Zach's pov:
i don't know what to do. ashley is really sensitive to the whole parent topic. she never has really told me a lot about them bc she can't even stand thinking about them. i can tell that they have hurt her in so many ways and it's a lot for her to process.
"hey babe, i know that was a lot for you to process and i understand that you probably don't want to talk about it and you don't have to. i just want you to know that i'm here for you no matter what happens. if you're up for it, we can go get ice cream." i watch as a small smile appears on her beautiful face.
"ice cream sounds amazing, thank you zachy."
"anything for you, gorgeous." she leans over and rests her head on my shoulder and grips my arm tightly.
"i'm sorry i snapped on you back there, you were just trying to help me."
"oh, don't worry about it. i understand it's a lot for you to handle."
Skip to the ice cream shop
i go up to order our ice cream and ashley waited in the car because she didn't want to get out with her makeup smeared from crying. i feel so bad for her, and Drew and Molly don't even know that they are out of prison, i can't imagine how they will react to this news. i really want to try and take her mind off of things for a while, i hate seeing her this hurt.
"excuse me sir, what can i get for you today?"
"oh hi, um can i get 2 scoops of chocolate chip cookie dough in a cup? and 2 scoops of the same thing in a cone?"
"of course!" the guy behind the counter smiled. "here you go, have a nice day!"
"thank you, you too." i walk back to the car and hand ashley her ice cream.
"hey zach, can we take a walk on the beach. i don't really want to go home and break the news to Drew and Molly yet."
"of course we can." i pull her into a hug and kiss her gently.
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Ashley's pov:
as soon as i stepped foot on the warm sand i felt instant relief. the beach has always been the place i can go to when i want to escape reality. it's also become a common place Zach and i go to relax and talk while watching the waves crash in. i let out a long sigh i didn't know i was holding in as i sit down on my favorite rock just off the shore.
"you okay, babe?" Zach pulls me close and i rest my head on his chest.
"yeah, i'm just trying to process what just went down. i mean things were finally going right in my life and i was finally feeling genuinely happy but then they had to show up and ruin everything."
"i understand, it's all going to work itself out eventually. don't forget, everything happens for a reason." i smile slightly.
"you're right, thank you so much for being here for me. you're the best."
"i'd do anything for you, you know that right?"
"well i guess i do now." i smile and he leans in until our lips meet. every time we kiss i get butterflies and i forget all about the world. he pulls away and looks deeply into my eyes.
"ashley."
"yes, zachary."
"i think i'm in love with you." i couldn't help but smile big. did Zachary Dean Herron just tell me that he loves me???
"you know what, herron, i think i'm in love with you too." he smiles just as big as i did and our lips connect once again. i was starting to forget everything that had just happened a few hours earlier until my phone started to buzz. Zach and i both jump because we were so lost in the moment we kinda forgot about reality for a minute. i look at my phone and i was shocked to see who was calling me...
you have got to be kidding me...
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who is calling Ashley?
does ashley ever talk to her parents again?
when does she finally end up telling her siblings the news?
find out in the next chapter!
