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“Yeah…I'm not arguing with you.”
And just like that, he got out of the car and took his time coming over to open my door.
“You're a stubborn asshat.” I grouched, but still took his offered hand so he could lead me up to the house.
Mom was home as always, and though she was shocked to see us, she hurried us in to sit on the couch in the living room.
“You two have some explaining to do,” Mom said, plopping into the chair across from us.
I kept clinging to Ash's hand, nervous as fuck to be there, especially after the severe beating Dad had given Ashton last time.
“I’m sure we do,” Ashton agreed, squeezing my hand back, not trying to hide at all that we were together. “But let’s call Tommy and see if he’ll come join us. I’d rather only have this conversation once.”
Mom nodded like she agreed, and got right on her phone.
It was silent for a minute, until Dad obviously answered, then we heard a single sentence spoken from her mouth.
“Hun, the kids are here, and they want to talk,” she said, then the call went dead.
“I think it’s safe to say he’s on his way,” was Mom’s answer, smiling at us as if that could cushion the blow.
“Oh, God…” I breathed, pressing my face back into my hands.
“Quick, before your father gets home, I need to know something,” Mom said, moving to get onto her knees in front of me.
She put one hand on my knee, and the other on Ashton’s.
“I’m willing to champion for you, but only if you really mean this. Only if you’re in love. Are you?”
I watched Ash lick his lips, as if he wasn’t sure what to say, but I just looked into my mother’s eyes and watched hers water with the silent conclusion she’d already made by staring into my soul.
“Ok, then,” she whispered. “Let’s get something to drink. We’re going to need it.”
“Nothing alcoholic for me,” Ash told her. “After this, we’re getting out of here.”
“Out of here to where?” Mom looked about as surprised as she was relieved to hear we were going to make ourselves scarce.
“Not sure yet, but somewhere away.”
Mom simply nodded and went to get those drinks.
She brought back a lemonade for Ash, and a rather tall glass of wine for me, matching hers. On the coffee table between us, she set down a half-full tumbler of Dad’s favorite whiskey in front of the last empty chair in the room.
Just as she settled it down on the table, the door jingled with keys, then flew open. Dad appeared there with chest heaving and murder in his eyes.
“You son of a fucking bitch,” he howled, staring Ashton down. “After I forgave you and we finally got things going back to how things were—”
“This isn’t about you, Tom,” Ashton said, an emotionless mask covering his face.
“The fuck it’s not!”
Dad took a step forward, lifting his fist to fight when Ashton sprang from his seat, spinning Dad around in a blur until he was in a proper headlock.
I had an instant lady boner, but tried to mentally slap it down.
Dammit! Down girl! Now is not the time!
“Now,” Ash said in a low, calm voice, my father’s head still trapped between his beefy arms. “You’re going to sit your ass down and listen to your daughter. Understood?”
