~*~ Chapter 7 ~*~
NEW YORK CITY, NY – KIRSTIN’S LOFT – JAN. 22TH, 2002 – Tuesday
Kirstin dropped her stuff on the kitchen counter as Ashley closed the door behind them.
“Ok. Now, I wanna take you out to dinner.” Ashley said as he embraced her in the living room.
“Really?” Kirstin wrapped her arms around Ashley’s neck “Ok. Where do you wanna go?”
“I don’t know. I’m kinda in the mood for Italian food. What do you say?”
“Ok. Sure. But… is it gonna be fancy? You know I don’t really like those places.” Kirstin made a face.
“You don’t have to show me that face, I know how you hate those places. I don’t know. I have no idea where we’re going, I don’t know the good restaurants around here. But I don’t care if we don’t look fancy to go to a fancy restaurant.”
“Ok. Alright. Let me take a shower then. And then we can go.” Kirstin kissed him softly on the lips and trailed to the stairs.
“Hm… shower.” Ashley followed her “Interesting.”
“Oh, you think?” Kirstin walked up the stairs “Why? You think I’m gonna invite you to join me?”
“Well, don’t know.” Ashley was right behind her “But it could be nice. I said I was gonna get you used to my way of having sex.”
“Hm… yes, you did.” Kirstin said when they were already in her room “But… I’m still thinking if I should let you take a bath with me.” Kirstin said as she started to take off her clothes.
“Please, K, baby, can you consider it?” Ashley put his hands together as begging her “I’m sure you won’t regret it.” he did a devilish look.
“Hm…” Kirstin had just her lingerie on when she trailed to the bathroom, Ashley never leaving her back. She went inside the bathroom and with the door half-closed, she motioned for him to get closer.
“So?” Ashley asked with his face an inch away from Kirstin’s.
“Hm…” Kirstin said, kissed him lightly on the lips and then said “Maybe later.” and closed the door on Ashley’s face.
“Oh, that’s not fair!” Ashley yelled and smiled while sitting on the bed.
NEW YORK CITY, NY – RESTAURANT – JAN. 22TH, 2002
Kirstin and Ashley arrived at the restaurant. It sure was fancy. Kirstin started to feel bad. She didn’t like those places.
“K, it’s alright. You look gorgeous.” Ashley noticed she was feeling uncomfortable with the place. But Kirstin sure looked good. She was wearing a black leather pants with a silver tight top with long sleeves and fringes hanging from it.
“Yeah…”
“Ashley Angel.” Ashley said to the maitre, which showed them to their table.
“You had a reservation! You said you didn’t know where we were going!” Kirstin pointed out as soon as they were sat.
“So… I wanted to surprise you. Hope you’re not mad.”
“I’m not… mad. I just… I don’t know if I like this surprise.”
“Well, hope you change your mind at the end of this date.”
“Yeah…”
The meal went well. They talked a lot. It didn’t feel any different for Kirstin and Ashley to be there. They were so comfortable around each other.
When they finished their meals, Ashley was kinda nervous.
“Hm… you look… tense. Is there something wrong?” Kirstin asked, sensing he couldn’t stop drinking his water.
“No. Not wrong.” Ashley smiled weakly.
“Then what is it?”
“Your present.”
“Oh, that again. Ash, it’s fine! I don’t care if you couldn’t get me anything. This dinner is worth it.”
“Oh, I did get you something. I just don’t know how I’m gonna give it to you.”
“What do you mean?” Kirstin frowned.
“I… I got you this… thing. But it’s not just for you, it’s for me too, so…” Ashley didn’t know how to say and Kirstin was starting to get confused.
“Ashley, what is it? Why are you so worried about it?”
“Because I’m worried you won’t accept it.”
“Accept what? Your present?” Kirstin frowned when Ashley nodded “Why wouldn’t I accept it?”
“I don’t know. You just might not.”
“Ok, tell me what it is already. I’m getting nervous here.” Kirstin wasn’t playing.
“Right, but, first, I’ve got some things to say.”
“Ok, then say it.”
“Ok.” Ashley took a deep breath “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this is our first date as a couple. Again. A real date.”
“Yeah…“ Kirstin smiled. She hadn’t realized that.
“And I didn’t just wanna give you a present for your birthday. I wanted to give you a present so you could also remember this night.” Ashley looked at Kirstin and she was smiling. That gave him confidence to carry on “So, I was going through this jewelry store and…” Ashley took a box out of his pocket and placed it on the table. Kirstin got worried. It couldn’t be it “And I thought of buying us these.” Ashley pointed to the small red velvet box.
“Ash, it’s not a…”
“Oh, it’s not an engagement ring, don’t worry.” Ashley smiled a bit after realizing that Kirstin could have gotten the wrong impression.
Kirstin felt relieved. She had just broken up with Tom, she had taken their engagement ring off a few days ago, and she couldn’t replace it with another one so soon.
“So..." Ashley continued "I already told you I wanna take care of you for the rest of my life. And I know you have had your share of bad relationships.”
“Yeah…” Kirstin looked down and played with her fingers.
“I don’t want that to happen with you anymore. You deserve so much better. You deserve me. And I want everybody to know you’re with me now and nothing bad can ever happen to you. Then I saw these and I thought, hey, that’s a good idea. So I went in and bought them.” Ashley got the box from the table and opened it. Inside, there were 2 thin silver rings, with some details around it “They are relationship rings. I guess that’s what they’re called. I thought it was a good idea, you know? So everyone will see you’re with me. And that no one can take you away from me. Never again.” Kirstin smiled into his eyes. He was too sweet to her. She didn’t know for sure if she deserved him “So, if…” Ashley took another deep breath “Kirstin… right now, I want you to be my girlfriend. For good, this time. So… will you accept this ring as a sign of my love to you? Could you be my girlfriend?”
“Yes.” Kirstin tried to contain the tears. She didn’t want to cry. It was a happy occasion, why would she cry? “Yes, Ashley. Just as long as you accept the other ring from me.”
“I do. Oh, I do.” Ashley smiled. She was his, then. He took her ring out of the box and placed it on her finger. She brought it closer to her to take a look at it.
“It’s so beautiful!” Kirstin grinned and then took the other ring out of the box and placed it on Ashley’s finger. They kissed softly.
“And, Kirstin. I want you to wear this ring as long as we are boyfriend and girlfriend. And you’ll only take that ring off when the day comes that I propose to you.” Kirstin didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say. She just smiled big into Ashley’s eyes. Somehow, he knew exactly what she was feeling and what she wanted, but wasn’t able to say.
* Thanx Stacie and Taryn for reviewing and correcting the grammar errors *
~*~ Chapter 6 ~*~
~*~ Chapter 8 ~*~
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