And here we are 3 years later. Hello everyone! What can I say, I got my muse back :). Happy reading!

Side note: picture Hector Elizondo as Ashley's dad.

CHAPTER 7: Forward

"You know, you have to tell me what happened sometime," she's whirling the spoon in the air with left over cake frosting.

"No I don't, besides as much as you'd like to think otherwise, nothing happened," I grab the spoon dipping it into the large bowl before us. The door opens and he's just standing there smiling. God, he can be so cute sometimes.

"Ashley," he hasn't moved yet and he's still smiling, okay this is getting creepy.

"Hi dad," Jessie's grinning at him and that's when my light bulb goes off. I whack Jessie with the pillow upside her head,

"Seriously Jessica!"

"Ouch! What was that for?!"

As I'm about to hit her again my dad has dropped his suitcase and is holding me back trying to get the pillow out of my hand. I dropped it after realizing it was pointless to try and get out of this. I turn around, he's giving me a sympathetic look, and here it comes…the lecture.

"Ashley, this is good. It could be good," thinking again before he speaks. "I'm not saying to jump, but at least," sigh. "Go out, see this girl again, I want you smiling again."

"Dad please, I don't want to be doing this with you, not today" not ever "How was your trip, did you catch any Bass?" He's giving me that look, he's not letting go of this conversation.

"Sweetheart, I'm just saying you should go out, not necessarily with this Spencer I've been hearing so much about but,"

"Dad, I—" wait, what? I snap my head around glaring at her, why am I in no control over my own life; this is so frustrating "Jess what have you been telling him?"

"Nothing Ash," she shoots of the couch, bowl in hand.

"Jessica, come back here!"

"In a minute," she yells back and then I hear the bolt on the bathroom door, classic Jessica.

When I look back at my dad he's fiddling with his watch, waiting expectantly but there isn't going to be a heart to heart right now, defuse the flames Ash, "Dad really, I went out to get a drink and got caught in the rain,"

"You have a car Ashley,"

Shit, I forgot about that, "It ran outta gas," I say defensively.

The wry smile playing across his face is getting wider, turning into a full on grin, "Dad really, I don't know her, I don't want to, she's unnerving and it ends there."

"Sweetie, it's okay. You my dear are your own woman so if you want to get to being forty and still be single that's your choice, but I need a grandchild before I die, I'm not getting any younger." He's laughing and as much as I wanna slap him upside his head right now he's so adorable.

"Dad this isn't funny."

"I'm not laughing baby," he kisses my temple before getting up, "Lunch?"

"No, I'm good. I have some paperwork I need to take care of. You can ask Jess, I'm sure you two have lots to talk about and please let me not be the topic of discussion."

"I don't know what you're talking about," with that he's gone.

I know they mean well but they're seriously jumping the gun with this one. She's a character if nothing else, but there's nothing that's coming from any of this. This doesn't even exist. I have a case I need to focus on closing, a best friend I need to stop from meddling in my personal life and a father who needs a grandchild; my plate is full. Still, a part of me does want to know what happened in the car earlier and the other night the bar, on the bathroom floor I remember her kissing my head; trying to calm someone is one thing, being so sensitive with a total stranger is another. Then again, I think I'm reading too much into this. I blame Jessica.

I knew this was a bad idea; I should've just stayed home. You know they always say curiosity killed the cat. In my case it just destroyed my favorite Queen t-shirt that my dad got autographed by Freddie Mercury himself. Wondering how a lawyer who never leaves her office and has no social life has such awesome taste in music? Hey, I was a rebel once. With that said I'm going to have to lose the shirt to try and get this beer out. Who the hell plays beer pong while walking? Already drunk at that! I know, the idiot who bumped into me while I was walking into the bar. I didn't see Spencer while I was making my way to the bathroom, I wonder—,

"We have to stop meeting like this,"

I freeze, "Hi—I, beer…pongs and," shut up Ashley, you're embarrassing yourself.

"I see you've met Darren," she's grinning.

"Darren?"

"He's an idiot, but really sweet, except when he's drunk. He considers himself Einstein and claims reinvention; tonight it was beer pong while walking. My cousin, I'm sorry."

"Oh," I wasn't sure what else to say honestly.

"You know what this means though right?" Why is she smiling?

"What?"

"Don't look so frightened, I won't eat you. It just means drinks are on the house and no I'm not trying to bribe you and yes this is a date." She hands me a few paper towels and heads out the door, turning back before she's completely gone "Table in the back, is that okay?"

I nod dumbly. Not exactly what I was expecting but for some reason I'm anticipating going back outside. Is that bad?

"You're not very social are you," she said as more of a statement than a question but I don't answer. I just keep swirling my straw around in my empty glass of what used to be rum and coke. I really should be going home but my theory is if I stay out long enough I can dodge round two of 21 questions…with my dad that is, Jessie's like a ticking timer and she'll be waiting alright.

"Do you want to leave?"

"Huh? Uh—no, I'm sorry. I was just thinking."

"Good, for a second there I thought I was boring you half to sleep. Though, the fact that you're thinking and not paying attention is making me question my skills. Wait, am I boring you? Because if I am you can just tell me—I mean I wouldn't, sigh. Am I bor—."

She's kind of cute when she rambles, "Wait, Spence" I put my hand across the table to squeeze hers, "You're not boring,"

"Just not interesting enough to hold your attention," she looks down at my hand on top of hers.

Lifting my hand to tilt her chin, "Hey, hey look at me. You're more than enough." Okay, not exactly how I meant it but she's smiling and God it's a beautiful smile. Snap out of it Ashley. "You're not boring. I've enjoyed your company. It's just; I have a lot thinking about."

"You did it again," her smile just got wider.

"What,"

"You called me Spence,"

"Oh. Too fast was it? Sorry."

"No. Not too fast, it's our first date remember."

"Ah yes our date. You're very forward do you know that, which may come off as rude to some people."

She cocked her head one side, "Do I come off as rude to you?"

"Not exactly, you amuse me."

"I amuse you? Like a circus animal? Or as an attractive, well established young woman?"

I had to choke back a laugh, "You really are forward."

"That was not being forward. I ask direct questions, I need direct answers."

"I see…forward." And I do find you attractive, those black cargo pants and that grey cardigan would look horrible on anyone else but you pull it off so well, sexy even.

"So what kind of an amusing am I?"

"The circus animal kind." She must know I'm only kidding.

"That's what I thought, you're sweet."

"Sweet? No."

"Okay, so what were you thinking about?"

"Going home, or rather what's going to happen when I get there."

"Why? Passed your curfew?"

"You have jokes I see. No, no curfew. You've met Jessica."

"I have. What about her?"

"She'll be waiting up for me."

"Why? Are you picking up groceries for her or something?"

"No, she suspects I'm with you, so she'll have the interrogation room set up when I get home and I really can't deal with that tonight."

"I figured, just wanted to hear you say it." She's smiling again, I need another drink. "Seeing as you don't want to go home tonight you're welcome to stay at my place." Is she serious right now?

I'm sure my 'dear caught in headlights' expression is what has her smirking right now. "Oh, um tempting but that would just add fuel to a flame I'm trying to defuse."

She leans forward resting her chin on down turned palms, "Tell me more about this 'flame'."

"Forward. And there's nothing to tell. My best friend and my father are meddling in my personal life so it's no longer personal, it's become a family affair, and you do not need to join in."

"Ouch, that hurt a little but I get it. You ready to head out?"

"Spencer, I didn't mean—," Ashley, why are you so insensitive!?

"It's okay Ashley. I'm not offended or anything, I just asked if you were ready because my brother making his weird faces at me from a distance behind you. Though these days I can never tell if it's a face or that's how he normally looks. That and I glanced over at the clock, it's almost 1 AM."

"Oh." I really had nothing to say, I was a little embarrassed in making that assumption. Her smile is back again. I've decided it's one of the things I like about her.

"Come on, I'll walk you to your car."

We're almost out the door when Spencer gets hauled from behind and spun midair by who I can only assume is her brother, and then he confirms it.

"Is that any way to treat your big brother Spence?"

"And exactly how is that Glen?"

"You were gone half the night and I find you hiding out with this beautiful woman here and from what I know I can only conclude that you were on a date."

"I can neither confirm nor deny that."

"Which means I'm right," his eyes shining at the small victory.

Spencer's grinning when she turns to me, "Ashley, meet my brother Glen. Glen, meet Ashley."

He reaches for my extended arm, "Just Ashley, no title?"

"Grow up Glen, you're such a child!"

"I am grown; see the stubbles under my chin?" He's grinning like a little boy and I can see Spencer's smile.

"C'mon Ashley, before he pulls out his clown nose."

"Goodbye Ashley, I Glen, Spencer's older brother was honored to meet you."

"It was nice meeting you too Glen, goodnight."

Spencer doesn't waste any time pulling me outside and walking me over to my car.

"My brother's an idiot, he's worse than Darren and he's never drunk," she smiles "I love him."

"I can tell. It's nice that you have each other. And no apologizing, you haven't met my dad."

"I would like to. Oh—I um, forward, sorry." The color in her cheeks lets me know she never meant for me to hear that.

"Maybe you will." I can play this game. "For the record Spence, you amuse me as the "attractive, sexy, well established young woman"."

"Goodnight Ashley."

Smooth Ashley, now get in your car and drive off into the moonlight.