The Song

Part Fifty-Six

FLASHBACK CONT…

I grinned at Aston across the dark room, the pair of us at a friend’s house party. He was chatting with his friends as I sat with a few of the girls and sipped glasses of wine.

“Come on Jess, tell us about your honeymoon,” Rochelle prodded, “It’s been ages since we’ve seen you.”

“I can’t!” I said, “Lips are sealed.”

“It must have been seriously kinky,” she teased.

“I’m not saying anything!” I laughed, “Although I’m sure whatever Fifty Shades of Grey nonsense you’re thinking is way off base.”

“Come on…”

“No!” I laughed, sipping my wine.

“God you’re boring.”

“Am not,” I said, “In fact, I talked Aston into the most ridiculous spur of the moment purchase ever.”

“And what’s that?” Rochelle asked.

“Bought an apartment in LA.”

“You what?” she asked, her eyes bugging out a bit.

“We bought a place,” I said, “It’s small and kind of stuck in the middle of a big complex, but it’s our place. No more hotels and unfamiliar, scratchy bed sheets. To be honest I’m surprised you and Marv haven’t gone for the same, you spend more time out there than we do.”

“But it would sit empty all the time!” she protested, “You’re mad.”

“Well our homes here sit empty when we’re in LA,” I shrugged, “I don’t see much difference.”

“I guess…” Rochelle said, “Ohhh that husband of yours is coming over.”

“What is this a school party?” I giggled, Aston coming and jokingly sitting on my lap, “Ast you’re the first boy to cross the imaginary line and come talk to a girl.”

“No way,” he grinned, his arm around my neck and his fingers stroking behind my ear gently.

“It’s very bold of you.”

“Well when I see a pretty girl, gotta come over,” he teased, leaning down and giving me a quick kiss.

“You guys make me sick,” Rochelle teased, getting up to go get another drink.

“She makes me sick,” Aston muttered, his finger still stroking behind my ear.

“Babe, I love you, but you’re really heavy.”

“Excuse me?” Aston laughed.

“Trade spots?”

“Fine!”

Aston stood up off my lap and then I got up too. Carefully he took my hand, twirled me around so I was out of the way, and took my spot in the chair.

“Thanks husband,” I grinned, sitting down on his lap.

“Only because I love you,” he said.

“Well that’s good!” I teased.

We sat and chatted with a few more friends and then I got up to go refill my drink and get Aston another beer. Rochelle and Chloe were in the kitchen with our friend Jenny, chatting excitedly.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“You heard Jenny’s pregnant right?” Rochelle asked, patting our friend’s belly.

“No! Congrats Jen!”

“Thanks,” she smiled, “I’ve got a ways to go yet, but I’m excited.”

“I’m so happy for you,” I grinned, refilling my wine glass.

“What about you Jess?” Jenny asked, eyeing up the other girls, “When are you and that husband of yours gonna get started.”

I felt my cheeks blush red. We’d talked about this, several times. “Not for a while yet,” I replied.

“What? Why not?” Jenny asked, rubbing her belly. There was no bump there but I could tell she was so excited that it didn’t matter.

“I mean, the boys are still crazy busy with work, and we’re young yet… I kind of want some time with just Aston and I before we start adding to the mix.”

“Awww… but I reckon he’d be a great daddy,” Rochelle said.

“Oh I’m sure he will be, but not yet,” I said.

“You’re no fun!”

“It’s not that,” I smiled, “Just not ready to share yet.” I winked at the girls, slipping back out to the main room with drinks in hand.

“What took so long?” Aston asked quietly, taking his beer from me as I sat back on his lap.

“Did you hear Jenny’s pregnant?”

“No! Good for her!”

“Yeah, it’s still early days, but she seems pretty excited. In fact, she’s glowing,” I said.

“Don’t tell me you’re broody now.”

“No,” I told him, leaning into his hold more, “I like it just us two.”

“Me too,” Aston said, kissing my cheek softly.

“The girls were giving me shit though.”

“Of course they were. What did you tell them?” Aston asked.

“Just what we agreed on,” I replied, sipping my wine, “We’ve got time.”

“Lots of time,” Aston said, “I don’t think we’re ready to have a little one running around yet.”

“No,” I said, not sure if I totally agreed. I knew I wanted more time with just Aston, but I didn’t hate the idea of starting a family. It didn’t seem all that bad to me.

“We’re young yet. We need to live it up while we can, getting drunk with our friends… staying up till stupid hours in the morning… enjoying each others company…” Aston trailed off, a suggestive look on his face, “I don’t think a kid factors into that.”

“I know,” I said, “When we’re ready.”

“Exactly,” Aston grinned, kissing my cheek again, “When we’re ready we’ll have the cutest, most mischievous little monster anyone has ever met.”

“Oh god,” I groaned, teasing him.

“Don’t worry about the future Jess,” Aston whispered, “You’ve got me by your side, what could possibly go wrong?”

“Everything…” I joked, scrunching up my nose as I watched the shock cross Aston’s face.

“You…”

“Nothing will go wrong if I’ve got you,” I smiled, correcting my statement before Aston could get another word in.

Instead of responding, Aston leaned in to give me a kiss, the jeers of our friends only spurring us on as we got lost in each other. Nothing could go wrong if I had him. Nothing.