A/N: The title of this chapter is inspired from Whiteny Houston "Didn't we almost have it All" check it out. I have another chapter ready just have to edit it before posting. If I get some lovely feedback- I'll post chapter 16 tomorrow. I hope ya'll enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

How I Met Her Mother

Didn't we Almost Have It All?

Ashley

When I drove off from Spence calling my name, I had no Idea where I was going. I ended up at my old apartment over my Café. I laid there ignoring my beeping phone which could have been Spence or Kelly. The next morning, I went to the famers' market to get some turmeric honey for some tea. I slide down my Sun glasses to see the young man who stole my cry trying to negotiate with the vender selling yellow watermelon which happens to be Aiden. He gives in and let the young man have the watermelon for half the price. I walk over and lean toward the young man's ear.

"Glad to see you gave up a life a crime."

H jumps a little looking very tense. He softens putting his hand to the back of his neck.

"Thank you for letting me off the hook. You didn't have to- I'm very grateful."

"It's nothing, I guess."

"I'm so thankful. We have a baby on the way I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm still looking for work and it's just hard. Me and my girl at the shelter."

"Damn man, here is your money back for the melon." Aiden said.

"You really got to stop giving more than you have." I said

I look at Aiden and back at the young man.

"Ash, it's not going hurt me. And ?"

"Jimmy." Jimmy said

Aiden smiles that smile he smiles where he hopes his cured mouth can make the world better.

"Jimmy, I can't offer much, but you can work with me for some cash to get on your feet."

"Man, Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it."

"How do you even know the pregnant girlfriend story is true?" I said

I'm staring at both of them daring either of them to answer.

"My girlfriend is coming out the Wic office and you can meet her. I'm sure she'll be glad to meet the woman who gave me a second chance. If you be willing to wait right here, I'll get her. I only lift to ger her this yellow watermelon. Ha, she's been craving them outside of Big Red Soda.

He starts runs in the direction of the Wic office holding the yellow watermelon in one hand and his pants up with the other.

"He's not coming back." I said

"Damn, Ash! What's crawled up your ass."

"What do you mean?" I said

I give him an eye roll before sucking my teeth.

"You're usually caption save a ho-whole wide world. Now, you seem like you closed your heart."

I let out a heavy sigh and sit at the curve by his stand and he joins me.

"Spence and I –well, I think we're broken up."

"So, that means she single."

I squint my eyes and look through his body with the sharpest side eye.

"I'm kidding, kidding. I don't know why I thought that would make you laugh. I've always been terrible at knowing what would make you feel better. I'm sorry."

We sit in silence and I think of what life would even look like without Spencer. I miss her already, but the hurt I feel won't let me admit it to myself, so definitely won't admit it to her.

I see the young man coming back with no pregnant girlfriend. I look at him with a twisted lip and raised brow.

"She said she's embarrassed that I put us in that situation and feels weird about meeting you. I told her I had to let ya'll know and would go back to get her. Seriously, she's right there, if you can see her from here." He said

Kyla? I whisper to myself.

"What's your girlfriend name?" I said

"What." He said.

Him and Aiden look at me confused.

"What's her name?" I said

I start walking towards the woman and she starts walking towards me. Jimmy is next to me saying something, but I can't hear him. It feels like I glided across the street and was faced with a ghost. "Is that really you?" I don't know if I said or thought it.

"Is that really you?" I said

"Ashley?" She said

She says my name like she seen a ghost too. We stand there looking at each other not saying word. I know Aiden and Jimmy are near us, but I see no one but her. I eventually rub her hair and she hold her face to my hand resting her cheek there. After ten minutes of standing there like this I can hear Jimmy.

"ya'll, know each other?"

'Yeah, this is my big sister, Ash."

"What—how, why are you homeless?" I said

She looks down embarrassed and I feel bad for even asking, but I still want to know.

"Don't feel bad, I was homeless for a while." I said.

Kyla looks up at me with shock and Aiden and Jimmy are staring into my back.

"Hey, how about you and Jimmy come with me? I have a spare room in my apartment."

"I don't know." She said.

"What? We're family and besides it's better than having your baby in a shelter."

Kyla told me how my mom kicked her out not too long after me and told her I left on my own and didn't want nothing to do with her or Kyla. She also told me how her mom was nowhere to be found. She said her and Jimmy met at a Jazz club which Jimmy recruited artist for and she was one of the singers he scouted until things got slow and the club got sold last year.

They been together for as long as Spence and me, and recently got pregnant around the same time they ran out of their savings. I told Jimmy I need a new artist manager to handle the performances, so the job is his, if he wants it and I'll pay him more than Aiden. He said he didn't want any favors. I told him it wasn't one, and if he fucked up, I would fire his ass quicker than he could catch his breath. He laughed and we both knew I was serious. I told Kyla and him to stay with me until she had the baby and that way, they could save up, and besides I wanted to watch over her. She was three months pregnant, so that was six more months.

Spence Kitten: "Ashee Bear, I told my mom. I hope it's not too late for us. I'm back in Ohio with my mom right now to work on our relationship (hers and mines) but I'll be back soon to work on ours, if you'll have me"

I read the text and went to my room and laid on the bed closing my eyes to think. I woke up the next morning realizing I didn't reply back and still didn't know what to say. I ended up going with Kyla for a walk instead. I lived on top of café' but didn't go inside it for months-three to be exact. I would look up one morning and a whole month had passed. Time was simply passing and I couldn't stop it. The night I was at the mission Spence came by and I was there with Kyla. I didn't want to go out there and try to work on us plus explain how reunited with my half-sister who I thought hated me and who thought I hated her, and how she's in there with her boyfriend—oh, who happens to be the young man who stole our car. So, I panicked and told Ms. Rose I couldn't go out there. I realize I couldn't let her think that I didn't want to see her, especially after all this time. But when I got to the doorway Spence was gone.

I went to our house a little after that and saw Spence had moved out. I didn't know what to do and so much has happen and so much time has passed I couldn't bring myself to text or call her. I needed to see her, but I had no idea where she went. She didn't have a job and I wonder if she was, she still in LA, or back in Ohio with Paula. Damn! I slammed our dining table to the floor.

These thoughts and no action on my part put me in a deep depression , and for weeks I laid on the couch that we used to share. Kyla would text me asking where I was, but I just lied there. Not eating, barely drinking water, and sleeping all day.

"Vanilla"

I hear faintly and try to focus my eyes and just start to cry.

"Vanilla?"

Chelsea rubs my cheek, placing my hair behind my ear and rubs my wet eyes.

"You can't stay like this. I knew you were here because—thanks for the introduction by the way. Kyla came looking for you and said she haven't seen you in weeks, so I thought I give this apartment a shot. What happen? She questions and I tell her everything.

After Chelsea found me that day I ending up going on a silent retreat for a month on some real hippie writer shit. Once I came back with a lot of self-reflection Kyla was having complications with the baby, so I hired an in-home nurse, and since the space was getting tight, we went ahead and bought Kyla a three-bedroom house where I moved in until she had the baby. I thought of texting Spencer every day and just didn't. I hated myself for not texting her.

Six months come and go so quick and Kyla has had the baby. I never thought I could love a little person so much. Kyla told me to get out the house, because I wait by the bed like I'm the nurse. I take her advice and decide to go to the Café.

"What are you two laughing at?" I said

"Well Ash, if we tell you- do you promise not to judge?" Chelsea said

"Why would I judge you and Maddison lives? I barely can maintain my own."

"Well Chica, Babe and I are on Tinder." Maddison says.

"For what? I know ya'll polly, but y'all work in a les café, so there's a ton of option here."

"We know but wewanted to see what all the Tinder fuss is about. And you said you wasn't going to Jude, Vanilla."

"Okay, okay. My bad Chocolate. Ya'll know I can be ya'll third for a while. Plus, I've never had sex with Maddy while actually like her as a person." I said

"We would love that, Vanilla, but you haven't looked at another girl since you and Spen-"

"Whatever."

I cut her off a little because the mention of Spence's name is too much for me.

"Is that?" Chocolate said

"No, it can't be" Maddy said

"I think it is." Chocolate said

I hear them whispering and I get closer.

"What?" I asked

They shake they head and put their phone down.

"What?! Chocolate?"

"Fuck, don't shoot the massager."

Chelsea hands me the phone and her and Maddison steps back.

I see the Blue Ocean Eyes' profile that reads: Small Ohio girl living in a big city looking for someone who smile is as warm as the sun with heart that is big as LA. The picture is spence at the beach with her face slightly down staring at her toes.

"Chica, you alright?" Maddison says.

"Yeah, dude. Whatever. We've been broken up for months, I guess."

I walk out not saying anything else getting in my car and drive and drive until I get to the house.

"Ashley?"

"Are you happy to see me?"

"I wasn't expecting you."

"So you want me to leave?"

"Nah, I want you to cum."

I grab her face and deepen the kiss immediately while closing the door behind me with my foot. I push her on the floor and start straddling her. I start ripping off my shirt and pants and she does the same. I start kissing on her chest- sucking her nipples into my mouth while teasing her folds with the palm of my hand, before going deep into her wetness. She says how much she misses me by the amount of stickiness on my finger. It's like every nut is for every month we've been a part and I start to push deeper and faster causing her to scream my name louder and louder

We've finished hours ago and now we're lying in bed—well she is sleep. I'm sitting up thinking of everything that has happen in these last six months.