Finding Solace (59 page)

 
"Same
goes for you." And then he kissed my lips.

 
We all filed
back in our cars and drove to my new home. It felt weird saying that to
myself
, but true nonetheless. When everyone fit in his
driveway, they all got out of their cars. That's when the "Holy
shits" started flying out of their mouths. I had forgotten that none of
them had been here before to see it.

 
"You’re
fucking shitting me, dude. This is yours?" Jason had his jaw dropped open.

 
"It is
just a house, guys."

 
Heather
walked over to me and whispered in my ear, "I didn't think he could get
any better. I was wrong, dead wrong."

 
"Heather,
it doesn't change who he is."

 
"No, it
doesn't. It's the fact he doesn't act like he had this kind of money that
brought him up another notch. Not that he has it."

 
I had to
agree with her there. You would never know by meeting him that he had all that
he does. The guys wanted a tour so Ash walked them in. Heather followed quickly
behind them once she heard tour. I stayed outside by myself just taking it all
in. What a difference a year can make.

 
"
Whatcha
thinking about over
there?"

 
I turned to see
Tony had stayed behind also.

 
"Just how crazy life can be."

 
"You
mean how you ended up getting a fairy tale nonetheless. It just wasn’t the one
you thought you wanted."

 
"That's
pretty much exactly it. I'm just so happy, Tony."

 
"I can
see it and I know. I couldn't be happier for you. I always told you I liked the
guy. He's good for you."

 
"That
he is."

 
After
everything was unloaded, we went to get my car. Driving back over to the
apartment seemed weird. I no longer viewed this as home. Ash held my hand the
whole way there. We talked about the house and he said if there was anything I
would like to change, to just let him know. There was not a thing I would
change. That house was perfect just the way it stood. I got my car and followed
him back. What surprised me was the phone call I got pulling down his street.

 
"Hello, stranger."

 
"Hello,
my princess. Just wanted you to look and see the garage door opener you have in
your car now."

 
I looked up
and sure enough there it was.

 
"You
cleared a spot for me?"

 
"It’s
your house too now, and it’s an eight car garage, Sadie. It would be ridiculous
if your car couldn't fit."

 
"That
is true. But thank you anyway. I will see you in a couple of seconds. Oh, and I
love you."

 
"Love
you too."

 
I pulled up
the driveway and pushed the button. Sure enough, one of the doors opened and
the whole space was cleared for me. This was so cool! I parked and jumped out
of my car with a huge smile on my face.

 
"It
really is the little things with you, isn’t it?"

 
"Absolutely
is."

 
He smiled
back at me and took my hand to lead me inside our home. Nothing had changed,
yet everything looked different. It was my home now.

 
"Are
you happy?"

 
"Blissfully, so."

 
"That's
what I like to hear. So, what do you want to do first?"

 
"I
would love to make a naked pizza."

 
"
Hahaahah
, never could I have seen that coming.
Strip, little one, its pizza time!"

 
After we ate
the second best pizza in my life (nothing can top the first time we made one
together) we laid down in the media room and
vegged
.
After moving all day, all I wanted was to relax and cuddle with my man.

 
"Your
birthday is right around the corner. What would you like to do for it?"

 
"We
don't have to do anything special. I didn't get to celebrate yours with you in
any big way."

 
He sat up
causing me to plop down on the couch we were sharing.

 
"Are
you fucking crazy, woman? That is hands down the best birthday I have ever had
in my life. I got to have you be a part of it."

 
"Well,
when you put it that way, then you’re right. I am pretty fucking special."

 
"Yes,
you are. So, what can we do for yours?"

 
"Just
having you with me would do the same for me."

 
"Do you
not want to do something big with your friends?"

 
"We
can, but I don't need to."

 
"Then I
have the perfect idea."

 
"What
is it?"

 
He cuddled
back up to me and said, "No way, it’s going to be a surprise."

 
"It’s a
month away. You’re going to keep me guessing for that long?"

 
"Absolutely!"

 
"You
suck."

 
"Very well, from what you tell me."

 
"Gross.
You’re so dirty sometimes."

 
"Don't
you go prude on me now that I have you
here.
Do you
understand me?"

 
"Yes
Sir."

 
"Good
girl."

 
We went back
to skimming through the channels and laughing at all the stupid infomercials.
We both started to fall asleep when Ash said, "Let’s go to bed,
honey."

 
"Sounds
like the best idea yet."

 
"Not
even close to the idea I have for your
birthday "

 
"Come
on! You can't keep dropping hints like that. It’s not fair."

 
"It so
is,
and I can and will"

 
"You
suck a big one."

 
"Now
you’re going to get it."

 
He tackled
me and tickled me until I almost
peed
my pants.

 
"Ash, stop!
I'm going to pee."

 
His hands
came off me in seconds.

 
"I'm
not a fool twice. Go use the bathroom and then get your sexy ass in bed."

 
I rushed to
the bathroom and did just what he told me to afterwards. We slept holding on to
each other all night long.

CHAPTER
47

 
After
a couple weeks of living together, I realized I didn't get to see Ash much more
than I did before I moved in. He was always so busy with school and the fire
house. I thought it would be nice to plan a night out with our friends, being
it had been awhile since we saw them last. I picked ‘51’ because I wanted good
memories to be last thing that I had there. Not breaking Colt’s heart, also
because I had a surprise for Ash. We needed to be there for me to pull off. It
was a Saturday night and we both had Sunday off, which made it a perfect night
to get trashed and then have the next day to nurse our hangovers. Heather,
Jason, Mike, Tony, Lindsey and Kaleb were all going to be there with us. I had
just finished getting ready when I walked down the stairs to find Ash waiting
on me.

 
"No way.
Not again."

 
"It’s
cute."

 
"It is
a black napkin that belongs on my kitchen table, not my girlfriend."

 
"It’s a
dress, Ash."

 
"With no top."

 
"It’s
called a halter top. It just has a plunging neck line."

 
"And no back."

 
"It’s
cute."

 
"Will
you please wear a jacket or something over it, please?"

 
I pulled the
denim jacket from around my back that I was hiding from him to see.

 
"Like
this one?"

 
"Thank
God! Yes, just like that one."

 
I slipped it
over my arms and then did a final pose.

 
"Better?"

 
"You
are the best there is."

 
He walked
over and kissed me.

 
"You
ready to go then? I told Kaleb we would be there a half hour ago."

 
"I'm
sorry. Did I take too long?"

 
"Not at
all, he's just always late."

 
He took my
hand and led me out to the car. Ash opened my door for me to help me in and
then closed it behind him. I was getting so excited about my surprise. Tonight
was going to be great.

 
When we
walked in the bar, it seemed to be filled with a lot of new employees. They all
were new college students if I had to guess. The back table still seemed to be
reserved for us though, and that was where I found the group. I kissed and
hugged every one of them and then found my seat, right on Ash’s lap. A tray of
shots appeared courtesy of Mike. We all took two and downed them one right
after the other. I needed some liquid courage in me. This was going to be epic.
I ordered another tray. This one came and went in the same manner. We all
laughed and told stories about how living together is so different from mine
and Heather’s apartment days. Lindsey and Kaleb were in talks of doing it also.
Tony filled us in that he is still cancer free, which only caused me to jump
off Ash’s lap and onto Tony’s.

 
"That's
amazing! I'm so happy for you."

 
"Thanks,
Sadie. I am pretty happy about it myself."

 
"I bet
you are. Let’s do another round in honor of Tony’s health."

 
Everyone
loved the idea, but Tony whispered in my ear, "Is there a reason you’re
trying to get shit faced in record time?"

 
"Sure
is. You'll just have to wait and see why like the rest of them."

 
"Now
you’re scaring me."

 
"It is going
to be scary, believe me."

 
Another tray
was brought over and just as I finished my last shot, the karaoke guy set up
for the night.

 
"Here
goes nothing."

 
"What?"

 
"Oh, I
was just mumbling."

 
I got up and
walked over to the same man who has been working this since they brought the
idea of karaoke to ‘51’.

 
"Well,
if it isn't the beautiful Sadie. It’s been awhile, girl. Have you been hiding
out or what? By the way, you’re not planning on making me cry again tonight,
are you? Because the last time I heard you sing
,
the
crowd didn't get out of their funk until at least ten songs later."

 
"Nope,
this one is a happy song."

 
"Fantastic.
What you got?"

 
I told him
and a smile spread across his face. He handed me the microphone and

 
Colbie
Caillat’s
song, ‘Brighter
than the sun’ started to play through the speakers. I put my whole heart into
every word as I sang…

 
Love it or leave it.

 
You find it and keep it.

 
Cause
it
ain't
every day you get the chance to say.

 
Oh, this is how it starts.

 
Lightning strikes the heart.

 
It goes off like a gun.

 
Brighter than the sun.

 
I
looked over to the table of my friends and all of them were watching me with
smiles on their faces. I looked at Ash smiling myself and then pointed right at
him.