Do It Again

Chapter 27

"Ross, I-" I didn't know how to explain it.

Ross rushed over to me and pulled me close to him. "I thought you went back to Pennsylvania?"

I looked away. "I never left." Taking myself out of his grip, I went over and shut the door. "I'm sorry I told you that."

"Does Riker know? Obviously he knows." He looked around. "I can tell you've been staying in here."

"I only told you that because I didn't want Rocky to know I'm still here."

"Why not? He's tearing himself apart over this. He really thinks you're gone for good."

"Good." I turned away. "I should be. He can't keep talking to me like that."

"Then let's run away together." He moved closer again. "Just you and I. No one has to know."

"What about Rose? I can't take her from Rocky and Riker." I also couldn't take Rocky's unborn baby.

"You need time away. I can do that for you."

"You guys are always busy writing. That wouldn't be fair for you. You all three need to be together."

"You act like we can do anything now. Rocky's the main song writer. He can't focus on anything while he's thinking about you."

I looked away. Maybe this wasn't fair for him. "What do I do?"

"It's up to you. I know you're going through a lot right now, but so is everyone else. I just about lost it over this past month. You were with Blake, then I thought you moved back with your mom, now I suddenly find out you've been hiding out right above my room. Is there anything else I'm missing?"

Yeah. I thought. I'm pregnant. "No." I looked away. "I think that covers everything."

"If you really want to know what I think though, I think you should try to talk to him. This wasn't entirely his fault."

"Ross!" Riker yelled. "I told you not to come in my room!"

"It's ok, Riker." I said quietly. "Everything's fine."

Riker took a deep breath to try and calm himself. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?" I looked at his hands. He had a bowl of soup. "Is that for me?"

He looked down and shook his head to clear it. "Yeah."

"So this is how you've been eating? How has he been sneaking you to the bathroom? Have you showered at all for the past two days?" Ross broke in.

Riker smiled. "It's been hard, but every time I have to shower, Ashley comes too."

"Not together." I added quickly. "We take turns. We have to go in the bathroom at the same time though so there aren't two separate times the water turns on."

"I can help out if you need me to." Ross offered. "I can bring food or watch the kids when you need me to. I just don't want you to take off again."

I thought it over. "You can't tell anyone else. Especially not Rocky. I will tell him when I'm ready."

"But, Ashley!" Riker whined. He wanted me for himself.

"It's not like we can erase his memory." I rolled my eyes. "He's gonna know I'm here either way. This way we have more help."

"What if Rocky gets suspicious?" Ross asked. "He'll see Riker and I going in and out of the room a lot."

"We'll just have to keep it normal." Riker interrupted. "Don't keep coming in here for no reason."