Manual of The Forbidden ➡ Irwin

Chapter 42

"That sounds interesting." She laughed.

The sound of the doorbell paused our laughter, I looked at the clock on the wall, it was only a quarter past six, and I wasn't expecting anybody, I wondered who it was.

"Are you waiting for someone?" Taylor asked.

"Not that I can think of," I said as I walked outside of my room to get to the door.

To my surprise there was Ashton on the other side of the door, wearing his signature smile.

"I-Irwin?" I stuttered, obviously surprised.

"I thought we had left formalities behind a long time ago," he joked, his smile growing bigger as he looked over my shoulder to see Taylor behind me, staring at him with eyes wide open.

He walked inside the apartment without me telling him to, and then waved at Taylor.

"Hey," he spoke, "I'm Ashton." Hey extended his hand for her to shake.

"Sharon's boyfriend," I said through my teeth as I reluctantly closed the door behind me.

"Tay," She shook his hand, "I mean, Taylor, but please call me Tay."

"Oh! Right! You're the Tay I've heard so much about! Is so good to finally meet you," he grinned.

I cleared my throat, making them notice me again.

"Hey Tay, can you do me a favor and put away the manual that's in my room?" I asked, looking right into he eyes.

"Of course," She nodded, catching my drift, and directing herself to my room.

I then turned to face Ashton, and although I was happy to see him I remained with a straight face.

"Isn't it like a little too early for you to come?" I inquired, with a serious tone in my voice, hoping that it would hide the panic I was feeling inside.

"Yes, but tomorrow is Mr Vittore's birthday party, and I wanted to check with you what were we going to to tomorrow and what time we're leaving and such," his gaze landed everywhere but on me.

"But..."

"Done!" Tay said, cutting me off as she left my room with a smiled plastered on her face.

In that moment I thanked the heavens she was there with me, that way I wouldn't be so obvious, I wouldn't be too clumsy with my words and my reasoning would be clear keeping my heart calmed.

Ashton and Taylor clicked instantly, they were too much alike, they were sociable and talkative and the conversation between flowed with no problems at all.

When Sharon arrived with Luke I gave them a wide smile, because even though it hurt me to see Sharon and Ashton together I knew that helped to set my feet on the ground and a put a stop to my feelings.

After Luke and Taylor left I went to my room to hide in there for as long as Ashton was in the apartment, it wasn't very long until I heard a knock on my door, the voices talking outside had stopped, and only the slow knocks on my door were heard in that silence.

I jumped out of bed and opened the door, and I was greeted by Sharon with a sad look on her face. I could see that.

"Hey," She muttered quietly.

"Shar, what's wrong?" I asked concerned about my friend.

"Can I ask you something?" As soon as those words left her mouth my heart began to pound.

"I-I mean, yeah sure," I was nervous, had she noticed that I was in love with her boyfriend?

I stood there in front of her, biting my bottom lip nervously, almost making it bleed, waiting for her to talk.