My Last Words (GirlxGirl)

Chapter 28

Ashley locked the bathroom door behind her and looked at me, "You hooked up with my aunt?"

"Well I didn't fucking know you were her niece."

"You were best friends with her for two years?"

"I didn't think I would ever see her again."

"That was so awkward." She said, "I mean did you see the way she was boasting about her husband? I didn't even-"

I softly took her face in my hands, trying my best to calm her down. It seemed to work. She took a few steps forward and leaned her head onto my shoulder, wrapping her arms around me in a hug. I did the same.

"I don't know what to do." She mumbled into my shoulder.

I hugged her tighter, "We'll just try to act like everything is normal, okay?"

She nodded and I kissed the top of her head, "It'll be fine."

We stood there for a while, silently hugging in the upstairs bathroom. That was until we heard commotion downstairs, followed by the muffled sound of someone shouting it was time for dinner.

I pulled back from the hug and looked into her eyes, "Are you alright?"

A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips, "I mean my girlfriend killed herself, so no, not really."

She was joking, so I knew it was appropriate to slap her—lightly on the arm of course, "That's not what I meant."

"What do you mean then?"

"Are you alright to go downstairs and eat dinner?"

"I don't have an eating disorder."

I rolled my eyes, "Shut up and be serious."

"You know," She said, changing the subject, "that was a very appropriate use of the code word."

"Well, it was certainly an emergency."

"An emergency is a fire or an earthquake. You hooking up with my aunt doesn't quite fall under that category."

Being a smart ass must have been some sort of way to cope while under pressure because Ashley was doing just that, "No, an emergency is going to be your entire extended family calling 911 when I attempt to murder you if you don't stop being an annoying dickhead."

She cracked a smile, "Maybe this won't be a disaster."

"It already is."

"Don't be so cynical. I thought you were trying to cheer me up."

I kissed her, "I'm sorry."

"It's fine, let's go before they're wondering where we are."

We left the bathroom and went downstairs to the dining room where people were starting to take their seats at the very long and extended table. There were actually quite a lot of people. My best estimate would be a bit less than twenty.

Ashley's grandmother was calling me over, patting the seat beside her. I gave her a friendly smile and sat down, Ashley on the other side of me. Unfortunately, Olivia decided to sit directly across from me.

Once everyone else was seated, Mariah—who was at the head of the table—tapped her glass with her fork, causing an echoing clang to get everyone's attention.

She cleared her throat, "Hello everyone, welcome to our annual Christmas dinner." Everyone clapped, a few making that loud whistle sound I could never quite figure out how to do, "This year we have a special guest."

I was immediately terrified when Mariah gestured toward me, "This is Ashley's friend, Veronica. Jim and I have had the opportunity to hang out with her a few times and we can say she is absolutely wonderful!"