Marry me? (BWWM ROMANCE)

The Run In

"Here goes nothing" Opal knocked on Ashley's apartment door, feeling guilt know up her stomach. Yet instead of turning around and walking away, she stayed still and reminded herself of everything she did to get here.

"Mrs.Betty, what's going on?" Opal sighed sitting across from the woman that put her into this messy custody case. "Opal let me start by apologizing once more. I know I messed up big time, but I have some information that may help with your case." For the first time in months Betty's eyes held hope. "Okay let's hear it" Opal smiled feeling a hopeful as well. "Well, while we haven't had much luck in finding the Father of the twins, I do have more information on his sister." Betty pulled some papers from her desk. " You mean the one who won't answer your calls." Opal raised a suspicious brow. "Well, she won't answer the agency's call. So I had to do some digging on my own, it wasn't hard to find her since she is promoting herself as a chef ." Mrs. Betty passed Opal a folder. "Okay, so what's the catch?" Opal perused Ashleys folder and saw a lot of the twins likeness in her face. Ashley's cherub face and big brown eyes reminded her of Adams sweet face, and while Ashleys curls were much more voluminous than Zoe's budding curls they still had the same dark brown tint. "Well, Gladys tried to convince Ashley to help her in her case, but Ashley seemed very adamant about staying out of it. It may be best to leave out the twins, for now" Mrs. Betty suggested.

So for the last three weeks I have been convincing Ashley that I am good friend from High School who is reaching out for fun. Oddly enough the plan worked, unfortunately the relationship she formed with Ashley has just made her feel more and more guilty for deceiving her.

"Hey Girl, you made it." Opal was brought back to the present by Ashley's happy voice. "Hey Ashley, sorry I had to cancel last week something came up" Opal smiled and gave her excuse, while looking Ashley over. She looked comfortable and cute in her red and white striped Maxi dress, and her long curls were piled into a soft bun on top of her head. "Come in I made crawfish Jambalaya, beignets, and even king cake." Ashley ushered Opal into the kitchen. "Wow you've been busy" Opal took in the feast before her. "Hell yeah, I have this big meeting with a celebrity chef. I can't tell you who, but he is amazing" Ashley sung taking her seat at the table. "Oh yeah?" Opal couldn't fight her curiosity. "Yep and I can't say anymore. Now hurry up and eat, and be ready to take notes for that book of yours" Ashley smiled, and Opal felt another pang of guilt. In order to get this close to Ashley she lied and said she was writing a book on undiscovered Chefs. "Okay here I go" Opal raised a spoonful of jambalaya to her mouth when someone knocked at the door.

"Be cool Brendan, and remember that you are doing this for your family" Brendan gave himself a pep talk as he waited outside Ashleys door. He knew he was super early, but the more he waited the more his resolve waivered and he couldn't have that. When he heard someone approach the door he planted on his famous smile and got ready to execute his plan. When Ashley opened the door, he wasn't surprised when to see the hungry look in her eyes, now whether that hunger was for him or the opportunity he offered only time could tell. "Hey" Brendan greeted the seemingly starstruck woman. "Brendan?" Brendan heard the Opals voice and hoped it was a mistake. He looked up slowly and saw fear laced in Opals brown orbs. "Opal" Brendan sighed, wondering how he was getting out of this one.

"You two know one another?" Ashley asked confused. "Um" Brendan tried to think of a quick lie but Opal beat him to it "I interviewed him for my book, his story was so inspirational that I had to write it" Opal smiled effortlessly, Brendan was shocked of how well she did. "Oh" Ashley replied letting it all sink in. "What are you doing here?" Opal asked, casually. "He's here to interview me...which I know was supposed to be kept secret and I'm so sorry" Ashley rushed to apologize "No i'm the one who came early" Brendan waved Ashleys apologies away. "Just give me five minutes and I will have everything ready." Ashley rushed off the kitchen leaving Opal and Brendan alone in the living room.

"What the Hell?" Opal broke the silence once they were sure Ashley had left. "Don't you even start with that, what the hell are you doing here?" Brendan shot back. "I'm here trying to keep our family together." Opal explained "Well so am I, how did you even find her?" It took Brendan forever to find her and here Opal was cuddled up to Ashley like no big deal. "Mrs. Betty gave me her information, and advised that I don't say anything about the case. So as far as Ashley is concerned I'm a High School friend writing a book about up and coming Chefs." Opal calmly explained, she realized that these lies were only going to drive her and Brendan apart so instead of pushing him away she was going to include him. "I told her I was looking for employees, this is supposed to be her interview. I was hoping that I could distract her and look around her place for clues of where her brother went." Brendan gave Opal his plan realizing it would be much easier to have her help him, than keep this hidden away from both her and Ashley.

"So you find out where the father is?" Brendan asked hopeful. "No, but I do know she is in contact with him. I was hoping I could get her phone and get his number" Opal explained "Okay so i'll distract her and you get her phone" Brendan offered a solution "She has her phone on her at all times trust me" Opal frowned "Damn" Brendan swore "Find a way to get it away from her." Opal shrugged, just when Ashley reappeared. "Okay so I have everything ready, shall we begin?" Ashley gave a coy smile to Brendan, for a moment Opal felt terrible she knew that look of lust in Ashley's eyes and knew it would never be returned.

"Before we begin, I ask that you put your leave your cell phone out here. For privacy reasons I would rather not have anyone know I was here." Brendan came up with a quick lie. "Really, I promise I won't tell anyone" Ashley swore. "It's standard practice, I had to do it when I interviewed him." Opal added in hopes that Ashley would take the bait. "Alright let me put it on my charger" Ashley left to hook up her phone, once she came back Opal announced that she was leaving right after she peed and went on the hunt for the phone.

Meanwhile Brendan was feeling more and more uncomfortable talking to Ashley. "So, what do you think?" Ashley's voice was heavy with lust. Ever since the interview started she had been subtly flirting, and while she was a very beautiful woman she just wasn't Opal. "Delicious, perfect amount of spice. You have a real gift" Brendan smiled " Thank you" Ashley replied with her a sweet smile. "So you ready for desert I got a made some king cake?" Ashley asked sashaying her way over to the plate that held the multi-color dessert. "Sure am" Brendan agreed. Taking a moment to check his smart watch for a text from Opal, 'I got it' Opals text made Brendan sigh in relief. "Bye girl" Opal called out right before she left the apartment. "Oh thank God she's gone, now we can get down to it." Ashley said striping out her clothes. "Wait what" Before Brendan had a moment to take everything in Ashley was stripped down to her powder pink lingerie. 'God Dammit' Was the last words that flowed through her mind before Ashley crashed her lips onto his.