Out of The Box Awakening (18 page)

“So, are you looking for someone for me? Here’s the deal…she has to have real boobs, some fine ass tattoos, and a nice tight ass.”

“Okay, Todd. So where do you suggest I go to look for someone with those specifications?” I chuckle, and then add, “I’ll keep my eye out for you, Todd…you’re next to get fixed up, but you may have to bend a bit.”

“Olivia, you have no idea how good I can bend!” He’s having too much fun, snickering mischievously. “Girl! I love to tease you. You do know it’s just fun teasing, right? You don’t get offended, do you?”

“Todd, I totally have you figured out! No offense taken. I take your teasing as a compliment. See you guys Saturday!”

“We’ll be there. Ready to climb up that ladder and bust our asses! The rest of the guys may come too. The more the merrier, right?”

“Absolutely! I would love to have you all come. I’m making my famous tortilla soup and cornbread. Beer too, of course!”

“Sounds yummy, Olivia. See ya Saturday. So, how do you like my ringtone for you?”

“Gotta love it! You’re the best.”

The rest of the day passes quickly and I head home. Thank God there is no ice today, so I can drive myself. When I get in the house, I grab a glass of wine and head upstairs to change. I get a text. It’s from Ash.

“So, just curious as to why you didn’t call and let me know you were with Alan today. I thought I meant more to you than that. Guess I was wrong. Very pissed about now!”

Well, damn you, Jocelyn! You conniving little bitch! Ok—so how do I respond to this? I decide not to text, but rather to call Ash.

It goes to his voice mail. I don’t leave a message. I send a text. “Call me please?”

He doesn’t return the text, and my heart sinks. Why do people have to start things? So should I call Ellen? Do I really want to involve her in this? Was she the one who called Ash? I decide to just lay low and wait. Maybe he will call me back soon.

The hours pass and still no word from Ash. I’m beginning to worry. He must really be upset because he always calls or texts right back. At midnight, I decide that I just need to go to bed. Obviously, he’s too upset to talk to me tonight. I toss and turn all night, and then the tears start. I cry myself to sleep.

Around 2:00 a.m., my phone rings.

“Hello?”

“Olivia? Heeey! Whasss up??” It’s Ash and he sounds like he has been drinking.

“Ash, is that you?”

“Well, who the hell else would be calling you at this hour…Alan maybe? Or, better yet, is he there with you?”

“Ash Harper! You’re drunk! And no, Alan is not here with me! I can’t believe Jocelyn would take what she saw out of context. What a bitch!”

“Heeey, don’t use that kind of language, honey, it’s unbecoming to you.”

I sense that this conversation is going nowhere. He is too intoxicated to carry on an intelligent conversation. “Look Ash, why don’t you get some sleep and call me in the morning? Are you with Wesley and Hayden?”

“With who? Oh, yeah… the boys! Nope, they dropped me off at my hotel after diner and I’ve been in the club. Back in my room now.” I hear something fall and I think he’s knocked something off the nightstand. “Oops! You still there? Sorry ‘bout that. Dropped my glass.”

“Ash, listen, I love you—I will explain everything to you tomorrow when you’re sober. There is no point in us even talking about this tonight. You’re incorrigible! God, I miss you so much—even when you’re drunk out of your mind! I miss you!”

“Well, little lady, I kinda miss you too. Even though I’m beyond pissed at you! I’m really, really pissed! So, do you want to have phone sex or something, while I have you on the line?”

“What? What in the world are you talking about, Ash? What have you been drinking, and why would you even say something like that?” My voice cracks and I start to cry.

Then he realizes he has upset me. Almost immediately, he starts to sober up. “Olivia, look, honey, I’m sorry. You’re right, I have been drinking very heavily. I thought you had gotten back together with Alan. Jocelyn called me and said she saw you two holding hands across the table just like you and I do. I just went nuts. I started thinking all the worst things. I just can’t stand the thought of him touching you or talking to you. Honey, my world kinda fell apart and I had a little meltdown. I’m sorry I upset you. I’ll call you in the morning honey. You still love me?”

“Of course I do! Just get some sleep. I will too.”

“Okay, honey. I’m finished drinking. Nothing left in the bottle… see?” He laughs at his own joke. He’s still slurring his words, and I know he’s going to feel pretty rough in the morning.

“Oh, Ash! Please call room service and get some coffee, then take a shower and go to bed.”

“Hmmmm. A shower? That sounds like fun. I sure wish you were here to hop in with me. I could lather you up and rinse you off.”

I think he will probably have one hell of a headache in the morning. “Night my love…sleep tight!”

“Night-night to you, too, Sunshine. Don’t forget that I am really, really pissed off at you right now. Really pissed!”

I am so wound up and pissed myself that I can’t even begin to sleep. I go downstairs and fix a cup of hot tea. It’s three in the morning and I’m wide-ass awake. Jocelyn, on the other hand is probably curled up in her nice warm bed, sleeping soundly. She definitely hasn’t heard the last of me! The one thing I am relieved about is that Ellen wasn’t the one who called Ash. I should have suspected it was Jocelyn. Deep down, I think she has a thing for him and resents the fact that he pays her no attention. It doesn’t seem like Ellen to meddle in someone else’s business. I’ll have to see if she has anything to say about it on Saturday. I have no idea what I’ll say to Jocelyn when and if I run into her again. I certainly don’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she’s gotten to me. I need to stay one step ahead of the game with her and put her in her place in a clever way. I’ll have to think on that one.

I get what I hope is the last text of the evening. It is from Mr. Intoxicated Ash Harper. “Nkgjight nijgt my love. Goinf to bed now I wuf you! Stlle pisd off!”

Well, toasty texting definitely isn’t his forte, but I feel better knowing that he is in his room safe and going to bed.

After a really restless night, the first thing to greet me in the morning is a text. It is, of course from Ash. “Mornin’, Sunshine! Guess I have some apologizing to do, don’t I?“

I text back… “Well, maybe we both do. Feelin’ all right today?”

“Of course, why would you ask that? Just kidding. I feel like holy hell! A”

Lainey calls to check in as I’m driving to work. “Hey, Mom! How are things going? You okay?”

“Hello, my love! Yes. I’m fine. How are you doing? Feeling okay?”

“Doing just great, Mom! No morning sickness yet—keep your fingers crossed.”

“Well, things are good here. I’m in the process of looking for an apartment. Work is great. Our things are in storage. Oh, and Dad stopped by to talk to me yesterday. Guess he’s in town for a while.”

“So, how did that go?”

“Nothing earth shattering. I just told him that I’m ready to move on and that he owes you and your brothers an explanation.”

“And you too, Mom“

“Nope! I don’t want any explanations. Matter of fact; I told him that whatever communication he wants with me needs to go through my attorney. All I want to do is just move on and not look back, Lainey.”

“I just can’t believe this has happened. Never in a million years would I have thought my parents would end up getting divorced.”

“Well, never in a million years would I have thought that either, but it is what it is, my dear.”

“So, you don’t want to continue staying at Ash’s until after the divorce?”

“Well, I would, and Ash has offered to let me stay, but Abby, my attorney thinks it would be best if I moved out on my own and didn’t give the impression I was being ‘taken care of by a wealthy widower” I chuckle.

“Mom, don’t you mean a handsome, wealthy widower? Just kiddin’, Mom! So, do you think after the divorce you’ll date?”

“Oh heavens, child! I can’t even think about things like that now. Geez! I’m not even out of this one yet. Plus, I’m gonna be a grandmother, you know. Can’t be too much of a party gal! Well, gotta go. Just pulled up at work. Love you. Give Kel a hug and take care of my grandbaby.”

“Okay, Mom. Check in with me. I’m on the need-to-know list. I love you!”

I wonder if the kids are expecting me to date. What will they do when they find out I already kinda have?

I should probably call the boys tonight. I haven’t been very good at staying in touch with the kids, and I know that right now they need me as much as I need them. Strength in numbers, as my mother used to say. Sometimes, though, I just don’t want to talk about it. I don’t even want to think about the bad things in my life. The good thing I have with Ash is not something I can share just yet, and I’m afraid that I’ll let on to the kids the kind of relationship Ash and I have. I seriously don’t know how they’ll react. I don’t know… Maybe they already suspect something. Maybe they’ll hold it against me and think that I should have tried to reconcile with Alan. Or, better, maybe they will be happy for me. I would hope that latter is true. I know they have questions…questions for which I quite frankly don’t have answers. I’m the mom and I’m supposed to have answers, but in this case, I’ve failed miserably. Hell, I wish I had the answers!

When I get to the office, there is a beautiful floral arrangement waiting for me.

“This arrived for you this morning” Emily says. “Boy! Someone must love you!”

There is a beautiful sunflower arrangement and a card. “So, I guess I maybe overreacted. Just my jealous side…Sorry! Love You! Ash”

Shortly after, my phone rings. He always knows the perfect time to call! “Liv? Are you still fuming at me?”

“Well, I don’t know...the jury’s still out on that.”

“Well, I am still upset that you didn’t call and let me know. We definitely need to work on communication skills between us, honey. You’ve got to understand that I’m out of town and things get magnified. Blown out of proportion. Jocelyn, well, you’re right... she is a bitch. I’m sorry that I reacted like I did. I’ve never been the jealous type, but with you, it just goes all over me, for some reason. Did you sleep in your room last night, or mine?”

“Mine, of course! Why would I sleep in your room without you?”

“Well, I had planned when you came home, I’d call you and tell you that I had put a little surprise for you on my—on our bed. So you haven’t been in there?”

“No. So spill the beans, what is it?”

“Just a little something for you until I get back. Maybe tonight you can get it and enjoy.”

“Ash, you totally spoil me! I love that. It’s one of the many, many things I love about you. The flowers are beautiful. Not necessary, but beautiful.”

“Beautiful like you, honey! Have a good day and call me tonight. Did you get the tree?”

“Yes! It will be delivered on Saturday. Sam is such a nice guy. You’re going to love the tree. I can’t wait to decorate it!”

“Jose is coming over Saturday morning to get your outside lights up. Wish I could be there, too, but duty calls. By the way, I feel like hammered crap today. I’m definitely too old to tie one on.”

“Yep, I figured you wouldn’t be on your best game today. You were pretty inebriated last night, my friend. That’s what you get.”

When I get home, I can’t wait to go into Ash’s room and find my surprise. On his bed is a pink Victoria’s Secret bag. There is rose on the bed, a box, and a card by the bag.

“Something sexy for you to wear until I get back. ILY! Ash”

In the bag is a pair of polka dot flannel pajamas. How totally Ash! He wants me to be comfortable, but not too sexy while he is away. I get it! In the box is an IPod. I open it and it is engraved on the back “ILY!” He has programmed a playlist too...

Oh, my God! The playlist is endless! “Green Eyes,” “Come in From the Cold,” “Yellow,” “Sweet Caroline,” “Boogie Shoes,” “Cherry Bomb,” “Something to Talk About,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Life Ain’t Always Beautiful,” “Love and Happiness,” “Someday We’ll be Together,” “Sexual Healing,” “My Girl,” “Let’s Stay Together,” “Wanted,” “Let’s Get it On,” “In My Life,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” “The Heart of Life,” “Got to Give it Up,” “Every Breath You Take,” “Cruisin,” “Fix You,” “The Way You Love Me,” “Book of Dreams,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “For the Longest Time.” All of my favorite songs! I can’t wait to put this on. I dial his number and he immediately answers.

“Hellllloooo! Did you find your surprise?”

“Yes, my sweet man, I did, and I love them all!”

“Have you put them on yet?”

“ The PJs, or the music? Not yet to either, but fixing to. I sure wish you were here with me!”

“Me too, honey, but I’ll be home soon. Looking forward to putting up your tree?”

“Yes. I can’t wait!”

We talk for another hour, and I finally tell him that I need to get to bed, as does he.

“Ash?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s not do this again. Please? I can’t take you and I being at odds. You are the only secure thing I have these days, besides my kids. I don’t want us to be mad at each other. I love you so much!”

“I love you too, hon! I’ve never been the jealous type, I swear. I don’t know what’s come over me, but I just can’t help it. I just want you so bad! I promise, I’ll work on controlling the jealousy. Being away doesn’t make it easier. I just want you so damn bad, and I don’t want anyone else to be in your life. I want to be the only man you want and need.”

“Oh, Ash! I love you too! When you get back, we’ll talk and work through this. No more drinking tonight?”

“Absolutely! I’m done till I see you again. Let’s tie one on together when I get back…promise?”

“Promise!” I sleep much better tonight, knowing that we have somewhat worked through things. There’s still much to be discussed when he gets home, though. I have never had a man jealous over me, so this is new and foreign to me. No one has ever spoiled, pampered, catered to, and loved me this way. I need to take his feelings into consideration. He’s a sensitive and caring man. Having a guy who actually cares and expresses his feelings is new. I will work very hard to understand this.