The Only Reason

Chapter 14

Ashton stood next to me with a scowl on his face and his arms crossed.

“Cheer up, Ash.” I laughed, watching outside the window as I waited for the car to pull up.

“No.” He retorted. “I’m not okay with you going alone.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m 19, Ashton. And it’s the middle of the day. I’ll be at the studio by five.” I told him.

“I don’t want you going alone. I mean it, Em.”

I let out a huff. I had been here a total of two full days and Michael’s birthday was two days away and I needed to get him a gift. The boys were busy recording for the album and rehearsing for the Koko shows, so besides that, we hadn’t done too much. Ashton had talked about taking me out to a club, but I had told that we should wait until after Mikey had turned 18 because then we would have even more fun.

But I had pretty much spent all of my time with the boys unless I was in the shower or talking on the phone to Madison or Dad. Which is why I was really looking forward to going around London for a bit and buying Michael’s present.

“Ashton.” I turned to look at him. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“No, I’m not.” He turned to look at me, the scowl getting even bigger. “This isn’t someplace you know. What if you get lost? What if something happens to you? I can’t have anything happen to you, Emmy. I would go insane if something happened to you because I let you talk me into letting you go out alone. Not to mention my mum and your dad would kill me and I enjoy living.”

“Wow. Way to be overdramatic.”

“You’re not going alone, Emerson.” Ashton repeated. “I’d feel better if you’d let Joy go with you.”

“Seriously?” I asked him incredulously. “You’re seriously going to do this right now?”

“Yeah, seriously.” Ashton replied turning around and going to find Mrs. Hood. “She’s going with you, Em.”

“You’re ridiculous!” I shouted at him as he walked back toward the bedrooms. Knowing he wasn’t going to justify with a reply, I rolled my eyes as I turned back to the window. He was too much sometimes. I didn’t need to have someone go with me. I could handle myself.

“I don’t know why you’re pouting.” I turned my head to look at Calum who was leaning against the entryway into the living room, a bowl of cereal in his hands as he brought the spoon to his mouth. He chewed a little before continuing. “You know how Ashton is. Besides the fact that he’s barely let you out of his sight since you got here, did you really think he was going to let you go roaming around London by yourself?”

“I was hoping I could convince him I would be fine.” I told him.

Calum snorted, milk dribbling from his mouth. “Right. Because Ashton lets anyone sway him from something when it comes to you.”