Diamond Pumps

20. Girl Guy talk

Ash and his friends Gary, Paul and Drew gathered often at Paul's penthouse for drinks and pool table. Since Misty was out for her monthly medical checkup today, Ash came to this little party on his own. The guys were bringing their girlfriends but he couldn't care less. He'd just hang out with his bros and drink some beer.

Almost.

"My mother thinks my relationship is fake." Ash spoke after he took a big sip of his beer bottle. Beside him sat May Maple, Drew's companion, who watched Ash's face with a motherly concern. On his other side, Dawn Berlitz, Paul's girlfriend and also civil partner, nodded. She was the youngest in the group, the newest addition to the gang.

"How do you know that?" Leaf Green, Gary's fiancée, was sitting on the coffee table, facing the three. She often ran her hand through her hair to show off her engagement ring. It turned into a habit.

Gary, Paul and Drew were playing on the pool table.

"I just know!" Ash assured. "She keeps pushing – and that marriage thing – handing me the presidency and all that – look, it started, like, you know, a game and all – but it's not like that right now!"

"Why don't you just tell her, then?" May suggested. "Confront her about it."

"Paul can't confront his mom about anything." Dawn noted.

"We're not talking about Paul right now. Can't you see this guy right here? He's totally lost!" Leaf pointed at Ash who was popping open another beer bottle.

"I don't see where the problem is."

"Okay, let's start again." Ash began. He sat straight. "My mother thinks Misty and I have some shady plans and I wouldn't want to marry her, but I could marry Misty tomorrow because I love her."

"How is this a problem?" Dawn narrowed her eyes.

"Misty isn't an average woman." Ash spoke cautiously. "She's a model."

The girls looked at each other.

"And I know this because my mother herself was a model." Ash added. "I don't know what's in Misty's contract because she never told me or even let my lawyers check it for her, but I think she's got really restrictive clauses."

"You told her to let your lawyers check it?"

"I asked her once if she needed some legal assistance and she changed the subject."

"What do you think there might be?"

Ash sighed. He leaned back. "She was very young when she signed it, so I'm expecting anything, even a clause about moving to another house!"

"Something about not getting married?" Leaf frowned.

"Pretty much, yeah." Ash shrugged. "Or getting an approval before doing so – or anything like this. I don't know."

"Talk to Misty about this." May said.

"Just imagine him talking to Misty about this, and the woman goes like 'no I can't marry you'." Leaf told May. "It could go horribly wrong. She could leave him."

"Or maybe..." Dawn smiled. "You could just ask Misty to leave her agency!"

May, Leaf and Ash started laughing.

"Oh my god, you're really naïve." Leaf grabbed a paper napkin and wiped her laughing tears off. "Do you even know who Misty Williams is?"

"Modeling is her life."

Ash said, "She worked really hard to become the woman she's now. I can't just walk up to her and tell her this."

"And if she drops everything for Ash like in the movies-"

"She won't!" Ash rolled his eyes.

"How do you even know she has a restrictive contract?" Dawn put her hands on her hips.

"I'd be happy if she doesn't have some scary debts from early modeling days." Ash sighed again. "If it's only restrictive clauses, that's really good."

"Hey Ashy Boy," Gary approached the little gang in the living room. He stood against the couch. "Or should I say, Ashy Girl. Did you finish braiding each other's hairs or not yet?"

Ash learned to ignore Gary after years of practice, but apparently, Leaf didn't get to that level yet. "I need restrictive clauses in my marriage contract with this guy."

"Do you want me to get some ice cream for you?" Gary mocked. "Like, a big bowl?"

"Kick him away or I will do it." May got off the couch.

"Oh, jeez, fine, I'm off." Gary made disgusted face and walked away. "What a bunch of hormonal women! Ash included!"

"I couldn't tell anyone about this." Like every time Ash opened up to his guy friends, they'd tell him to go sue his mom and get his company back. He couldn't talk to his grandparents about this and Misty... was the subject herself. He couldn't tell her.

"I don't know, but I feel like you will need to talk to Misty, sooner or later," Leaf told him. "You need to find out about that contract and fix the problem with her. Forget about everything else; what your mother thinks, the presidency, the company – you need to define your future with Misty."

"Yeah. You need to know if she's willing to continue with you or not."

"Ladies, I'm not going to lie to you. I want my crown back. I need Misty as my wife to get it. I need this." Ash admitted. If Misty had ambitions, he had too.

Leaf shrugged. May frowned.

Dawn was the only one who smiled. "I'm sure Misty will understand! She loves you anyway!

"Wow girl. Do you shit rainbows?"