𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞

𝑫𝑨𝒀 𝑰𝑽

𝑨𝑴𝑴𝑬𝑳𝑰𝑵𝑬

LIFE IN NASHVILLE, TN IS ABSOLUTELY DREADFUL. I stood in my humid, falling apart staring at my matte-black hellcat. My most prized possession. I circled it, spinning my wrench around my fingers while inspecting any damage. Have I mentioned the fact that it's my prized possession?

"There you are."

I turned to face the owner of the voice. Standing there in all his glory was Ashe, he leaned against the doorframe, as if he'd been watching me for a quite a while. "Hey." Short answers. Short, simple. He was probably infuriated that I was off somewhere I should not be. We both established the fact that Emilio wasn't really a threat given our history with shady shit, but Ashe didn't play around when it came to my safety, just like I don't play when it comes to him.

His eyes softened and he pushed off the frame he was leaning against and walked over to me. Ashe seemed like he was going to embrace me, but he held back, taking a step back. "I'm sorry Amm. I -I wasn't fair. I was mad and frustrated and the fact that a fourth World War is going on doesn't help. I know that doesn't justify my actions, but please if you're going to go somewhere, the least you could do is include me, at least for the peace of my mind, yeah?"

I searched into his eyes, looking for any hidden untruths or deception. I found none. I considered it for a moment before opening my arms and embracing him myself. I nodded against his chest. "I'm sorry. And yes, next time, I will include you," I murmured, my voice muffled by his chest. Ashe hesitated before hugging me back.

His arms tucked me close and he buried his face in my hair. I rubbed circles into his back to assure him that I wasn't going to go anywhere again. Not.

But since I cannot have nice things, someone behind us cleared their throat. I groaned and peaked over Ashe's shoulder. "Am I ... missing something?"

I didn't have a thing for blondes, but I think him leaning against the door frames is just... hot. Not that I'd say that out loud of course.

"Just some bonding time," Ashe says wearily. I reluctantly let go of him and stepped back. Jameson looked in between us, and I saw some emotion flash in his eyes. It disappeared as quickly as it came. My eyes scanned his face, and watched as he clenched his jaw.

Jameson catches my eyes and forces a smile onto his face. It looked more like a pained grimace which made the corners of my own lips go up. I tossed the wrench that was still in my hand into the pile of tools before grabbing my lovely skateboard.

Jameson walked over to where Ashe was standing and together they watched me work. "You need help?" Jameson asked, pulling himself onto a crate. I shrugged. "Depends. Why?"

Jameson returns the shrug but adds in a smile. "My dad was a mechanic."

Was.

"I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. He was a jackass anyway."

My eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"

"You've never heard of abusive parents?" he asked. I snorted. "I know all about them. Welcome to the club."

Jameson's eyes flitted to Ashe, who shoves his hands in his pockets. "Parents kicked me out of my house at 15, Amm helped me," he supplied.

I went under the car and grabbed the bucket I layed next to the car. After messing around with the screw for a minute, I got it undone and the oil started spilling out. "Oh fuck," I quickly slid the bucket to catch all the oil before sliding out from beneath the Hellcat. The look on Ashe's face told me just how much of a mess I looked. Throwing the screw at him, he caught it expertly, and offered me a hand. I accepted it and Ashe helped me to my feet.