Honey // A.I (completed)

two

< Friday, 14th, 2021 >

{ Holland }

I couldn't help but stare at the clock at the corner of my computer screen. I was ready to leave work. I'm a kindergarten teacher and school has ended but I'm still in the classroom finishing up a few things from it.

Ashton would be here soon to pick me up. He drove me this morning because after I get off we have a wedding venue to look at then we're going up to my grandparent's lake house.

The buzz of the intercom in my classroom took me off guard and I quickly pressed the button as the front office ladies voice came through,

"Holland, you have a visitor"

I smiled big knowing it was Ashton,

"Send them on down"

I waited a few minutes then my classroom door opened and my smiley fiancé walked in,

"Hi honey" he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to lips,

"Hi bub"

He took a seat in the chair across from me, knowing I still had a few minutes before I was actually off,

"I figured we could grab a little something to eat after we look at the venue. I know it'll be a while before we eat dinner"

"That works. I haven't had lunch. I skipped since I'm leaving early"

Ashton nodded and sat back and scrolled on his phone.

When I finally finished up, I collected my things and followed Ashton to his truck which was parked in my normal spot.

He opened my door and made sure I was in before running around to the driver's side and getting in. He carefully pulled into the street and began following the map to the location.

I was excited about this place. The pictures made Ashton and I want to book right away, but we knew we needed to see it and talk to the people first.

I could hardly sit still in my seat. I was so excited to see this place. Ashton chuckled and grabbed my hand,

"Honey, calm down," he chuckled. I fake pouted, making him laugh again.

Soon we turned down the drive that led to the venue, but I started getting bad feelings. There was a bunch of abandoned building along the way and it honestly looked sketchy,

"Ash, are we at the right place?"

"Yeah" he mumbled, pulling into this gravel lot by a building that looked like it was going to fall apart,

"Ash, I don't know. This looks sketchy" I slightly tugged his hand,

"It's okay honey. Maybe what we saw online is at another area here"

I nodded and he got out then walked around and let me out. I instantly took his hand, a little nervous about where we were.

The door squeaked as we walked inside as did the floorboards. We saw a woman behind a desk and walked that way,

"Hi, we had an appointment to view the wedding venue" Ashton spoke, "Irwin was the name on it"

The lady looked up and nodded then called someone to come get us. Seconds later a middle-aged man came around the corner. He just stared me down. Ashton noticed and tugged me a little closer to him,

"I'm David. I'll show you around" the man nodded, "Who may you be?" he spoke directly to me,

"I'm Ashton and this is my fiancé, Holland" Ashton answered for me,

"You don't let the lady speak?" the man eyed Ashton,

"Can you please just show us the venue?"

David nodded and Ashton and I followed behind. I looked up at Ashton and he quickly kissed my head,

"We're fine" he assured. I nodded and took some breaths.

****

We walked around the place and I was so disappointed. The pictures were a lie. There was no gorgeous ballroom with the lake behind it. Instead, it looked like an abandoned summer camp. Then the guy creeped me out the whole time.

When we got back in the truck, I just started crying,

"Hey hey hey" Ashton jumped in, leaning over the center console to hug me the best he could,

"That sucked"

He sighed and kissed my head,

"I know honey"

We have had the worst time finding venues. Most have been booked up and others have had insane requirements that we knew wouldn't work. Then this one was just a shit show.

"We will find a place Holland. I promise" Ashton spoke softly. I nodded and he pulled back,

"Let's forget about that place and go to the lake and relax"

I nodded and he began driving as I reached in the back and grabbed my change of clothes. There was no way I was wearing my work clothes the whole drive.

****

We pulled into the familiar drive of the lake house and I smiled. The lake has always been one of my favorite places.

As we reached the end of the drive where the house was, I noticed my parents and grandparents were already here. Ashton parked next to them and the two of us got out. He grabbed our bag then followed me inside.

"Holland! Ashton!" My grandma yelled as we walked in. Ashton dropped our bags as she hugged us both, followed by my grandpa,

"Hi Holls" my mom spoke. I smiled and Ashton went and out our bags in our room then returned,

"Dinner is almost ready" Dad called,

"Why are you all so late?" my sister, Nikki, sassed at us,

"We had an appointment to look at a wedding venue" I spoke up, sitting down on Ashton's leg as he sat on the stool at the counter. Nikki rolled her eyes. She does not like Ashton and she does not like that I'm getting married or that I already live with him. My parents don't like that we live together but I'm old enough to make my own decisions.

"Oh! How was it?" my grandma gushed. Both Ashton and I sighed,

"It was horrible. The pictures online were not even close to what it actually was" Ashton groaned,

"It looked like an abandoned summer camp" I added,

"We'll you all can't find a venue so I guess that means you shouldn't get married" Nikki smirked,

"Stop" my mom lightly hit her arm. Everyone else just stayed quiet because it had gotten awkward after that.

****

After dinner, it was late and everybody was ready to head to bed. Nikki headed downstairs to the bunk beds while my parents and grandparents headed to their rooms. Ashton and I get our own room now since I practically begged for it. We're getting married, it's time for us to move out of the kids' area. We used to have to sleep in the bunk area with my sister and cousins. Nikki's pretty mad we get our own room too.

I climbed into bed, followed by Ashton, and turned the lamp off. I cuddled up to my fiancé as he pulled the covers up over us. He held me close as fingers danced up and down my back,

"Your sister really hates me still" he sighed,

"She's gonna have to get over it" I rolled my eyes,

"I just don't get why she doesn't like me"

"She's mad because we're getting married and I'm my own person now. I'm not her little parent anymore and I can't drop everything for her like I used to have to"

"Are you still gonna ask her to be your maid of honor?" Ashton hummed, kissing my head,

"I don't know. She'll probably say no anyway" I shrugged, "But we need to find a venue before I think about any of that"

"We'll find one honey" Ashton whispered, "I promise"