Pairing Hearts |louis tomlinson|

Chapter Twenty-Five

The first year in the house passed by quickly. During the summer Louis worked on his album and I surfed or worked out at the beach. During the school year, I worked and Louis released his album in December. He did some press from the house during second semester, refusing to leave for even a weekend, despite my protests. Then that following summer we spent traveling the world for his tour. We spent a lot of time in London with his family and then when we got back to California at the end of Summer we went to City Hall and got married. Neither one of us had big families or lots of friends, so a real wedding seemed like a waste. We loved each other and we really didn't need a big ceremony to prove that.
One weekend we rode our bikes back up the hill after surfing all day, Louis had gotten much better. We found someone standing outside our gate and we stopped short.
"Kate?" Ashley's voice called from the guard stand. I looked over at Louis, who nodded. We rode our bikes over to the hut.
"What are you doing here Ashley?" I asked confused. "How did you find us?"
"I've been searching for months," she answered.
"Haven't you been busy?" I asked. She had been filming a new movie just about every few months.
"I went to your apartment, but they said you moved out last year," she sighed. "Then I saw that you were with Louis on tour. But I finally found you."
She came rushing over to give me a hug but stopped short when I took a step back still straddling my bike. "Please can I come in?" She practically begged. "I need to talk to you."
"I..." I looked over at Louis who shrugged.
"Sure," I sighed and Louis nodded to the security guard, who opened the gate. Ashley followed us over to the garage, where Louis and I dumped our bikes and hung up our surfboards. Louis helped me peel off my wetsuit and then I helped Louis pull his off. I pulled on his shirt resting on the workbench and took my ring out of the bowl slipping it on, while Louis did the same with his.
"Will you just heat up the zucchini noodles for dinner?" I asked him as we walked inside. "We'll sit out by the pool."
"Oh no, I don't need anything. I already ate," Ashley said.
"We haven't eaten," I replied rolling my eyes.
"I'll be out in a few minutes love," Louis chuckled giving me a wink.
"This is where you've been living?" Ashley asked as I led her out to the patio.
"Yup," I answered sitting at the table. Ashley sat across from me.
"It's kind of small. You know Louis could have afforded bigger if you wanted it."
"I didn't want a big place," I answered with a frown. "I like knowing where he is."
"You're married?" She asked noticing the ring on my finger. It was hard to miss. It was the one thing I couldn't convince Louis to not splurge on. He insisted on buying me a big diamond ring because he claimed that I was the one thing he needed to brag about. He was lucky enough to have me and everyone needed to know.
"Yeah, we got married a couple of months ago at city hall. Right after the tour," I nodded knowing I couldn't contain the smile on my face.
"I always thought you would end up with Harry," she said shaking her head. "Even after everything."
"I've never been happier," I answered with a shrug. Louis came outside with two bowls and sat down next to me.
"Here ya go love," Louis smiled setting a bowl in front of me with a fork.
"She thinks I should have ended up with Harry," I grinned and Louis laughed. It had become a little joke for us now. Every time we ran into anyone from the One Direction era they always made a comment about whether or not they thought I would end up with Louis.
"Too bad," he smiled kissing my cheek. "You're stuck with me."
"So what did you need to talk to us about?" I asked taking a bite of my noodles and turning back to Ashley. Louis put his hand on my thigh rubbing slow soothing circles with his thumb.
"Kate you disappeared. I missed two years of your life. I called and called and you ignored me and then you just up and moved without telling a soul."
"The people who care know where I live," I laughed. "Marcy and Bailey come over just about every week. And I didn't just disappear, I have a job down here. It's not like I moved for the fun of it."
"Moving is a lot of work," Louis nodded.
"You graduated, moved out of town, got married, started a whole new life without me," she pouted.
"The world doesn't revolve around you," I shrugged. "Life keeps going. Is that why you're here? To complain about me not including you in my every life decision anymore?"
"No," she said with a frown.
"Then why are you here? Why did you go through all this work to find us?"
"Alec and I broke up," she answered. "I'm doing all those stupid hallmark movies because he was the one with all the money and so I'm broke."
"Where have you been living?" I asked.
"That's why I'm here," she said softly. "I found dad... he has this whole new life, like white picket fence life a family and everything. He wants to..."
"No," I answered knowing exactly what she was going to say. "I don't want anything to do with him."
"Kate, he's changed," Ashley frowned. "He's letting me stay with him and..."
"He left me," I answered. "I don't give a fuck about him and he never gave a fuck about me."
Louis' hand traveled to my back rubbing it lightly.
"Is that all you're here for?" I asked crossing my arms.
"He only lives two miles from here..."
"She asked if that's the only reason you're here," Louis said harshly.
"No," she said looking down. "I have a date tomorrow and I was wondering if you still had that purple flowy dress from the LV shoot."
"Get out," I said feeling my stomach drop.
"Kate!"
"You need to leave," Louis said standing up. "She doesn't want you here."
"You're both ridiculous," Ashley said rolling her eyes and stomping out. Louis escorted her down to the gate and I knew he told the security guard not to let her back in. When he got back I could tell he was still angry, but he was trying not to show it. He sat down at the table with a huff.
"That's the dress..."
"I know exactly what dress it is," Louis answered pulling me out of my seat and onto his lap. I straddled his lap putting my cheek flush against his chest. He rubbed my back lightly as I tried to steady my breathing.
"Am I a bad person for not wanting to see my dad?" I whispered.
"No, I don't want you to see that asshole either," Louis answered wrapping his arms around me and just holding me.
"I wish the rest of the world didn't exist," I sighed. "I wish the only thing that ever existed was you and me."
"I'm happy for everything- good and bad," Louis answered. "It made you the person you are now and I love that person so much."
"I love you," I answered.