Finding Solace (44 page)

 
"Good.
I kind of like having you here too."

 
"I know
this might be the most inappropriate time to bring this up, but I can't help
but ask, where does the amazing man that goes by the name of Ash play into all
this?"

 
A smile
crept up my face. Even in all my sorrow his name brought me to a happy place
just like that. He kept saying his time to shine was coming. I don’t think it
is coming. I think it has always been there. He makes me happy.

 
"Your
smile answered my question. Those flowers are unbelievable by the way. I can't
believe they still look that good."

 
"I know,
right? He's a really nice guy, Heather. He treats me like I am a
princess." Huh, maybe that's why he always calls me that.

 
"That's
what you deserve, Sadie girl. It’s nice to see your face light up again
also."

 
"Thank
you. It is nice to have something to be happy about right now."

 
"I
don't mean to rush this conversation but I have to get to the clinic. Sadie, do
me a favor? Focus on what you have, not what you think you have lost, but never
really had in the first place."

 
"I
think I can do that for
ya
." She started to walk
out the door when I said, "Hey Heather, thanks for being here when I
needed you."

 
"I will
always be here for you, Sadie. I'm not going anywhere."

 
She walked
out and closed the door behind her. I walked over and sat down on the couch and
thought, ‘things are going to be okay.’

CHAPTER
40

 
That
night when I got off work, Ash was waiting next to my car. When I walked out
the door, I saw him and wanted to sprint so I could get there faster. He started
to walk toward me so we kind of met in the middle. He didn’t say a word. He
didn’t really have time to. I jumped in his arms and kissed the shit out of
him. When I had my fill I pulled back and said, "I wasn't expecting you to
be here."

 
"Well
then I'm sure glad I am or that might have gone to someone else."

 
"Nope,
that was reserved just for you. So what brings you up here?"

 
"You of
course, I just wanted to see your face when I tell you I got brought on at a
house!"

 
For those of
you who are wondering what he could possibly be talking about, Ash started at
the fire academy when I took my brief break from him. It’s a fire house.

 
"That's
fantastic! I'm so happy for you!"

 
"Thank
you. That means a lot. I'm not on payroll until I finish, but I am volunteering
which is just as cool to me. Anyway, do you want to go out and celebrate? Or
did you already have plans?"

 
"I
would love to celebrate this with you. What did you have in mind?"

 
"We
could go up to ‘51’?"

 
I could puke
at the thought. But then no one works there anymore. Why would it be so bad?

 
"That
sounds great. Do you want to drive separate or take one car?"

 
"Do you
have to ask? If it’s about what I want, then you are coming home with me
tonight. Which means your car stays where it is."

 
"A
little presumptuous, aren’t you?"

 
"Hopeful
is more like it."

 
"It’s
your night. You can have it any way you want it?"

 
"
Any way
?"

 
"Stop being so dirty!
I meant about celebrating."

 
"Oh
princess, that would be all the more reason for me to celebrate."

 
"If you’re lucky big boy."

 
He grabbed
my hand and led me to his car. He opened the door for me and as I was getting
in he said, "Glad you think so." He closed the door before I could
respond. When he got in himself I said, "Oh, I most certainly do."

 
He looked
over to me and smiled. "You are a dirty girl, aren’t you?"

 
"You
might get lucky
enough one day to find out
."

 
"I'm
counting on that."

 
We pulled in
to ‘51’ and the place was packed. We didn’t have to wait in line because I knew
the door guy, which was nice. The front bar still looked odd without Dave,
Bryan or Geoff. Ash was holding my hand as he led me over to a bar stool that
was open. At first I was unsure about what people would think of me openly
being here with Ash, but then I realized that I shouldn’t give two
shits
. This was my life to live and I was with a man that
makes me happy.

 
"What
are you thinking you want to start out with?"

 
I looked
back at Ash and a huge smile crossed my face. There was the reassurance I needed.

 
"I will
have whatever you’re having. It’s your night."

 
"Well
in that case, let’s do a shot."

 
"Whatever you want."

 
"Then
Jagermeister
it is."

 
"
Nooooo
!
That's the black
licorice stuff."

 
"You
said whatever I wanted."

 
"Fine,
for you I will, but only one."

 
"That's
the sweetest thing you've ever said to me."

 
"Then I
really suck."

 
"Hopefully
well and I hope to get to find out."

 
"You’re
on a roll tonight."

 
"You
are just too easy to tease." He tickled me a little under my arm to let me
know he was just playing around which made me smile. I already knew that, but
it made me feel good to know he cared enough to make sure.

 
"So
what are we drinking?"

 
"You
seem to like Alabama slammers. We could do that?"

 
"Bring
it on."

 
After
several shots we decided to go dance. On our
wa
, I spotted Dave. I pointed him out to Ash and so
he and I walked over.

 
"Dave,"
I shouted over the noise of the crowd. He spun around and his face lit up.

 
"What's
up, guys?
Didn't think I would see you tonight."

 
 
"Ash and I are celebrating."

 
Ash looked
embarrassed and said, "It’s really nothing big."

 
I looked at
him puzzled, but he looked like he wanted me to drop it, so I did.

 
"Well
big deal or not, congrats on whatever it is. So Sadie, you know graduation is
in two weeks. I was thinking about having a party the weekend before, since
most of our families will be in town the weekend of it and then we all move
back home. Ash, you’re more than welcome to come too."

 
"So,
next weekend?" I pointed out.

 
"Shit. That
is next weekend. I have way more to do than I thought. Angie is going to have
her work cut out."

 
"I can
help. Tell her to give me a call if she needs anything."

 
"Thanks,
Sadie. I
gotta
get going. I just came up to grab my
last paycheck. It was great to see you two again."

 
"You
too, dude. Glad we ran into you."

 
I hugged
Dave and said, "Make sure you tell her she can call me."

 
"Will
do." and then he walked off leaving me to look at Ash with a questionable
glare.

 
"Why
couldn't I tell Dave about the firehouse?"

 
"It’s
nothing big, Sadie. I'm a volunteer."

 
"Well,
I am proud of you regardless."

 
 
Ash spun me around and then set me down,
"That's why I like you so much."

 
He leaned
down to kiss me and then said, "Let’s dance."

 
We got out
on that dance floor and were putting people to shame. Ash was a man that had
rhythm and I loved to watch him move. I did everything in my power to be as
seductive as I could without looking trashy. I walked slowly, enticing him
around his backside and started to grind on him. He moved with me and I could
tell he was enjoying it. I dropped lower and lower circling my hips so he could
feel my movements. Unfortunately I got a little too low and between the alcohol
and my heels, yep, I fell flat on my ass. I was mortified so I hurried up and
was back on my feet by the time Ash turned around. He grabbed me and pulled me
to him, rubbing up against me. Damn, that was a close one. He did not even
notice. We kept dancing, until this really drunk guy walked up and said "smooth
recovery."

 
Ash leaned
down into me and said, "What did he say?"

 
"Oh
nothing, he said we look good together."

 
"No, he
didn’t. That's too many words but I'm glad you think so."

 
Shit! How do
I change the subject?

 
"Ash, I
absolutely do."

 
That earned
a smile and he forgot all about the guy, score! We danced for a good hour more
before I was tired and thirsty. I convinced him to give up his Chris Brown
imitations and come get a drink with me. When I complained about my feet
hurting, he gave me a piggyback ride to the bar. He managed to find another
empty barstool to sit me on when I heard, "Well,
aren’t
you two cute?"

 
I turned to
find Lindsey and Kaleb standing behind Ash.

 
"Hey
guys! When did you get here?"

 
Kaleb walked
over to Ash, put his hand on Ash’s shoulder and said, "Early enough, thank
God, that
we got to see Sadie fall on her ass and
watch you Ash, miss it completely. That was fucking classic guys."

 
Ash looked
puzzled and right at me. "What is he talking about?" I was as red as a
beet
. I can’t believe Kaleb
outed
me.

 
I couldn’t
say anything and my eyes were bulging out of my head.

 
I guess
Lindsey decided to answer for me when she said, "When Sadie was dancing
with you from behind,
she
wiped out. It was funny,
Sadie. Come on, don't be mad."

 
"I hate
you both, very much." They were cracking up and so was Ash. This was
awful.

 
"Why
didn't you just tell me? You hid, thinking I wouldn't know?” He couldn’t even
speak clearly he was laughing so hard.

 
"How
would you have known?"

 
 
"Is that what that dude out there said
when you lied to me? At this point he was laughing so hard he was holding his
stomach. "Oh my God, it is!
Hahahahahh
.”

 
I walked
away.

 
"Sadie,
don't go." I kept walking.

 
"Sadie"
He was now following me and I was so humiliated, I ducked into the restroom.
Why did I just not admit I fell? This is so stupid. I walked back out and Ash
was waiting outside the door with both his hands up.

 
“I’m sorry I
laughed, Sadie.”

 
"No
you’re not."

 
He grabbed
my shoulders and looked me in the eye and said, "You’re right, I'm not.
But don't run again. You have to admit it’s funny."

 
"It
would be hilarious if it wasn't me."

 
"It’s
still hilarious."

 
"You’re
not being nice. No sex for you tonight."

 
"Were
you really planning on having sex with me tonight?"

 
"Nope,
now let’s go get another drink."

 
"Now
who's not being nice? That was just mean. You’re on for that drink though, oh
and Sadie?"