Thorns in the Heart

Ash's POV

**Ash's POV** Day of Xori's trip

I wake up to my phone buzzing. I smile when I see a text from Xo. This is the first time she has texted me before I wake up. That makes me feel so good. She was up before me and the first thing she did when she woke up was text me. My smile disappeared when I read the text.

Hey babe, going on an adventure today. I'm driving to Big Sur and I will not have service. I'll talk to you tonight.

I try to hide my disdain when I read this. I was so upset because I don't get to talk to her today. I wish she wasn't so far from me. I want to be next to her, to hold her hand, to feel her lips against mine. Stare into those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Instead of telling her how I feel and pissing her off I reply:

Okay babe, have fun and be safe!

I can't seem to fall asleep again so I decide to get out of bed and get ready for the day. I do my usual routine. After I'm dressed I walk out the door and go to my favorite coffee shop. This was the perfect time for me to work on some homework for my business classes. I was working on a paper for my Venture finance class when someone pulled out a chair to sit next to me. I look up to see Jess sitting there. Damn this girl seems to follow me everywhere.

"Hey Ash," she smiles a seductive smile.

"Hi." I can't keep doing this with her. I love Xo and she is going to ruin this for me. After I look at her I turn back to my computer. I really need to finish this paper.

"Why are you ignoring me?" She whines.

"I'm not. Just trying to work on this paper."

"Oh. well when you're done we should hang out."

"Jess we shouldn't be doing this," I sigh.

"What is the harm in hanging out? I'm having a get together and I wanted to invite you."

"So a group of people is going to be there?"

"Yes," she hesitates. "Why does that matter? We hang out alone all the time."

"I told you we shouldn't be doing this. You're Xo's best friend and I love her."

"Well I can't tell that you love her. If you did you never would have slept with me on multiple occasions." She's not wrong. I should never have done that. And after the first time I should have never done it again.

"I know. I have made some mistakes but I'm trying to change."

"Okay, okay." she says holding up her arms as if to surrender. "Well there are going to be many people there. We are going to watch movies."

"Okay what time?"

"People are going to start showing up at 5."

"Okay I'll see you about 5:30."

"I need to work on some homework as well so I actually came here to study too. Mind if I sit with you?" Well I guess that can't hurt. We are both just working on homework in a public place.

"Okay, but I really need to finish this."

She takes her fingers and moves them across her lips as if to say her lips are sealed. We work on our homework for a while and I can't hold it back any longer. I send a few messages to Xo. I know she needs to know I miss her and that I'm thinking of her. Over the course of a couple hours I keep sending Xo messages. I just miss her so much.

It is about 4 when Jess packs up and heads back to her place to get ready for movie night. I finish up my paper just in time to get some dinner before I go to Jess' place. When I get there it is about 5:30 just like I told her.