My Mafia Man

"I still love you"

Me , Jake and Maddie were in the middle of talking when I got sent a picture from the same anonymous number. Is it even anonymous anymore ? It's fucking Ashton obviously.

I opened the text but I wasn't prepared to see what I saw . It was of me and Ash . He was kissing my cheek as I smiled as happy as I could have possibly been . I don't know why but I started crying and covered my face with face with my hands .

I think it hurt so much was because I had spent years trying to hate him but i never could. We had only known eachother awhile and it took him 2 seconds to break what had taken my dad years to break . Me .

"Fuck" I sniffled wiping away my tears . You're  not allowed be weak . "What's wrong" Maddie said turning the attention onto me . "Nothing, nothing" I said . Jake grabbed my phone . He looked at the picture and handed it to Maddie . "Why do you have this on your phone" Jake asked frustrated. "I thought we deleted all the pictures of him" Maddie said confused. "Probably a kid from my class trying to fuck with me" I said .

"Probably" Maddie said shrugging . Jake looked at his hands . "You've never smiled like that with me" Jake said sadly .

Then my phone buzzed again . Ashton , bad timing .

It was another picture. This one really hurt but made me smile weirdly . I was sitting on his lap , facing him . He was holding my waist and smiling at me as I gave out to him for saying that he didn't like music . I was so shocked . And then he sent one last one.

With the caption "I still love you" .

It was of me and him . I was tired and fell asleep downstairs on the couch after I came home from school one of the days . Dylan has taken this picture because of his reflection. Ashton was carrying me in a bridal style position and kissing my forehead as I slept in his arms .

I didn't even know these existed until now . And that's when it clicked . As I sat there next to my husband and best friend . The life I have now , it's nothing compared to the life I could've had with him . I've slowly built up hate him for him . And I still hate him . But if I've got another chance at feeling that way about someone , I should take it .

"I have to go" I said quickly standing up . Jake and Maddie looked confused. I grabbed my bag and ran out . I drove to the address. It was a fancy restaurant and I'm in fucking jeans, who cares . I got out . Was I really doing this right now ? . I deserve a shot at happiness right. Maybe I don't . Maybe I do .

I stood outside the restaurant. It was freezing considering I had no jacket and decided to leave randomly . I looked like a joke compared to these people . I didn't see Ashton inside, I was confused. Did he set me up or something.

"I was afraid you weren't going to show" he said with a posh accent. "Wait , if I'm even going to be able to slightly stand you tonight, you going to have to stop with this whole posh boy thing , it gets on my fucking nerves" I said as I opened the restaurant door . "Thank god" he said relieved. "You fucking moron" I laughed .

"Carter" Ashton said . The woman looked me up and down judgmentally. "If you have a problem with what she's wearing we can leave" Ashton said . Great now he's in a bad mood . "No no not at all" the waitress said .

"Come on Ella" Ashton said leading me out as he glared angrily at the waitress. "Ah ah ah" a Italian guy said walking out . "Now where is my favorite nephew going" he said happily . "We're leaving Milo" Ashton replied angrily . "What the matter Ashton" he asked with a thick Italian accent. "Its nothing" I said politely. "I'm Ella" I said shaking Milos hand . "Wow , you are stunning" Milo said . "Hands off , she's mine" Ashton said possessively.

"No im not , Milo , could you show us to our seats" I smiled at him . Milo smiled happily . "Beautiful and fierce, she's a keeper" he said . I could tell this was Maria's brother.

"What happened" Milo asked to an upset Ashton . Ashton stared at the waitress. "She doesn't think Ella's dressed appropriately to be in here" Ashton said . God damn Ashton .

"Leave her alone" I said . "It's fine" I said . "Can we eat please" I asked Ashton annoyed . "Yes yes" Milo said taking us to a table . We sat down . Ashton's bodyguards sat at a different table .

"Ashton seriously" I said annoyed at him . "Why are you annoyed" he asked curiously. "I lived off being a waitress at one stage , she could be living off this too" I said . He sighed and shook his head . "I didn't think about it that way" he said . "It doesn't matter" I said sighing. 

There was a long awkward silence . "So are you going to say something" I asked him . "I didn't know you were going to show" he said genuinely surprised. "I wasn't" I said . "What made you change your mind" he asked me curiously. "This" I said showing him the picture. "I didn't even know these existed" I said smiling at them .

"But you have a husband" he asked . "You don't think I know this" I said . "Then why are you here" he asked confused. "Because- I don't know" I said . "Maybe this was a mistake Ashton , us, we were 17" I said grabbing my jacket . "You're here because you feel it too" he said . "I dont know what I feel" I said regretting my decision to come here tonight.

"Ella , tell me you haven't thought about me atleast once since my dad spilt us up" he said . "Ashton your dad didn't split us up , you did" I said . "Don't say that" he said angrily. "You were too pussy to stand up to your own father" I hissed at him . "Fuck this" he said grabbing his coat angrily. I looked at the floor.

"I was almost beaten to death that night for helping you escape . I've gotten Hayes to watch you from day 1 and ever since , I can't get you out of my fucking mind and it's driving me insane" he said frustratedly . "We won't work" I yelled . "You don't think I know that" he yelled back . "You don't think I don't know that we're toxic and broken" he shouted at me . "But at the end of the day as I lie in bed with some random girl , I'm left wishing it was you" he sighed .