Half Hearted

Chapter Fourty Seven

| Ash |

He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Surely he had surprises of his own, but Teresa was something else.

"You what?"

"I want to watch your fight," she repeated herself, giving him another set of goosebumps. "I mean, I'm bound to leave anyways; why not spend the most time I can here?"

"Because that's stupid and senseless," Ash replied, gradually gaining frustration.

"You fighting is stupid and senseless," she shrugged, crossing her arms in front of her chest and giving a pout.

He let out a sigh, "the people who bet on these fights are not the people you want around you."

"I mean, I don't really like people in general..."

"This isn't funny, Teresa."

"I'm not saying it is. I'm just asking you to let me watch your fight. I've already made the decision that I'm staying for another week, don't reject me and bore me out of my mind at some lonely room."

"You're not going to stay another week."

"Yes I am."

He let out another sigh before she spoke again. "Oh yeah, which means I'll need a place to stay for a while, since hotel fares are pricy."

He gave her a quick stare before returning his eyes on the road, hands clenching the wheel tightly. "No."

"Please?"

"You're leaving on a plane tomorrow."

"You sound like you'll really miss me."

They reached the hotel and he stared at her, pleading her with his eyes to get out of the car. "Just go."

"I love you too," she teased, opening the door.

A lump got caught in his throat as he heard her words. He'd never been able to say those three words with ease. He hadn't even said it out loud when he was with Cheryl.

After watching her walk in, and mildly appreciating the view, Ash drove away from the hotel to his flat.

He got home in less than half an hour, but just when he was about to sit down on the couch and relax, his phone rang. Alarmed, he took the vibrating phone out of his pocket and put it to his ear.

"Ash," Teresa breathed through the phone. "Can I just ask one thing?"

"You just did," he stated.

"Okay, well, more things then."

"Go on," he urged.

"What does this make... us?"

He let the silence sit for a moment, already knowing the answer but wanting to keep it to himself. "Go to sleep."

"I've tried," she admitted sheepishly. "But I can't. And Claire already complained twice about how I keep switching sides to sleep on, so now I'm out in the balcony."

"What's keeping you from sleeping?"

"Mostly your fight next week," he sucked in a breath. "And... also because of what happened today in the ring."

He thought back to it, a small smile appearing on his face. "Have you told Claire about your plan to stay?"

"Yeah, and she's not that happy about it, but she knows she can't stop me. And you can't either; I am going to that match."

"You don't even know when and where it is."

"I know where it is," she reminded him. "And I'll stay there overnight if I have to. I'm coming to watch."