Outlaw Women

Deepest Fears Pt. 1

Ashlyn's POV:
Dressed in my favorite pair of ripped jeans, one of Brantley's old concert tees, and a hoodie with my hair tossed in a messy bun and my face free of make, I strolled -well, more like limped after the gymnastics Brantley and I had performed last night- into Chase's house as if I owned the place. No sooner than I walked in the door, Jack, Chase's black lab, came bounding into the room, nearly knocking me on my ass. It had only been a couple weeks since I had seen Jack but he was nearly twice the size he had been the last time I saw him. I was so lost in getting all the puppy lovings that I didn't hear my bestie come into the room.

"Bout time you showed your mug 'round here." said Chase, causing my head to come up and look him in the eye. "I was beginning to think you had ditched me for the new man." I couldn't help the emotions that washed over me by simply laying eyes on my best friend. Gently pushing Jack down, I ran over to Chase and wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging him with everything I had in me.

"Now you know damn well no man will ever come between you and me." I said, stepping back from his embrace when I had gotten my feel of holding my best friend. "That don't mean that I aint mad at you though."

"Mad at me? What the hell did I do?" said Chase defensively.

"What did you do?" I asked, repeating his question. "Well, let's see. You very well may have knocked up a skank, you let me believe that you didn't know Brantley and I had hooked up in Vegas nor did you tell me he was your neighbor. You called me at the ass crack of dawn this morning. And well, I'm sure I could think of more if I tried hard enough."

"Ash, it was noon when I called you. Not my fault you and BG decided to go at one another all night long." said Chase. "Speaking of BG, I bet he just loves that sassy ass attitude of yours don't he? I told you that you would find someone to put you in your place. And bestie, you got the right damn one with that one."

"So we're just skipping over you and talking about me? Is that what today's gonna be like?" I asked as I slipped past him, trying to change the subject as I headed for the kitchen in search of coffee. I was in desperate need of caffeine. Since I knew Chase liked his coffee just like I liked mine, I knew my favorite creamer would be in the refrigerator waiting for me.

"It's more fun to talk about you." I heard Chase say as he followed me into the kitchen.

"Lets agree to disagree on that one because I for one think its more fun to talk about you and your fuck ups" I said as I went about getting my coffee mug and setting up the kuerig to brew me a fresh cup. Listing another mug over my head, I silently asked if Chase wanted a cup.

"Sure" he replied as I heard his barstool scrape against the hardwood. "I did fuck up this time huh?"

Turning, I looked at my best friend. With his head hung low and resting in his palms, I realized that he looked beat. The sag of his shoulders told me just how much of a toll this whole Cheyenne thing was taking on him. But if that wasn't enough, the way his hair looked like he had run his hands though it a million times told the tale. Knowing that he needed me, I walked over to where he was sitting and hopped up onto the counter. Grabbing one of his wrists, I grabbed his big hand into my tiny one and silently willed him to look at me. Just like I knew he would, he locked eyes with me. And in them I saw tears.

"Chasey, it's all going to work out whether she's pregnant or not." I said softly. "I'm not going to let you do this alone. I'm going to be there for you every step of the way because I know that's what you would do for me if the roles were reversed"

"Damn right I would. You're not only my best friend, but my sister." said Chase.

"And you're my brother." I shot back. "Not gonna lie and say that I wish this could have happened with anyone else but her but if we find out tomorrow that she really is pregnant and that the baby is yours, we will figure this out together. Head down, eyes up right?"