stage, and it felt amazing to wash it all off. Sweat, foundation, hairspray, and who knows what else washed off of me and down the drain, and I felt like a new woman when I got out. The only problem was that I only had ten minutes to finish getting ready.
I towel-dried my hair.
Scented lotion.
Deodorant.
Brush teeth.
Comb hair and scrunch it.
Socks, underwear, jeans, sweater.
Dry hair for 2 minutes.
Lip gloss.
Mascara.
I barely had time to give myself a once-over in the mirror before my phone dinged with a text. It was Ash, and I could not hold back a smile.
Ash:
I'm out front.
Me:
Coming 1 min.
My mom was nowhere to be seen when I went into the living room, but Josie was out there. She told me that she was just going to sleep on my couch instead of with our mom in the guest bedroom. She already had a pillow and blanket, and I told her goodnight and thanks for listening out for Luna. I put on a knitted stocking hat on my way out since it was cold and my hair was still wet. I walked out of my front door and down the sidewalk to the place where Ash was parked. This was a thrill I had felt before, running out to meet him on the street.
I felt like I wanted to giggle as I jogged the rest of the way to his truck. He was leaned over, opening the door for me, and I grinned at the sight of him and said, "Hey!"
"Get in here," he said.
"I'm coming," I said, groaning at how quickly I tried to get in and close the door.
I threw myself at Ash. The center console of the truck might as well have not existed. I went all the way across the truck to him, and he caught me and pulled me into his arms. He reached down and pushed his seat back, adjusting and holdingme comfortably on his lap. My body was absolutely buzzing at the fact that I was finally being held by Ash.
"I'm sorry, I probably should have held your hand or something first, but I just… I needed you."
I wasn't sure why I was being so forward, or raw, or honest. None of this was like me. I had a rein on my instincts and emotions, and I knew better than to throw myself at anyone. I had utterly hurled myself at Ash Adams, and gloriously, he was there to catch me. He held me tightly, seeming relieved that I had done it. My face was resting on his chest, up near his neck, and he held me near.
"I needed you too, Audrey. I missed you so much. I'm not looking forward to going back there to film. I mean, I am. I like working with Luke, it's going to be good. I'm just not looking forward to missing you again. I wish you and Lu could move down there. I know it's impossible with the restaurant, I'm just already dreading missing you again."
