A couple of days later, Easton had come home and seen that Jack was at the house.
"Hi, coach" Easton said.
Jack smiled.
"Hey, how was school?" Jack asked.
"School was school" Easton said.
Troy smiled.
"Are you ready for the championship?" Troy asked.
"I need to increase my workouts in the gym" Easton said.
"For running?" Troy asked.
Easton nodded.
"I just need to do drills and intervals" Easton said.
Troy nodded.
"I remember that. Just be careful" Troy said.
"Yeah, we can't have you out of this game, bud" Jack said.
"I'll be careful. Where's Ev?" Easton asked.
"She's at dance. Rob came by earlier and thought you were home. He wanted to see you. But he told me that he wanted to come and sit in on one of your practices if it was alright with grandpa" Troy said looking at his father.
Jack nodded.
"He can run with them" Jack said.
"If he's coming alone" Easton joked.
Troy shook his head. Easton had been giving Robert a hard time because he was spending so much time away from home.
"She's going to probably be around. Maybe you should try and get to know her before you judge" Troy said.
"I don't know" Easton said.
Troy smiled.
"Alright, go start your homework" Troy said.
Easton nodded. He walked upstairs. Troy looked at Jack.
"So Rob is really gone all the time?" Jack asked.
Troy nodded.
"Yeah, Everly kind of made him see how much he was truly gone. They hang out once a week. But because Easton is at practice and studying, Rob hasn't been able to see Easton as much" Troy said.
Jack smiled.
"They've been dating for a year now?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, I think that's about right. He said that he thinks that she is the one" Troy said.
Jack shook his head.
"Just like his dad" Jack said.
"I didn't know Brie was the one at first" Troy said.
"Your mom and I knew" Jack said.
Troy shook his head.
"I just don't want him to make the mistakes that I did. He needs to consider his relationship above his work" Troy said.
Jack nodded.
"I still have a lot of regret about that" Troy said.
"About what?" Gabriella asked coming into the room.
"Me leaving for business trips when you were pregnant" Troy said.
"Who is pregnant?" Gabriella asked.
"No one. But, we were just talking about how Rob thinks that Ashley is the one. I was telling my dad that I didn't want Rob to make the same mistakes that I did" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled. She leaned in and kissed Troy's cheek.
"He won't. He has parents that won't allow him to make those mistakes" Gabriella said.
Jack smiled.
"She has a point" Jack said.
Gabriella smiled.
"If they do get married and decide to have kids, that's something that you and I need to talk about with him" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. That night, Gabriella went to bed early. He knew that discussion with his father made her go back to an emotional place. Troy walked into the bedroom and smiled when he saw Gabriella sitting up in bed.
"Hey" Troy said.
"Hey" Gabriella said.
Troy walked over to Gabriella's side of the bed and sat on the edge.
"You okay?" Troy asked softly.
Gabriella nodded.
"I know that discussion with my dad made all the emotions come up again" Troy said.
Gabriella nodded.
"If they do get married and if that piece comes up, I want them to hear it from both sides" Gabriella said.
Troy placed his hand on Gabriella's covered thigh.
"I know" Troy said.
"I'm not saying that it will happen" Gabriella said.
Troy nodded. He leaned over and kissed Gabriella's lips.
"I love you" Troy said.
Gabriella smiled.
"I love you too" Gabriella said.
Troy wrapped his arms around Gabriella and rubbed her back soothingly. Gabriella had her head on Troy's shoulder. The couple sat in silence. They hadn't brought up Troy's old businesses in a long time.
"Come on, go back to sleep" Troy said pulling away.
Gabriella laid back down in bed. Troy got into bed. Gabriella snuggled into Troy's chest. A couple of days later, Robert was at his apartment doing his homework. He heard the door open and close. Robert then felt arms wrapping around him.
"Hey" Ashley said kissing his shoulder.
"Hey" Robert said.
"What are you working on?" Ashley asked.
"A paper for my psychology class" Robert said.
Ashley walked around Robert and sat on the edge of his lap. Robert wrapped his arms around Ashley's waist. Ashley kissed Robert's lips softly. Robert kissed Ashley back. Ashley rested her nose against Robert's. Both feeling each other's breath. Robert held Ashley closer. Ashley looked up at Robert. Robert looked at Ashley.
"This is something we need to talk about" Robert said.
Ashley knew what he was talking about and nodded. Robert kissed Ashley's lips softly.
"You know that-" Robert started.
Ashley nodded.
"I know. I love you too" Ashley said.
Robert smiled softly. A couple of days later, Robert came home and smiled when he saw Easton.
"Hi stranger" Easton said.
Robert smiled.
"You've always been at practice, East. I've been coming over" Robert said.
Easton shook his head.
"How is school going?" Robert asked.
Easton nodded.
"Good. Where's Ashley?" Easton asked.
Robert smiled.
"She's at home. She went home for a couple of days" Robert said.
"So you have time to kill" Easton said.
Robert and Easton chuckled. Troy came into the room.
"Hey Rob" Troy said.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" Robert asked.
"Sure" Troy said.
"Is this an adult-only conversation?" Easton asked.
"Yes" Robert said.
Troy and Robert walked outside to the basketball court. Robert picked up the basketball and dribbled it slowly.
"What's going on, Rob?" Troy asked.
Robert sighed.
"I need to talk to you about something. I'm really unsure of how to explain it without it sounding weird" Robert said.
Troy saw how nervous Robert was.
"Is it about Ashley?" Troy asked.
Robert nodded. Troy smiled. He knew what Robert wanted to talk to him about. Troy and Robert spent a couple of hours talking. That night, Robert opened the door to Ashley's apartment and saw her in the living room.
"Hey" Robert said kissing her lips.
"Hey" Ashley said.
Robert sat down next to Ashley.
"So, about a couple days ago, are you ready to have that conversation?" Robert asked.
Ashley looked at Robert.
"I'm okay with it if you are" Ashley said.
"No baby. I need to hear it from you" Robert said.
Ashley saw how serious Robert looked. She placed her hand on Robert's hand.
"Rob, I want to have this conversation with you" Ashley said looking at her boyfriend.
Robert nodded. Ashley smiled softly.
"Okay" Robert said.
Robert and Ashley had begun the first of several conversations regarding their sex life. A week later, Ashley walked into Robert's apartment. Rob was in the kitchen eating a sandwich. Ashley looked at Robert. Robert smiled.
"How was your appointment?" Robert asked.
"Fine. I just feel a little weird" Ashley said.
Ashley had gotten an appointment to have her birth control placed.
"A little weird like what?" Robert asked.
"Cramps" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Is that normal?" Robert asked.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
"I'm sorry" Robert said.
Ashley smiled. She leaned in and kissed Robert's lips. A week later, Everly was at Robert's apartment. She was doing her homework. Robert and Everly heard the door open and Ashley walked into the apartment.
"Hi Ash" Everly said.
"Hey Ev" Ashley said.
"Are you sick?" Everly asked.
Ashley shook her head. Robert looked at Ashley.
"Just a little tired" Ashley said.
Ashley walked over to where Robert was sitting and sat down next to him. Robert kissed Ashley's cheek.
"How are you feeling?" Robert whispered.
"Okay. Just tired" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"How was class?" Robert asked a little louder.
"Fine. Just long. I got an A on my paper though" Ashley said.
Robert smiled.
"That's great, baby" Robert said.
"What did you and Ev do while I was gone?" Ashley asked.
"We went out and took a tour of U of A" Robert said.
Ashley smiled.
"That's fun. I wish I could have gone with you guys" Ashley said.
"We saw where dad used to play basketball" Robert said.
Ashley kissed Robert's cheek.
"That's cool. How is dance, Ev?" Ashley asked.
"Good. We are finally making a lot of progress" Everly said.
Robert smiled.
"What about you guys?" Everly asked.
Robert looked at Ashley, who looked back at him.
"What about us?" Ashley asked.
"You guys are acting weird" Everly said.
Robert chuckled.
"I'm just not feeling well" Ashley said.
"Oh. I can call dad-" Everly started.
"No, it's alright, Ev. She's just got a cold" Robert said looking at Ashley.
Ashley looked at Robert and mouthed "sorry". Robert shook his head. A couple of hours later, Robert closed the door and sighed. Ashley looked at Robert.
"She doesn't need to know that you went on birth control. It will give her ideas" Robert said.
"It's not like I said that I was on it or anything. I just said that I wasn't feeling well, which is the truth" Ashley said.
Robert looked at Ashley. He walked closer to her. Robert knelt to her level.
"I'm sorry" Robert said.
Ashley looked down at her hands. Robert kissed Ashley's cheek. Ashley looked at Robert.
"I just want our private stuff to remain that" Robert said.
Ashley nodded.
"I get it. I guess I am just being a pain in the-" Ashley started.
Robert shook his head.
"No. We just started this whole thing. It's new" Robert said.
"Yeah" Ashley said.
A couple of months later, Robert and Ashley had continued talking about their sex life. They started to take their relationship further, physically but had decided together that they weren't ready to have sex yet. This brought them closer to one another. One day, Robert was in the shower while Ashley was brushing her teeth. Robert thought he heard Ashley but didn't know for sure if she was in the bathroom with him. He looked out of the shower.
"What are you doing?" Robert asked.
"Brushing my teeth" Ashley said.
Robert turned off the shower.
"Can you hand me a towel, please?" Robert asked.
Ashley grabbed a towel and handed it to her boyfriend. Robert wrapped the towel around his waist before stepping out of the shower. Robert kissed Ashley's cheek. Ashley smiled.
"How are you doing, baby?" Robert asked.
Ashley rinsed her mouth and wiped the residue on a towel.
"Fine" Ashley said.
"After last night?" Robert specified.
Ashley blushed.
"I'm fine. You and I are exploring" Ashley said.
"You would tell me if you weren't comfortable right?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded.
"Yes" Ashley said.
"Okay" Robert said.
They went their separate ways. An hour later, Robert came into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Ashley.
"I got to go to class" Robert said.
Ashley turned around and kissed Robert's lips passionately. Robert pulled back.
"Love you" Robert said.
"Love you. Are you going to be home late?" Ashley asked.
"I don't think so. But, I will let you know if I am going to be" Robert said.
Ashley smiled.
"Okay" Ashley said.
The couple left and went to their classes for the day. Ashley was the first one home that afternoon. She brought home a paper bag. She took out a box of condoms and brought them into her bedroom. Ashley set them in the nightstand. She then started lighting candles. Ashley knew that she and Robert were ready for this next step in their relationship. An hour later, Robert came home and saw that the apartment was only lit by candles. He smiled. Robert placed his books in the living room. Ashley walked into the living room.
"Hey" Ashley said softly.
Robert turned around and smiled. Ashley was wrapped in one of her blankets.
"Hey. What's all this?" Robert asked softly.
"I just thought that we could have a night in" Ashley said.
Robert smiled. He noticed that under the blanket Ashley was wearing just her bra and her pajama shorts. Robert kissed Ashley's lips softly. They started moving into Ashley's bedroom. Once they got to the bedroom, Robert sat on the edge of her bed.
"Are you sure that you want to do this? Are we ready for that?" Robert asked.
"We've talked about it. Are you ready for that?" Ashley asked.
"I asked you first" Robert said.
"I want to do this with you, Rob. I love you" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"Are you ready for that?" Ashley asked again.
"I'm ready" Robert said looking into Ashley's eyes.
Ashley nodded. Robert had grabbed his protection and put it on. Clothes were discarded. Ashley and Robert had sex for the first time. Later that night, Robert and Ashley were laying in Ashley's bed. Robert looked at Ashley. He leaned over and kissed her shoulder. Ashley smiled.
"Are you okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded. Ashley snuggled deeper into Robert's chest.
"I love you so much, Rob" Ashley said.
"I love you too, baby. So much" Robert said.
Ashley and Robert had talked about everything after their activities.
"Feeling okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded against Robert's bare chest. Robert kissed Ashley's head softly. A week later, Robert and Ashley were at Easton's game. They were sitting with the Bolton family. Robert and Troy were both yelling from the stands. Everly, Gabriella, and Ashley all rolled their eyes when the Bolton men started yelling out plays.
"You and Rob look like you've gotten a lot closer" Gabriella said.
Ashley smiled.
"Yeah. He's the best" Ashley said.
Gabriella smiled.
"Are you guys talking about senior year and beyond that?" Gabriella asked.
Ashley shook her head.
"Not yet. We haven't thought that far ahead" Ashley said.
"Do you think that you are going to stay in Albuquerque? Or are you going to go back home?" Gabriella asked.
"I don't know yet. I am hoping to stay here. I love it here" Ashley said.
Gabriella nodded. Ashley got up and walked over to where Troy and Robert were standing. Ashley wrapped her arms around Robert's waist. Robert wrapped his arm around Ashley. The Wildcats had won the game. Robert and Ashley were going to over to the Bolton home to hang out for a little while. They got into the car.
"You've been really quiet since the game. Is everything okay?" Robert asked.
Ashley looked into Robert's eyes.
"Your mom kind of scared me" Ashley said.
Robert looked at Ashley.
"What do you mean?" Robert asked concerned.
"She asked me if we had talked about senior year and beyond college. She also started asking me if I was going to stay here or go back home with my parents" Ashley said.
Robert saw how stressed Ashley looked.
"Are you worried about that?" Robert asked.
"I wasn't until she said that" Ashley said.
"She is just trying to make conversation. I'm sorry that she stressed you out" Robert said.
Ashley smiled.
"It's okay. It just made me stop and think" Ashley said.
Robert nodded.
"That would make me too" Robert said.
The couple drove to the Bolton home. Once everyone was settled, Robert walked into the kitchen and saw Gabriella unloading the dishwasher.
"You scared Ashley" Robert said.
Gabriella's face softened.
"What did she say?" Gabriella asked.
"She said that you scared her. She told me that you asked about the future" Robert said.
Gabriella looked at her eldest son and saw how annoyed he was.
"I didn't know that you guys haven't talked about that" Gabriella said.
"We haven't. We are taking things one step at a time" Robert said.
"Okay. I'm sorry, Rob" Gabriella said.
That afternoon, Ashley came home from class. She walked into the living room and saw Robert watching television. She sat next to him and leaned her head against his shoulder.
"How was class?" Robert asked.
"Fine" Ashley said.
Ashley snuggled into him. Robert kissed Ashley's lips softly. Ashley kissed him back. Robert looked at Ashley and smiled softly. Ashley smiled. Robert got up.
"Where are you going?" Ashley asked.
"I'll be right back" Robert said.
Robert left the room and then came back a minute later. He held up a condom. Ashley blushed. Robert put the condom on. He looked at Ashley. Clothes were discarded. An hour later, Ashley walked back to the couch with a blanket around her bare body. She laid down in Robert's arms.
"Do you see a future with us?" Ashley asked.
Robert looked down at Ashley, who had looked up at him.
"Where did that come from?" Robert asked.
"I just was thinking" Ashley said.
Robert knew that she was thinking about the conversation that she had with his mother.
"Of course I do. Is this about what you and my mom talked about at the game?" Robert asked.
Ashley nodded.
"When she brought it up, I shook it off. But, then I'm starting to think about it more" Ashley said.
"What are starting to think about?" Robert asked.
"Our future. I love you Rob, so much" Ashley said.
Robert kissed Ashley's head softly.
"I love you too. When we are both ready for that step, then we will get there. Don't let my mom or anyone else try and tell you where we should be. This is our relationship" Robert said.
Ashley nodded. Robert leaned in and kissed Ashley's swollen lips. The couple laid in silence.