BOOK II.
Four months have passed since Ashton and Ria's relationship fell into ruins. He's convinced that she hates him and she believes he never loved her. Giving up on each other, they attempt to mend their loneliness in the arms of their past; Ch...
❝He makes me happy. Don't you want me to be happy?❞
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WAKING UP TOASHTON is like coming from a dream and slipping right into another. Long golden lashes brush against fair cheeks. Pale disheveled locks dust over his shut eyes. Enticing lips part to release fragile breaths. His heart beats softly against Ria's palm.
She smiles and snuggles closer to him. He loves me. It took over a year of dealing with his hellish antics for him to finally admit that he loves her as much as she loves him.
Even if he declared that he won't say it again, she knows that he means it deep within his heart.
As his eyes flutter open, Ria is exposed to the bluest ocean to ever exist. Her heart constricts with delight.
"Ngn," he groans and slings a tired arm around her waist.
"What was that?" she teases with a brimming smile.
He turns to face her, pulling sheets with him, and places a butterfly kiss against her forehead. "I thought you hated when I watched you sleep."
"I do."
"But you can do it to me?"
"I can't help it when you're so beautiful."
The fair complexion of his cheeks instantly turn rosy with embarrassment and he covers his face with his forearm. "Ria."
"What?" She giggles while tracing the lines down his stomach. "You're gorgeous. You look like an angel in your sleep."
"I do not look like an angel." He peeks at her with a boyish smile tugging at his pink lips. "You of all people know, I am far from that."
"Hmm." Ria purses her lips and tangles one of her legs between his. "You do have a big heart though. For example...you confessed your love to me."
If possible, his cheeks grow even redder and he hides his face again. "I hope it's stained in your memory because I won't be confessing again anytime soon."
"You're such a boy," she teases. "You love me and you blurted it out like you would die if you didn't."
"Mhm. Same thing you did when you confessed to me in Florida."
Ria's heart stops and she shoots up, pressing her palms into the mattress on either side of him. "What?"
Ashton smirks and sits up with her. "Ti amo means you're amazing," he mocks in a terrible feminine voice. "Ria, I am not that culturally challenged. You forget my best friends are Italian."
Her mouth falls. "But-but-but how? You didn't..." She instantly glares at him and slaps his chest.
"Ow! What was that for?" he demands through laughter.
