The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 20- Our Girl

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I wake to the sound of someone knocking loudly on the door.

"Steph? Come on, it's time to get ready," Ashton's voice calls to me.

I look at my phone to see that it's barely six o'clock in the morning. "Too early. Go away!"

"We have to get ready for the surprise."

At the mention of the surprise, the sleepy fog starts to clear in my brain as excitement pumps through my veins. Slowly, I sit up in bed and slide out from under the comforter. I think about going to open the door, but then I realize that I just woke up and have no idea what I look like.

"Okay, I'm up!" I call to Ashton.

"Promise?"

"Promise. I'm getting ready," I say as I hop to the floor and walk towards the bathroom.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

With that, I turn on the water and put some more toothpaste on my finger. After brushing my teeth and running my damp hands through my curls, I feel like I look presentable. Then I remember the pair of Ashton's sweats I'm wearing and the fact that I'm going to be putting recycled clothing back on for the second day...

I pad over to the door and open it, leaning out.

"Hey, guys?"

Surprisingly, Luke pops his head out of his room in response. "Yeah?"

My question sticks in my throat as I realize the irony of what I'm about to ask. Luke stares at me, waiting for a response.

"Um. I was just going to ask what I'm supposed to wear today...I only have my clothes from yesterday."

That's when Luke first takes in my appearance, scanning me from head to foot. His eyes linger on the sweatpants I'm currently wearing and his face goes hard.

"Well, you definitely can't show up like that," he spits out.

Just then, Ashton comes into the hallway.

 "What's up?"

I look away from Luke to answer his question. "I was just asking if it matters what I wear today because I only have my clothes from yesterday."

Ashton looks me over as well, but his response to noticing my pants is altogether different than Luke's—he grins.

"Oh, good! You found some sweatpants. As I was going to bed, I realized that I forgot to offer you something to sleep in. I felt really bad, but I didn't want to wake you...which seems like a good choice considering how you almost took my head off for waking you this morning!"

I blush at the memory.

"But you can wear whatever. It won't matter once we get there," Ashton continues.

I furrow my eyebrows. "What does that mean?"

He grins. "You'll see. I need to get dressed, too, though," he says, walking past me into the room. He pulls his shirt over his head and reaches for the waistband of his pants.

"Wait!" I call out, throwing my hand over my eyes. "Just hand me my jeans, and I'll go change somewhere else.

"I mean, I'm wearing underwear. I'm not shy," Ashton says, while chuckling. "You don't have to cover your eyes like that."

He places the jeans in my arms.

"You may not be shy, but I might be." I peek to see that he's still mostly clothed, so I take this opportunity to open my eyes and retreat from the room, shutting the door behind me.