how we met / / a.i.

Chapter Thirteen.

After a very long day, I finally collapsed onto my bed. The sun was setting outside my window, causing my room to slowly grow dark. I let my eyes close as I relaxed against my bedsheets.

Saying I was exhausted was an understatement, I was utterly drained and all I wanted to do was sleep now.

A knock resonated through my room, a groan leaving my lips. I slowly got up, heading over to the door. "Mom," I whined. "I did everything you wanted today, I just want—" When I opened the door, I stopped speaking. It was not my mom.

My eyes softened at the sight of him standing at my door. "Ashton," I sighed softly, running a hand through my hair that my mom had yanked a comb through earlier. "Please, can we just fight about whatever I did now, tomorrow?"

I had no energy, especially not any to fight with him again. He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth multiple times. I shot him a look, him giving me a nervous chuckle in response. "I really need to talk to you tonight." He whispered, shuffling on his feet.

A part of me wanted to tell him no and slam the door in his face. Luckily for him, I wasn't that cruel. Whatever he wanted to talk about was obviously important. So as I swallowed my aggravation, I stepped aside so he could come in.

He gave me a thankful smile, stepping inside my room. I shut the door behind him and crossed my arms over my chest. "Please just, be fast. It's been a really long day and all I want to do is sleep." I sighed out, a quiet yawn escaping right after.

He glanced up at me, sucking in a deep shaky breath. "Okay, I'll be quick, I promise." He started, his fingers nervously combing through his messy curls. "I know you slept with Luke."

I deadpanned at him. "Okay, if that's what this is about, I just asked not to fight—"

He sighed, shaking his head. "No, that's not, no. I don't care. It's not my place to care." He quickly pushed out, my eyebrow raising slightly as I waited for him to continue.

While it was weird that he wasn't snapping at me for it, I worried what was coming next. "I know I was a dick at the bonfire last night. And this morning. And for ditching you at the bridal shop. And for—"

"Get to the point, Ashton, please." I sighed, not exactly wanting to be reminded of how cruel he had been to me the last couple of days. A memory I could very well do without.

"Right." He chuckled, anxiety almost radiating off him. "I just wanted to say I really am sorry. I've been hot and cold towards you, and you don't deserve that. It's... complicated when it comes to Georgia. Too complicated to even explain." He began to pace slightly while he was rambling as I watched with curious eyes.

"It's fi—"

"It's not." He quickly cut me off, his eyes shooting over towards me. "It's not fine and it's not fair to you."

I was a little surprise to say the least. Just yesterday Ashton was treating me like I was nothing and now, he's apologizing. His mood swings were giving me whiplash.

"I'm just glad that we can, hopefully, put this behind us. Georgia's gone, so you won't have to worry about her anymore."

That's when it clicked. He was apologizing because she was already gone. He was running back, just like I had predicted.

I felt anger beginning to bubble up as I took in a shaky breath. "Get out." I whispered, his head snapping over to me in surprise.

"W-what? I was just tell—"

"Get. Out." I said with gritted teeth, feeling the anger bubbling up more and more as the moments passed. When he made no moves to leave, I glared at him. "Get the fuck out!" I shouted, tugging my door open. I walked over to him, yanking him up by his shirt. I tugged him to the door, shoving him out before I slammed the door in his face with no other words.