~*~ Chapter 10 ~*~
It was 3 pm when the door bell rang. Kirstin ran from her room to get it.
“Hey, you!” Ashley greeted happily, hugged her and spun her around.
“Oh, hey.” Kirstin was happy too. Ashley was home.
“So, how are you?” Ashley asked as they headed to the couch.
“Good. You?”
“Just a bit sad for leaving you today.”
“Yeah. I’m not happy about that either.” Kirstin played with her fingers.
“So, K, about coming back. The doctor’s appointment is gonna be on the 7th, and I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to come back before that. Things are pretty hectic right now, we’re meeting a lot of producers and recording so many things. It’s really crazy.”
“I understand. Really, Ash.” Kirstin looked up at him. He seemed to be telling her the truth. Why would he lie, anyway? She couldn’t find a reason for him to lie to her.
“Good. I thought you were gonna be mad at me.” Ashley felt relieved.
“No, Ash, I won’t. I already told you, from the beginning. I won’t mind you being away because of your work. I understand that’s what you do and what you like to do. Don’t worry about me not understanding. Of course I’ll be sad every time you leave because I’ll feel alone. But I know it won’t be good for you either, because you’ll also be alone. Not alone, but… not with me. You’ll be sad too, right?” Kirstin looked at him hopeful.
“Of course, baby! I miss you so much! Every single minute of every passing hour that we’re not together!” Ashley kissed her for the first time that day. When they pulled apart, Kirstin smiled.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – SHOPPING MALL – JAN. 26TH, 2002
They spent the rest of the afternoon at the movies. Kirstin wanted to bring the female voice subject up, but she never found the right time to do it. And maybe she was just imagining things. Maybe that was just a voice from some girl that worked in the studio. She was pretty sure it was nothing. But still, it worried her. A lot.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – KIRSTIN’S LOFT – JAN. 26TH,
2002
It was 8:30 pm when Ashley and Kirstin got home from their date.
“So, what time do you have to leave?”
“In about 15 minutes. Our plane leaves at 11.”
“Oh… ok.” Kirstin turned her back to him and seemed lost as where to go.
“Kirstin, are you alright?” Ashley placed both his hands on her shoulders.
“Yes, I mean… why wouldn’t I be?” Kirstin asked without turning around.
“I don’t know. That’s why I am asking you that.”
“No, I’m fine. Really.” she tried to play cool, but Ashley didn’t believe her.
“K, I know something’s going on. I noticed it all day long. In fact, I’ve noticed it since yesterday’s phone call. What’s the problem, baby?” Ashley turned her around so she’d look at him.
“It’s just that… when we were talking, you… when you hung up… ahm… before that I… I heard a… a girl in the background.”
“Yes…” Ashley frowned. He didn’t know where she was getting at.
“And I… who was she?”
“Who was who?” Ashley still had the frown on.
“The girl in the background, Ashley. The girl talking to you in the background.”
“I don’t know. It could have been anyone.”
“What? What do you mean it could have been anyone?” Kirstin frowned too.
“We were at the studio. A lot of women work there. And we’re working with a lot of female producers, so… it could have been anyone.”
“No, I didn’t hear anyone else in the background. Just she was talking. And she sounded too friendly, actually.”
“K, I seriously don’t know what you’re talking about. Maybe it was a producer that called me up to go back to the booth. I don’t know.”
“Ash, are you kidding here? Because if you have something to say, just… say it, alright?” Kirstin sounded serious.
“Yes, I do have something to say.” Ashley looked down and Kirstin’s heart started biting rapidly when she heard those words. So he had something to tell her. So he had done something. She was afraid she wouldn’t like to hear what was to come “All I have to say is that… I love you, alright? Are you afraid there’s someone else?” Ashley grinned.
“Don’t smile, alright? It’s serious. Yes, of course I’m worried. You’re always surrounded by girls, how should I know if something happened if I’m not there?”
“K, baby, listen.” Ashley still had the grin on. He found that amusing somehow “I love you and only you. There’s no chance in hell I’d be with someone else! You’re the only one I want to be with. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. Not with me. I know you must be traumatized by what that jerk did to you, but I’m nothing like him. I’d have to die first before I hurt you. So don’t worry, sweetie. There’s no one else and there never will be.”
“Can you… promise me that? Like… now?” Kirstin ran her fingers through his chest.
“I thought I had already promised to be faithful to you when I placed that ring on your finger. I’m yours. But if you need me to promise, I promise.”
“Good.” Kirstin grinned and kissed him softly “That’s all I wanted to hear.”
“Can I expect the same thing from you?”
“Of course!”
“Can you promise me that as well?” Ashley asked seriously.
“I promise there’s only you in my life.” Ashley smiled big and kissed her passionately.
“Listen, I gotta go now, or else I’ll be late and Mike will kill me, alright?” Ashley pulled back from the kiss.
“Alright. Sure. I’ll walk you to the door.”
Kirstin opened the door and Ashley trailed to the elevator, pushing the button.
“No goodbyes, alright?” Kirstin asked Ashley.
“Of course. No goodbyes. I’ll be back as soon as possible, ok?”
“Ok. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed passionately again and then Ashley disappeared into the elevator. It took a while for Kirstin to close the door and go to bed.
* Thanx Stacie and Taryn for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 9 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 11 ~*~
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