Unexpected Perfection

26

{Theo}

I pause and backtrack when I pass by the couch and see Ashley just sitting there by herself one day.

...Nobody is supposed to be here.

"What are you doing here?"
I try to keep my cool as she jumps up.

"Oh, hey. I'm just here waiting on Mason. He said he'd leave the door unlocked for me."
She smiles.

I try not to scowl.

I don't want her getting too comfortable around here, I'm regretting not saying something every passing second but I just can't find it in me to crush Mason like that.

He's been super happy all week, he's been dragging me all over town to shop with him. Only because Ayah is 'super busy' doing work stuff.

I scowl reluctantly.

She's been super distant with me and I'm trying not to bother me.

Ashley ignores my irritation and says,
"Wow, you're super strong now. Mason told me you were in the army or something."
And then she bats her eyelashes at me.

Ayah does that when she wants something.

I try not to roll my eyes when I say,
"Yeah, I was."

I hate that he goes around telling people that, I'm already tired of talking about it.

Thank God Mason walks in at that moment.

I definitely don't want her to get the impression that we're friends or anything.

It's bad enough knowing that Ayah thinking I'm being a shitty person. Ugh, I can't stop thinking about the argument we had. I did not like it one bit.

I was thinking about taking her out dancing that day and everything.

Ashley quietly excuses herself to use the bathroom and as soon as she disappears, he starts badgering me.

"So, what do you think? She's pretty cool, huh?"
He nudges me.

"Yeah, sure."
I lie, rubbing my neck awkwardly.

"I was thinking that one of these days, we could go on a double date or something."
He tries to reason.

I force a smile.
"Yeah, that's cool. I'm sure Ayah will love that."

She does not.

"Theo, why?"
She groans, turning on her side in her bed when I tell her.

"Baby, come on. Please? Don't forget all those times when Mason felt like the 3rd wheel around us."
I hesitate to say.

She gets all quiet.

"You know how I feel about her and I'm not trying to become someone I'm not."
She sighs.

"I think you're overthinking it, my love. She's always all over Mason, that's her boyfriend."
I say firmly.

Silence.

"We'll all have a great time, Mason got us reservations at that fancy french restaurant you always wanted to try."
I add in a softer tone.

She flips back over reluctantly.

"I have a bad feeling, that's it."
She says seriously.

I am very amused.
"I know. I don't think you're jealous at all."

She glares.

"You're becoming such a jerk."
She grumbles, kicking aside the blankets.

I don't say anything but I do start to feel a little bad after that.