Sorry for the lack of updates lately! I had every intention to update yesterday but the power went out and when it came back on, I forgot about it and ended up playing Assassin's Creed. I know, I'm horrible!! Thank you all for PMing me with concerns and for those who reviewed and read. You're all wonderful.
Flashbacks are in italics.
This flashback was taken from Wash It All Away – Chapter 1: I Think...I Think I Like Girls
19 - A Poisoned Name
Spencer's PoV
I just finished putting Dylan to bed after she fell asleep on the couch during our movie time. Lucas wanted to go with Jaiden and Jyll for a quick hot chocolate run and the small brunette wanted to stay in with me.
I heard the front door open and Jaiden took Lucas' coat from her. "Hey, you two are back early," I went to pull off my daughter's scarf when she ripped it off herself, threw it to the floor and ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door. "What the hell was that all about?"
Jaiden raised an eyebrow and took of her hat. "We bumped into that brunette from the rink…"
I went temporarily numb.
Kenora was a small town but it wasn't that small.
"Oh fuck me sideways." I mumbled and I caught Jaiden's smirk. "Do you ever turn your hormones off?"
"Nah, I haven't been able to find the off switch and don't plan on doing so any time soon." Jaiden smiled and shrugged, sitting on the sofa and looking at me as I paced the floor. "So Ashley," she finally said after a few minutes of silence, "she uh, looks so much different in real life then in pictures. Maybe because it's like, a decade or so later…"
I stopped and looked at her.
"Lucas says she's the girl from your photo album. She's convinced that she's Dylan's mom." The brunette teenager shrugged and gave me a sympathetic look. "She's pretty upset."
I sighed deeply and chewed on my bottom lip before glancing back up at the winding staircase. "I should go talk to her."
Jaiden slapped her knees as she stood up. "I told my parents I'd be home early anyway, plus I have homework," she pulled her hat on and patted my hand that was resting against the back of the couch, "it'll be okay. I'll see you in the morning for practice Coach."
"Better get that homework done." I warned her lightly with a smile and she blew me a kiss while exiting the house.
I turned off the TV and shut off all the lights before making my way to Lucas' room. I knocked on the door but there was no reply. "Luc, honey, can I come in?"
"Go. Away." Came the reply and I clutched the doorknob in my hand tightly, closing my eyes.
"Lucas, please?" I said as I turned the doorknob and pushed the door open slightly. I poked my head in to find her chin resting against her windowsill, staring out towards the lake that was in front of our house. I pushed the door closed behind me and made my way towards her, climbing on her bed and resting my chin against the same piece of wood. "Soon we'll be able to make the rink out in front of the dock." I whispered.
Lucas shrugged her shoulders and sniffled. "She's here, isn't she?"
Broken whispers from a broken Lucas one of the most heartbreaking sounds I'd ever hear.
"Baby," I turned to face her, resting my cheek against my hand, "I was going to tell you after movie night, I promise."
"She can't have her." Lucas growled in a protective tone. "She can't have Dylan!"
"Luc, sweetie…" I reached out to hold her and she pushed me away.
"No mom, she's not allowed. You can't let her!"
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "It's not really up to me, Lucas."
"Ashley." Lucas spit the name out as if it were poison. "It's her. Your friend from school, isn't it?"
I told you she was smarter than smart. She could piece puzzles together quicker than Carmen, Ryn and I put together.
I could only nod and she jumped off her bed. "You tell your friend that she isn't allowed to take my sister away from me."
I've never seen Lucas that upset before. She was fuming for an eleven year old and I tried to calm her down a little. "She's just here for some meetings that I know of," I said softly.
"That's crap!" Lucas cried.
"Lucas!" I snapped and frowned. "You do not need to talk to me like that or use words that offensive."
Lucas' eyes immediately softened before her small body fell to her bed, crying into her comforter. "I'm sorry." She whispered over and over again.
I rubbed her back and sighed heavily. "I'm not happy about this either baby," I pulled her onto my lap and brushed fingers through her blonde hair.
And I wasn't exactly happy about the situation I was blindly put into. I could understand why my father had chosen me but I would've liked to have been informed first. Lucas was my life now and to see her so shattered over just the news of it all, I couldn't imagine how she'd react once Ashley took her daughter home.
I thought about seeing Ashley again. Everyone around me was spotting her and I only managed to glance up at her ass. I should've known that was her.
"Lukey?" Dylan peered through the door, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Are you okay?" She came into the room and sat beside me on the bed, rubbing her small hand over Lucas' back.
Lucas sniffled and dried her eyes before climbing off my lap and hugging Dylan tightly.
"Hey," I softly whispered, placing a hand on both of their shoulders, "who wants ice cream?"
Lucas smiled and nodded, grabbing Dylan's hand. "Are you sure you're okay?" I heard Dylan ask as they rounded the corner and towards the staircase.
I threw myself back on the small bed and groaned out loudly. I realized I had a headache.
I was starting to feel just as angry as Lucas looked. I tried to understand it.
I guess I would've felt differently if my own daughter wasn't involved and on the verge of a heartache.
And how would Dylan react?
I loved her as if she were my own. I treated her as if she were my own. She had curfews and had to have her homework done after school. She had a bed time and I made sure she was well fed and cleaned up at all times.
I made her feel loved.
I couldn't put any blame on Ashley. Not until I heard the whole story. I wasn't angry at her anymore. Hurt, yes – angry, no.
So many questions ran through my mind and I knew I'd search for every single answer.
Even if I had to force myself to talk to Alex again.
I get it wasn't her secret to tell.
But was it really a secret?
Did Ashley not want me to know about her child?
Her beautiful little girl who stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on her?
It was a different kind of love but it was just as strong as when I met her mother.
//
"You don't have to drive me home," she bit her lip, "I can have Aunt Greta pick me up when she's finished."
"Nonsense!" I laughed and stood up, throwing enough money on the table for both of our meals. "My treat so no arguing," I raised an eyebrow at her as she began to protest. "So if you don't mind coming with me to pick up a mask, we can call it a night . . ."
Ashley nodded and tucked a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "That'd be wise," she looked at me with a quirky smile, "somehow I don't think it'd be wise to hang out with me when your boyfriend already asked you to be with him."
Damn. Damn her. She was right but damn. I sighed inwardly, disappointed at the situation. I would've love to spend the rest of this cool fall evening with this gorgeous brunette, but of course she had to have some sort of sense to her. "Yea, you're right. I do have that thing called homework."
"And the brutal 5am wake up calls," she smarted off, sticking her perfect tongue out at me.
"Watch it with that thing, it could get bitten off," I laughed as we got into my CRV. She looked at me while laughing and shook her head. I really said that, didn't I? I blushed.
After grabbing my mask from the sports store, Ashley and I made our way back out into the parking lot. I squealed when tiny snowflakes fell from the light grey sky above. "I love the first snow fall!" I danced around the empty parking lot, my head towards the sky and twirled.
Ashley laughed and though she didn't join me in my twirls, she stood there with her hands in her pockets and looked up at the sky, almost with a relaxed look on her face. "Snow is wonderful," she grinned, "and cold. Can we get into the vehicle now before I freeze my boobs off?"
I snickered and quickly opened her side of the door before running to mine. I turned on the heater and watched as Ashley rubbed her hands together in front of the heat. "Please tell me you brought some winter clothes with you?"
She snarled playfully. "I didn't know snow would come this quickly. My stuff is still in the process of being shipped." She pouted adorably and I wanted nothing more than to reach my fingers out and trace her full lips.
"Well in the mean time, here," I threw some gloves and a hat at her from my back seat.
She looked at me with that warm smile again. "Thank you," she whispered softly and I felt my insides begin to melt again.
"Well, I guess we should get you home." I steered out of the parking lot and carefully made my way to Aiden's. I was happy to see that they had yet to arrive home so I wouldn't have to deal with him that evening. Somehow I think it'd ruin the good mood his beautiful cousin put me in.
"Thank you for spending the evening with me and feeding me," Ashley smiled and opened the car door.
"Thank you for pointing out my gay tendencies," I joked and cleared my throat, "I really had a good time." My voice went a little too serious but she didn't seem to mind. She winked and bit her lip.
"I have a funny feeling you and I, Carlin, are going to get along just fine. I already fell in like with you, who knows what's next?" With that, she was out of my vehicle and running into the house, she looked back briefly and waved with the biggest smile on her face.
One that definitely matched my own.
Great Carlin, what the hell did you get yourself into?
//
That was the very moment I knew Ashley and I were "meant" to be.
What that "meant" was, I was hoping I'd figure it out.
But first, I wanted to put the girls ahead of us.
Me.
Her.
Us.
-\-/-
Hang in there! Chapter 22 is the big one with a Spashley reuinion!
