Liar

31

"You have no idea how good you look in my clothes." Ash grinned, flipping another pancake in the pan.

"How many hoodies do you even have? I'm pretty sure I've never seen this one before." I tugged on the bottom of the jumper, pulling it over my knees on the counter. It takes this house a little while to warm up in a morning and I don't have a clue how he was walking around in just his trackies. I'd make him wear his hoodie but walking around naked wasn't exactly on my to do list today and I was thoroughly enjoying having my boyfriend cook me pancakes, topless in my kitchen.

It still felt a little weird, the label on us both. It was definitely the natural next step and nothing so far felt different except we were now back to having sex. The only reason we were out of bed right now was for a refuel.

Ashe turned around, dumping the pan into the sink behind him and I bit my lip at the state of his back. Covered in scratches that looked unbelievably sore and yet not once had he complained about them.

"I have a few. Why?"

"Just curious." He continued fumbling in the sink and I giggled. "Whoever you're sleeping with needs to wear gloves. You're back's a mess."

"You should see her. I don't think I've ever left that many bruises on a girl." Slowly, Ash turned around, pulling me to the edge of the counter until I wrapped my legs around him. "I think we should take a few days away."

"Like a holiday?"

"Yeah. Somewhere hot with white sand and clear blue water."

"We could buy some sand online; get a little paddling pool and I can be the hot. Done." He pulled the plate a little closer cutting off some pancake and feeding it to me.

"As cute as that would be, you'd get hypothermia walking around the garden in a bikini here right now. No, I'm thinking somewhere tropical like Mauritius or Mexico, or Jamaica. Maybe not Jamaica because it's rainy season over there but you get the idea."

"Barbados is supposed to be nice this time of year."

"Let's book it."

"Really?"

"Yes. You want to?"

"It depends when. I could do with finding another job to replace dad's."

"Tori."

"What? I can't just not have a full-time job Ash."

"You have 2 jobs that pay you more than any normal person makes in a year as it is. If you really want another job that bad, I'm sure my dad would have you back in a heartbeat."

"I don't know. I don't even know what I want to do right now. Like going back to my dad's would be the smartest idea. I know I'm lucky as hell to have a job that pays me that much without me having all the listed experience."

"Tori, you've worked for the guy since you were 10. You have 26 years of experience. You were doing the COO job before you got that official promotion and you know it. There is hundreds of places that would gladly hire someone with your expertise and experience. You're a Kennedy too, that alone comes with it's almost guarantee to get a decent job."

"Do you know what this entire sector is saying about me when they think no one's listening Ash? Dad had 3 customers pull out of deals after I collapsed because someone said I'm an alcoholic who blacked out and now they don't think I'm responsible with anyone's money."

"What?" I nodded.

"I saw the reports. Dad tried to hide them but it wasn't looking great. He's been struggling the past few months trying to work a way around it without me knowing. That with the whole Leon thing, people think I'm insane. They don't want someone like that giving them recommendations on finance decisions that could fuck their company up big time." He sighed. "I know it's just reputation and bad press or whatever but it's stupidly damaging. I know you and your dad are doing really well right now, you don't need my name associating with it and fucking that up."

"Tor. Baby, you're names going to be associated with it. You're my girlfriend and nothing is changing that so don't even suggest it. If people want to try and say that about you I'll fight them myself."

"You're harmless."

"I am not. I just haven't had a reason to show you that side of me yet. And I'm not joking Tori. I won't stand here and listen to people bringing up Leon or the collapse. It's bang out of order." He pushed some more pancakes into his mouth, both of us turning our heads to the knock on the door.

"I'll get it."

"Dressed like that? I think the fuck not." I smirked, pulling away from him before he could even put his fork down, spinning on the unit and slipping off the counter. "Tor!" I giggled, running down the hall, sliding on my socks and hitting my shoulder against the wall.

"OW!" Ash laughed, bare feet thudding against the floor as I carried on, slowing myself down this time before I reached the door, laughing at him when he grabbed my waist. I pulled the door open as he did, making him tug the hoodie down where it had risen up on my hips. He's the one who insisted on my not wearing anything under the hoodie. My quiet giggles stopped instantly, Ash standing up straight and taking a few steps back.

"I'll- um- Hi Emmett."

"Asher." Emmett looked him up and down then to me. I really wish I was wearing more clothes right now. "We need to talk."

"Now?"

"Right now." Emmett looked up at Ash. "Alone."

"Alright. Let me go get changed, go make yourself a drink or something." I stepped back, letting him into the house and watching as he skulked down to the kitchen.

"What's that about?"

"Dad's probably sent him to lecture me some more."

"Then you're not sitting with him alone." I trudged up the stairs, Ash following closely and keeping his voice low.

"He's my brother Ash. I can handle him like I handled dad on Friday."

"Fine. But I'm not leaving the house."

"Could you just like go get coffees or something?" He sighed. "Please Ash, if it's not about dad and everything I want him to feel like he can talk about it."

"There and back."

"Yeah just like 15 minutes." He sighed, pulling his jumper off over my head.

"Before I forget, I've got family dinner tonight, you should come. Try out the whole boyfriend girlfriend thing with my dad."

"He'll have a heart attack."

"I'm having one right now." He pulled on my hips as I straightened the string of my thong across my hips, untwisting the lace and snapping it back against my skin. "Your family have the worst timing."