Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has read/reviewed/added to story alerts/favorites!! You guys make this all worthwhile!
I don't own the Nightworld...sigh.
"I love you, too, Ash," she whispered and he handed her over to the girls. Mary-Lynnette looked back at him as she was walking out the door. Ash mouthed 'I love you' to her and she did the same. The smile he gave her just before the door shut was so beautiful her breath caught and she hoped he saw her returning smile to him.
Dinner was more fun than Mary-Lynnette anticipated. She had a great time hanging out with Hannah, Jez, Keller, Rashel, Poppy, Iliana, Kestrel, Jade and Rowan. The food at the restaurant was fantastic and the girls talked non-stop about weddings, the guys, and grilling Mary-Lynnette on details about her and Ash. She kept most things to herself, but they still managed to get more out of her than she really wanted to tell.
After dinner, Mary-Lynnette wasn't quite ready to go back to the house and face her empty room so Hannah, Rowan, and Jez agreed to stay with her and walk the Strip for a while. When they reached the Bellagio, they stopped to watch the water show outside the hotel before venturing inside to investigate the clubs inside the hotel for Jade's bachelorette party tomorrow night. Rowan and Jez were distracted investigating one of the clubs, and Hannah and Mary-Lynnette were wandering around the casino lobby when Mary-Lynnette heard a familiar laugh. Her heart dropped when she saw Ash walking over to the elevators with his arm around Laurel's waist. She was smiling at him leaning in close and Ash grinned at her. Mary-Lynnette was having trouble breathing as she watched Laurel pull Ash over toward an elevator. "Come on, baby. I can't wait to get you upstairs and all to myself," Laurel said suggestively to him and tugged him into an empty elevator. Ash laughed and glanced furtively out the elevator before pushing Laurel against one of the walls and kissing her.
Mary-Lynnette's breath came in small, tight gasps as she teetered on the edge of breaking down completely. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she watched the man she loved kiss another woman. "Mare! What's wrong?" Hannah exclaimed, obviously alarmed.
"Ash," she whispered and weakly lifted her hand to point at the elevator. The doors were closing, but Hannah was still able to see Ash and Laurel kissing in there. Just before the doors closed, they saw Laurel reach up and put her arms around Ash's neck before lifting up and wrapping her legs around his waist. Mary-Lynnette's heart shattered at the sight and she began to cry openly. Hannah put her arm around her and began ushering her out as Rowan and Jez came rushing up.
"What happened? What's wrong?" Rowan cried and Hannah filled both girls in with a hushed voice as they walked out and into the town car waiting for them. Rowan shook her head in disbelief, "No. Ash wouldn't, it has to be something with the mission. It has to!"
Jez was more skeptical, "Even if it was part of the mission, it sounds like they took things a little too far. I mean, why would Thierry make Ash go on a mission where he had to pretend to have Laurel as a girlfriend when he knows Ash has a soulmate? Thierry would never do that. Those kinds of missions are reserved for Daybreak members who aren't attached to anyone. That way no one gets hurt."
Mary-Lynnette shut her eyes, trying to block out their chatter. Her heart ached and the tears wouldn't stop. She was barely able to breathe it hurt so much. All she could see was Ash kissing Laurel and Laurel wrapping her legs around him. They were up in a hotel room right now...together. She thought of how loving and sweet and gentle he had been with Mary-Lynnette. How he'd told her he loved her, that he wanted to marry her. The way he'd kissed her and touched her and given her pleasure she'd never though possible. And it had all been a lie. He hadn't changed. He didn't really love her. He was screwing another girl at this very moment. Mary-Lynnette could barely hold in the scream threatening to escape from her. She'd never felt such pain in all her life. She curled into herself, sobbing and wishing for death.
When they reached the mansion, Mary-Lynnette tore out of the car and raced up to her room, not wanting to see anyone. She fell onto her bed, weeping uncontrollably. She heard the voices outside her door; Hannah, Jez and Rowan filling in the others on what had happened. A soft knock came on the door and she didn't answer. The door opened anyway and Rowan, Kestrel, Hannah and Jade entered. No one said a word, they simply gathered around Mary-Lynnette on the bed, trying to comfort her as she cried. Eventually, Mary-Lynnette cried herself to sleep only to be plagued with nightmares about Ash and Laurel.
Ash softly knocked on her door around four in the morning and pushed it open. He was startled to see five girls piled onto her bed together. Mary-Lynnette whimpered in her sleep and Ash hurried over to the bed. Rowan stirred and intercepted Ash before he reached Mary-Lynnette. She shook her head at him and untangled herself from the other girls. Rowan grabbed Ash's arm and pulled him swiftly out of the room. "What the hell is wrong with you, Ash? You better have a damn good explanation for why you have fucked up so royally! She is completely devastated!" she hissed at him, trying to scream at him without actually screaming.
Ash looked shocked, "What are you talking about? What happened? What do you mean 'she is completely devastated'? Mary-Lynnette? What's wrong, why wouldn't you let me go to her if she's upset!" He could barely contain his fury. Ash tried to push past Rowan, but she refused to let him by.
"You're the reason she's so upset! She saw you! How could you Ash?" Rowan accused.
"We were on a mission; she knew that. I don't understand, what do you mean she saw me?" His face was filled with confusion.
Rowan glared at him and stepped up so that she was inches from him. She was so furious she was shaking, "At the Bellagio with Laurel! She saw the two of you making out and get into an elevator to go up to a room together! If that's a mission, I want to know what the fuck it's about, because I highly doubt Thierry would condone it." Rowan whirled around and went back into Mary-Lynnette's room, locking the door behind her. She heard a thump on the wall outside and imagined Ash banging his head against the wall. She crawled back into bed, and Mary-Lynnette stirred slightly. Rowan froze, not wanting to wake her for fear of Mary-Lynnette not being able to fall back asleep. Mary-Lynnette gave a small sob and turned her face into a pillow, curling into an even tighter ball. Rowan's heart broke for her. She couldn't imagine what it must feel like, being betrayed by your soulmate. She sincerely hoped Ash would be able to explain everything in the morning.
Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging for too long. I promise to update soon...maybe. :o)