Sleeping With a Friend

Chapter Thirty-Two

There was a time, before the sweet old-lady moment where everything Ashton and I had went down the drain, that what we had was almost make believe, like a wish I had made when I was little on a wishing well to grow up and be in a "friend-lationship". It was the best damn "friend-lationship" anyone could have. I remembered one night went to a movie, one that wasn't that popular so only the two of us plus another couple were in the theater sat far enough apart you couldn't see their faces.

In the dimmed light of the theater, as Ashton chomped down on the popcorn you two were meant to share, you had looked over at him, meaning to bug him for the bag of buttery sweetness, but instead you got distracted. I had noticed a little dimple in his cheek that made you wonder why you didn't notice it before, after all of the kisses and intimate moments we shared with each other, I couldn't believe I missed such a tiny little detail in his features that made him just that much more special. Of course before he could notice I looked away and back at the screen when the previews started rolling. But that day, I didn't care about the dumb movie that didn't last a month in the theater because it was so terrible, I only cared about Ashton and never wanting to miss those little moments or things about him ever again. I had realized then the feelings I had for Ashton and how strong they were, I knew that now. And I also swore to myself that day that I would never miss a tiny detail ever again.

Today, as he drove to the reception that was held in one of the most expensive halls in town (for Sophie of course nothing but the best) I found myself staring at that little dimple on his cheek as he rambled on about something during the ceremony. From the sound of it, something to do with how Luke was nervous before going up there and saying their vows.

"I like your dress by the way." Ashton glanced over at me quickly, then shot his eyes back to the road.

I practically choked on my spit. "Uh, thank you." Silence. I didn't really know what to say, or what topic to talk about. "Sophie did a nice job picking out the dresses for us." Us meaning the bridesmaids, and me not wanting to put the title near my name at all.

"Nah," I could hear Ashton's grip on the steering wheel loosen as he turned into the parking lot. "You'd look good in a plastic bag." He was confident in telling me this. In fact, he was so confident throughout this entire day, how could he just pretend like we were friends again? It came like a second nature to him and confused the hell out of me.

I mean, there was no denying the magnetic pull of emotion I felt when he was around or when I thought of him. There was also no denying that we had a connection, we always did.

We got out of his car and he stuck out his arm, I assumed for me to take. As he did so, it was like a big neon light appeared around him blinking off and on with the saying, "proceed with caution". It took me a minute to register the caution my mind was telling me to proceed with, Ashton. You would think I'd get the idea after what we had been through. The caution was probably the best thing for me. So I went anyway. I wrapped my arm with Ashton's and we walked into the reception together. Maybe I had completely gone against my morals, or maybe I just didn't know what I really wanted. No, that's a lie. I knew what I wanted, and that was Ashton.

As soon as we walked into the hall we were shuffled off into separate rooms to make a grand entry. Ashton mouthed "I'll see you in a bit," and I nodded with a wide grin on my face.

"Ehem." When I turned into the room with the rest of the bridesmaids Sophie was right in front of me, "Where have you been?"

"I just drove with Ashton." I couldn't wipe the smile off my face and I'm sure my cheeks were a fiery red. "He must have taken the long way." I had to nibble on the inside of my cheek to hold in my smile that's how bad it got.

Sophie just smirked at me, like she knew exactly what I was feeling at this moment, and I wouldn't put it past her to have made up every little detail either.

"What?" I nudged her as she kept staring at me with the same look on her face.

"Nothing, nothing. We'd better get ready to go." Sophie wiggled her eyebrows and we all migrated out into the hallway where it felt like the ceremony all over again. Sophie put together a mix of songs for each of the bridesmaids and groomsmen to enter in on, with their same partners as the ceremony too. I tapped my foot impatiently waiting for the line to go so I could see Ashton again. I suddenly felt the need to tell him how stupid I was and how I wanted everything to go back to normal between us, or even how they could get better. Better was good. I wanted better.

Once the mix started everyone started dancing their own little dance and when they reached their partner. Michael with his girlfriend—I still didn't know what to call them—did the hustle. By the time I met with Ashton he held out his hand with a beaming smile across his lips.

"Shall we?" He joked.

"We shall." I took his hand comfortably and we walked into the room and people started clapping. Ashton twirled me around and I began laughing. I wasn't nervous to be doing this in front of everyone, quite the contrary, I had never felt better.

Ashton spun me into him so my hand was on his chest and we were nose to nose. My eyes were locked on his so I didn't notice him tilting me backwards, as those dance experts would call a poorly executed, but damn cute looking, dip. Someone at the tables whistled and startled me out of my locked gaze with Ashton.

Surely, my entire face was now as red as a shiny ruby slipper.

Ashton, whose hand was till gripping my, pulled us off the dance floor, past the table that the wedding party was supposed to sit at and towards the exit sign above a short hallway.

"Ashton where are you taking me?" I half yelled, half laughed as we continued a good bit down so no one could see us. I felt like I should be in high school and we were running to skip class, although I don't think I'd be wearing 4 inch heels to high school.

Ashton stopped running and released my hand only to move both of them to my waist. He walked forward, making me back up and hit my backside against a wall. I knew what was going to happen and I was quite pleased at his impatience. I was starting to breath heavy and as Ashton brought his forehead to mine.

Seconds, no milliseconds later, the perfect feeling of Ashton's lips felt so sweet on mine. I shut my eyes and tilted my head to the side to completely enjoy this euphoric moment, with my arms wrapped around his neck and his body so close to mine, I suddenly realized what I missed out on for so long. In this moment I couldn't think of one thing that I wanted more, well maybe there was just one thing, but here was no way I was going to do that in the middle of a hallway.

The only reason we parted was because the music from the reception had stopped playing and the DJ started speaking into the microphone. We had missed Sophie and Luke's entrance and I'm sure I'll be hearing about it sooner or later.

"We, uh, we should probably go join the party." I told him under a deep breath. My fingers played along with the hairs at the bottom of his neck, twirling them in and out of my index finger.

Ashton nodded, his arms rubbing mine in a comforting notion. I took another deep breath to make sure I was alive and alright to move. When we walked some ways down the hallway, I made sure to stay close to him, holding onto his arm.

"I have a confession to make." I told him, still blushing.

"Oh yeah?"

"I did get the flowers." I figured I would tell him, better to be honest then hold lies.

Ashton furrowed his brows, "You did? Why did you tell me you didn't then? Did you like them?"

"Yeah, of course I liked them. I just didn't want to admit that I spent almost a week searching for the person who sent them." Ashton just replied with laughter, which in turn made me do the same.

"You know the best part is I can definitely see you going crazy over flowers." He kissed the side of my head, "But that's not a bad thing. I think it's cute."