A/N: The title is inspired by the song "I'm wishing on a Star by Rose Royce. Check it out Ifeel it gives you more of the energery of the chapter. I appreciate everyone who has commented and will comment on the last chapter and the ones before. This chapeter is for ya'll. If I get some lovley feed back on this chapter- I can have the next (maybe last) Chapter up by Tuesday.

How I Met Her Mother

Wishing on a Star

Ashley

"What the hell, Ashley?"

Kyla looks at me with frustration in her face while my little buddle of joy of a niece is wrapped in her arm. She is rocking her making sure she doesn't wake up while she scolds me.

"Damn, Kyla. I told you what I done, so you could help me not judge."

I shake my head leaning against the wall.

"Help you how, Ashley? You love this woman for four years now and you bail at the first sign of shit hitting the fan? You know how much shit Jimmy and I been through and I'm still here. You can't disappear when shit gets dark. You even went missing on me. You can't throw money at things and think people will be there when you're ready for them."

"I know, Kyla—Damn!"

"Really? Then why when you saw Spencer's tinder's profile instead of calling her- you go fuck another woman."

"I don't know. I let my ego get the best of me. I didn't want her to have one up on me."

"Well, do you feel like a winner now, Ash?!"

"No. Fuck! Why did I sleep with Helen?"

"I'm sure you didn't even tell Helen, where you were going this morning."

"No, I left out before she woke up."

"Ashley?!"

She shakes her head rocking the baby a little more, more so because of her announce with me than trying to keep the baby asleep.

"I know. I'm going to text her right now."

I pull out my phone and text Helen that last night was a one-time thing, and it won't happen again.

"So, are you going to text Spencer?" Kyla said.

"Fuck! Okay. Yeah, you're right.

I take out my phone to text Spence:

Spence Kitten, baby—fuck. Umm, I'm sorry. Can we meet and talk?

Do You still want me?

I love you.

I send the three text and sit on the couch with my arms cross waiting for her to reply back. I hear a beep and I try to look at my phone so fast causing it to almost drop. I hurry up and catch it. I look at the text and it's from Helen.

Helen: Well, damn. If my pussy knew it was a onetime thing, I would have ridden your fingers a little longer/harder. I guess you hit me up when you're ready for another "one-time thing."

"Fuck!"

I start slamming my hand against the wall repeatedly.

"What did she say." Kyla said

"That wasn't Spence. Fuck it! Imma call her."

I sit on the couch and call her. The phone rings and the line picks up. I open my mouth Spen—

The number you deal is no longer in service

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I said.

I toss the phone to the wall seeing a piece of it fly across the room.

"Ashley?!"

Kyla screams at me while shielding the baby, and this time the baby actually wakes up.

"I'm so sorry."

She comes back out the room after 30 minutes.

"I finally got the baby to go back to sleep. What's going on, Ash and say it quietly?"

"Spence, phone is turned off."

"Well, call a private investigator. You got the money for it."

"I don't know. I don't wanna be creepy just showing up to her house where she probably be with her new boo."

I can instantly feel my face turn sour.

"So, you're just giving up? You just okay with her dating some other girl. Her having another girlfriend? Being Fuck—"

"That's enough!"

I spat at her and pout more.

"wait, you can fuck other girls, but she can't?

"I didn't fuck other girls. I fucked one girl."

"Anyway, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

I lean back on the couch spread across. And in minutes a thought spread in my mind like Spencer's ocean blue eyes.

"I got it!"

I grab my shattered phone. I push the screen and see if it still responsive.

"Okay, let me take a picture of you." I said

"What?!"

"Let me get a few pictures of you for a profile, and when you and Spence match, I'll go down and meet her."

"Wait, so cat fishing her isn't creepy, but a detective is?"

"Come one, help a sister out?"

I keep my phone camera on her knowing she'll give in eventually.

"I look gross and tired, Ashley.

"No, you don't. You look stunning. Shit, better than most of these girls on here."

"Why don't you have one of your friends do it?"

"Spence knows all my friends. You look beautiful with your new mama glow."

She smirks a little at the comment.

"How do you even know she'll match with me?"

"You look like me, so believe me she'll do it."

"Fine" she said.

I take a pic of her with her head down and the green and yellow flannel giving me lesbian vibes. I have to remember to ask her later if she has ever been with a woman. I direct her to take one with her flannel off and just her tank top. She rolls her eyes, but eventually does it. She takes one last one pushing her hair back with one hand while wearing just bra. Jimmy walks in looking confused.

"What's going on?" He said

"Don't question your boss."

I can hear him smack his teeth.

"Don't worry babe, Ash is putting my pix on a lesbian dating app in hopes of cat fishing her ex."

"It's not a lesbian dating app, it's Tinder that has an option for women looking for women."

"I'm sorry I asked." He said.

I sit there swiping left hoping to see Spencer's page, and after upgrading to Tinder gold with unlimited swipes for two hours straight, I finally do. I swipe right and it's a match.

Spence

I don't know why I swipe right on Brunet bullet. It was something about her nose crinkling smile that made me want to get to know her more. Besides all the other matches either talk to me for one or two messages and disappear or meet me putting no energy into they look like Ashley would. I'm not shallow I just want to feel I'm worth the effort.

Brunet Bullet: Hey, Ocean Blue Eyes. Would you like to meet for coffee or tea?

Ocean Blue Eyes: Wow, I'm not used to someone asking me out so quick. I reply

Brunet Bullet: I'm new to Tinder and don't really know how it works lol.

Ocean Blue Eyes: I don't want to get shot down with you being a bullet and all.

Omg, that was so corny. I rub my neck thinking they won't reply now.

Brunet Bullet: That's cute. I won't cause no harm. I promise.

Oh wow, she replied, Okay, if she can deal with my corny then maybe this can work. I think before replying

Ocean Blue Eyes: What time did you have in mind?

Brunet Bullet: Now?

Ocean Blue Eyes: Well, I usually do a video chat before meeting anyone.

The video camera symbol lights up letting me know I have a video call. I'm so shaking, but here goes everything. I accept the request. The woman is gorgeous and looks a bit frozen

"Ummm, so tea coffee? Ouch!" she said

"You okay?"

"yeah, just something bumped me." She said

"Yeah, let's go to Peet's on Sunset and Lincoln? I said

"Okay, I can't wait." She said

"Me Either. See you soon."

I hang up and put on a black sun dress that is fitting in some parts and loose in others. I put my hair in a high pony tail and let out a deep breathe before heading to the door.

Ashley

"What's with your face?" Kyla said.

"I don't know. I'm glad to be able to see her again and hold her again, but I'm upset that she's willing to meet another woman."

"Are you fucking serious? Ashley, it's been six- damn near seven months. Most people have another dick in their mouth, or in this case pussy, in a matter of days."

I shake my head at the thought and hurry to the room to shower and wash Helen's sweat off me. Once I'm done, I pick my outfit for today. Black D&G jeans with a loose white Donna Karen blouse that I'll have a black lace Victoria Secret tank top under, with a red thong in case we reconnect. Red lipstick with a sharp wing tip eye, and leopard print pointy toe shoes. I go take a quick shower to ease my nerves.

"Damn, pulling out the big guns." Kyla said

"What?" I said

"I mean, you going to meet an ex or a gentle woman caller."

"wow, what ever. I hope Spence likes it, or even look at me for that matter."

When arrive to Pete's and see Spencer reading a psychology book. I sit next to her and she still haven't notice me. I clear my throat and she slowly start moving her things before looking up slowly.

"Oh, I'm sorry am I in your wa- Ashley?!"

"Hey, there beautiful."

I choke out and my voice is flooded by the nervous in my chest. My ears are clogged by the sound of my heart ponding in my head which gets louder by every second Spence looks at me without saying anything.

"What, are you doing here?" She Said

She stars into me with a mixture of anger and disappointment.

"I-I. I'm Burnett Bullet."

"What?"

"I'm the girl your supposed to meet."

"You catfished me?"

"I guess so."

"But. But. The girl. I spoke to her on Video." She said

"Yeah, about that." I said

I rub my neck and start to tell Spence everything about Kyla and her boyfriend who was the guy who stole our car. About how I had a breakdown for three weeks and went on a silent retreat. How I went bat shit after seeing her on Tinder and slept with Helene and now I'm here. She looks down for a long time. The room feels so tight like the walls are closing in I am finding it hard to breath. I how my chest trying to take deep breaths, but I am doing it wrong. I keep inhaling from my chest instead of my lower belly. I fell a gentle arm on my shoulder, and I try to focus. I can't make out what she is saying until I finally recognize my name.

"Ashley, listen to me carefully." She said

Focus on

one thing you see

Another you hear

Another you taste

Another you feel

Another you smell

I smell the chi tea being brewed not as good as my café, but anyway

I see Spence blue eyes looking worried. Glad to know she still cares for me

I hear her breathing lightly

I feel her warm hand on my shoulder

I taste my spit as I remember to swallow again

"Ash, you okay?"

"Yeah baby, I'm fine. I mean—can I still call you baby.'

"I don't know, Ashley."

"How did you know what to do to calm me down?"

"Since we've been broken up- "

She stares deep in my eyes and my heart breaks. And I feel tear fall down my check

"I've had a few myself and learn the method from a therapist my mom and I are seeing."

"Oh, you and your mom are getting therapy. That good, right?"

"Yeah for the most part. Ash, I can't do this right now. I need some time."

She gets up and starts packing her book in her bag. I feel myself jumping out of my skin needing her to stop while my body is frozen.

"Spence. Can I at least have your number."

She sighs deeply and stands there tapping her foot thinking for a minute.

"How about this Ashley, I still have your number, so when I'm ready to tal—if I'm ready to talk. I'll call you."

And just like that she is gone—out the coffee shop and maybe out my life.

I sit at Pete's for who knows how long. I see Kyla walk in without the baby. I'm confused but can't bring myself to speak.

"Ashley, what are you still doing here?" Kyla said

"What are you doing here?" I finally said

"Ash, you been gone for hours and haven't been answering your phone. I came to see if everything went well."

"Where is the baby.'

"With Jimmy. Come on Ash, let's go."

When I get back at the house I start crying into Kyla's lap and she is rubbing my hair with one hand while rocking the baby with the other.

"She hates me" I said

"I'm sure she doesn't hate you, Ashley. She just needs time. Shhh shhh."

I don't know if the last part of her sentence is for me or the baby, but I feel myself drifting to sleep.