I try... I try so hard to be more regular with my updates and yet I always fail! Sorry
…
It had been a while since Misty woke up naturally, what with work during the week and wedding plans at the weekend, her alarm always seemed to be blaring. It was a nice change of pace to just wake with the gentle rhythm of her body, having had enough sleep.
She stretched slightly, grinning when she felt the familiar warmth of a body on her cheek. Misty hummed in pleasure as she curled into the war chest underneath her. It was always such a comfort to wake up to the sound of a steady heartbeat, and it was a rarity.
Rudy wasn't much of a cuddler, he barely liked to spoon, let alone let Misty drape her whole body across him. Not only that, he always woke up earlier – insisted lie ins just wasted the day. Misty never usually got a chance to trap him in a sleepy hug, and maybe a little something more, before he was up.
Slowly, Misty trailed her hand lower, winding down his pecs towards his stomach. She suddenly froze, that was not Rudy's stomach. His stomach was thin and soft, this stomach was hard and defined.
"You tease." A deep voice rumbled from behind her head, Misty's eyes flying open in realisation. "You can't stop there."
"Shit!" Misty cursed, pushing herself backwards. Unfortunately, she was closer to the edge of the bed than she realised and she ended up in a heap on the floor.
She heard Ash laughing loudly as the bed springs creaked under his weight, he leant over the edge of the bed and laughed even harder when he saw her.
"You're sending me some pretty mixed signals young lady." He teased, holding his hand out to pull her back up.
"Piss off." She rolled her eyes, but allowed him to move her all the same. "I clearly thought you were someone else."
"I figured as much as your hand seemed to be sneaking down to my…"
"You took advantage." She hissed, quickly cutting off his sentence. She didn't need a reminder of where she was planning to take the morning.
"Me?" He scoffed. "I was innocently lying there, you were the one who was all over me."
"Don't remind me." She grumbled, running her fingers through her hair and finding her rouge eye mask.
"I forgot how much of a snuggler you are." Ash grinned, reaching over and pinching her cheeks.
"You're a pain." She snorted, shaking her head.
"And yet you married me." He winked, tapping her on the nose. "Right, shall we pick off were we left off.
Misty frowned at him as he shuffled back under the covers and held his arm to her in invitation.
"I'm engaged." She reminded him.
"And I'm married." He rebutted. "But I won't tell if you don't tell."
"Ash." She warned.
"Come on, what's a little platonic spooning between two friends who used to be intimate?"
She knew he was joking, but god did that idea sound appealing. She did miss a lazy day in bed, and they were in abundant when she'd been married to Ash. He didn't take much persuasion to waste an entire morning with hugs and lazy kisses.
But she had to remind herself that was the difference between a youthful relationship and an adult one. When you're younger there is nothing more important than love, your other half is all that you can think about at any given moment. When you're an adult you have responsibilities to think about, Saturday morning shopping before the crowds pick up, cleaning the grout out the shower to name a few.
Lazy days in bed were a thing of the past.
"Well?" Ash prompted with a wink.
Before Misty could respond, they both heard a crashing in the kitchen. Clearly, a hungover May had decided she needed something to eat. Misty was so glad she'd brought her best friend as a buffer, she'd saved her without even meaning to.
"We better check on her." Misty bit her lip but Ash was already climbing out of bed and heading towards his dresser.
"I'm so glad we decided to adopt a thirty-year-old daughter." He sighed, grabbing a pair of tracksuits and a top from the drawers.
Misty watched him in disappointment, she wouldn't be complaining if he spent the rest of the day in just his boxer. But knowing May, they could do without the drooling.
Once again, Misty deeply regretted only bringing her silk cami and shorts. She had no shame in front of either of the other people in the house but it somehow seemed in bad taste to be strutting around her ex's house in such little clothing.
Ash seemed to sense her discomfort because he was quickly grabbing his dressing gown off the back of the door and throwing it at her. It was soft, as if it was brand new, he obviously still believed that dressing gowns were for Christmas morning and no other day. She'd often teased him mercilessly about it but it somehow made Christmas that much more special, the two of them by the fire, wrapped up in their dressing gowns, opening what little presents they could afford. It wasn't much of a tradition but it was theirs and she adored it.
"Thanks." She muttered, pulling on his dressing gown. Her senses were filled with Ash's scent and it was so comforting, even after all these years he still smelt exactly the same. He was still the boy she'd fallen head over heels for.
"Come on." He said, walking out the room and gesturing with her head for Misty to follow.
…
When they finally made it downstairs, the top half of May's body was buried inside Ash's fridge. Clearly desperately searching for something.
"Morning lovebirds." She winked as she produced a pack of butter from way in the back. "How you expect me to whip up a decent breakfast without any bacon is beyond me!"
Misty watched her in disbelief as she floated around the kitchen as if she lived there, still shamelessly dressed in her clothes from the day before.
"Why are you making breakfast?" Misty asked.
"Well, what kind of guest would I be if I didn't make breakfast for you both?" She grinned, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I'm a guest too you know?" She frowned, sitting down at the table anyway. She wasn't going to turn down a cooked breakfast.
"And yet I woke up alone in the guest bedroom alone." May teased with a knowing twinkle in her eyes, Misty prayed to god May hadn't stuck her head into the master bedroom before she'd stumbled down the stairs. She'd never live it down if she'd spotted her and Ash cuddling.
"Only because I wasn't squeezing into a tiny single bed with your drunk ass." She stuck her tongue out as Ash sat down beside her, his arm automatically leaning against the back of her chair. Old habits obviously die hard.
"Sure. Nice dressing gown." She winked, Misty blushing like a teenager caught by their parents.
"Bite me." She mumbled.
"Now, now ladies. That's quite enough for one morning because soon I will be forced to pick a side and that will be impossible for me to do." Ash shook his head solemnly. "My wife or the woman making me breakfast."
"I'd happily take on both those roles." May smiled.
"May, ixnay." He hissed, gesturing to Misty.
"Right, gotcha." She winked.
"What's for breakfast?" Misty rolled her eyes, she hadn't been hungry until she'd smelt sausage in the oven.
"A full English." She smiled proudly. "Well, bar the bacon."
"Shocking." She shook her head.
"I'm sure you'll survive." Ash assured her, giving her shoulders a squeeze.
"But at what cost?" She sighed dramatically.
Misty jumped as she heard her phone ring, still on the kitchen counter from where she'd left it when they'd first arrived. It would be Rudy, she was sure of it, he'd be worried. She'd been gone nearly 24 hours and only spoken to him once. What sort of fiancé was she?
"That will be Rudy." She announced pointlessly.
"Best not leave him waiting then." Ash replied, letting his hand drop and Misty instantly missed the warmth.
Misty nodded and slowly got out the chair, almost as if she was hoping he'd ring off. But he'd only call back, because that is what a loving and caring partner would do. She needed to remember that and remember why she was here. Get the papers signed and get married, that was the plan and she didn't need any deviations.
"Misty!" Rudy said as soon as she picked up the phone. "I've been worried sick."
"Yeah, sorry. It's been kinda hectic here." She said, feeling very conscious of the eyes on her back.
"Oh, you free to talk now?" He asked, sympathetically. Misty almost wanted to laugh. If he knew what was really going on he wouldn't be nearly as sympathetic.
"Course I am, free as bird." She smiled, deciding to slip out the back door into the garden.
She smiled as she was instantly hit with the morning warmth, nothing like New York where the grass was still wet with dew at this hour. The Florida sun was already rising and already heating up everything it touched. She sighed in bliss, maybe when they were a little bit more settled they could buy a holiday home out here, something to visit when they needed a break. Although, how relaxing would it be if Misty had to spend the whole time stopping her past from meeting her present?
"Sorry I haven't been in contact, what with arriving and getting checked in there's just so much on my plate." She lied, instantly feeling guilty.
"Don't worry, I understand. I'm probably the furthest thing from your mind with everything you have to contend with. Have you seen your family yet?" He asked.
"Briefly." She bit her lip, but what was a few white lies on top of such a big secret when all was said and done?
"How's that going?"
"Some teething problems." She grumbled, thinking back to the unsigned divorce papers. She honestly thought she'd be done with Ash by now and would genuinely be starting to patch things up with her family – while also swearing them all to secrecy about her first failed marriage.
"Well, I'm sure it won't be long before you've sorted everything out." Rudy reassured her. "Nobody can resist you forever."
"Thanks." She laughed, wishing she was back in Rudy's townhouse, drinking his posh filtered coffees and nibbling on pastries. It was simpler back home.
"While I've got you, I've been thinking more about the venue." He said excitedly, Misty felt her stomach knot. At this rate there would be no wedding.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, my Mum will be absolutely crushed if we don't have it in a church – you know what she's like."
"Mhm." Misty agreed, although she was worried she might combust if she tried to fool the gods by wearing white at a church wedding.
"And if we just pander to her then the rest of the day will run smoothly." He tried to reason with Misty.
"We shouldn't have to pander, it's our wedding. We shouldn't be forced into a church." She groaned, Misty was not too thrilled about her new mother-in-law to be. She had a tendency to butt in a little too much, god knows what she'd be like if they had kids.
Misty turned around to see Ash watching her through the kitchen window, before she could be a little creeped out by the action, he mimed drinking while holding up the kettle. Misty gave him a quick nod.
"She's not forcing me, I even agree with her. It would be nice to have something more traditional." Rudy huffed, another problem with her mother-in-law to be was that she had her son wrapped around her finger.
"Rudy, sweetie, it's me. I am traditional?" She attempted a joke to lighten the mood.
Once Ash had put the kettle down, he held up two fingers before miming dropping sugar, and again Misty nodded.
"No, but I thought you might consider it for me." Rudy whined.
Next Ash held two fingers up to his head in make shift horns, which had Misty frowning. He pointed at her before making the horns again, as if it made the question any clearer.
"What?" She mouthed.
Ash rolled his eyes before changing tactic, instead he started milking the air. Misty laughed slightly despite herself before giving him an enthusiastic thumbs up.
"Misty? Are you listening to me?" Rudy asked, slight annoyance in his voice.
"What? I mean yes." She replied automatically.
"So, you'll consider it?" He prompted.
"Yes, fine. But please no old gothic churches with huge spires and towering stained-glass windows. Something a little modern, please?" She begged.
"Of course, anything for you." He quickly agreed but Misty couldn't help but feel like she'd lost the battle. "I'll check out some places and let you know."
"Shouldn't you wait until I get back?" She asked, surely planning the wedding was something they'd do together.
"Why waste time? I'll narrow it down and we'll look at the best together." Rudy dismissed her. "Look, I've got to go but call me later? Please, I don't want to wait until tomorrow to hear from you."
"Course, sorry." She apologised again.
"Don't worry about it. I love you."
"Love you too." Misty said hanging up.
She stood in the garden for a while, uselessly staring at her phone. Why did it feel like she was being muscled out of her own wedding?
"Misty!" May screamed, leaning out the door. "Get that sweet tush in here, breakfast is up!"
…
After breakfast, there was another round of hot drinks prepared and they found themselves in the living room watching awful day time TV. The whole situation was strangely domestic if Misty was being honest. It felt like nothing had changed, that Ash and her had let another friend crash the night and were just waiting for the hangovers to clear.
"He's not the father, I'm telling you." May said into her tea. "Never trust a woman who thinks Ugg boots and a denim skirt is an acceptable look."
"Jesus Christ." Misty rolled her head back onto the sofa and inadvertently onto Ash's arm which had once again managed to sneak its way behind her.
She knew she should discourage this behaviour but it was so painfully Ash that she couldn't bring herself to. Even when they'd just been friends, Ash always found subtle ways to be close by, a reassurance in a way. And it wasn't just her, it was most of his friends as well. It was just who he was, he was a physical guy and a couple of reprimands wasn't going to change that.
"What? You know I'm right." May huffed.
"You used to wear Ugg's and denim skirts." She groaned, in fact they'd both felt extremely chic when they'd managed to finally afford a pair of real ones rather than knock offs from a market stall.
"Yeah, in my foolish youth. Wouldn't be seen dead in it now." She rolled her eyes, as if she were shocked Misty would ever think otherwise. Ash snorted but didn't say anything, he much preferred to just listen to the squabbles.
Misty's head shot up at the sound of a key in the lock, her heart suddenly racing at the thought of who it could be. Seeing Ash again had been one thing but she really didn't think she could handle another face from the past.
What if it was Delia? How could she look her in the eye knowing she'd run off, leaving her only son heartbroken? After taking sacred vows to love him for the rest of her life only to run off at the first hurdle. She'd be lucky if Delia would even spit in her direction now as apposed to the hug she longed for.
"Ash?" A feminine voice called out, but it certainly wasn't Delia.
A young girl walked into the room, she had a stunning smile and effortless style that would have seemed out of place in New York but fit in perfectly in Ash's humble abode. It was the girl from the photo and she was even more beautiful in real life.
Her smile dropped as she scanned the room, a girl in last nights outfit and another in her boyfriend's clothes was hardly going to be pleasant viewing.
"Hey Dawn." Ash greeted casually, eyes never leaving the screen as if he was heavily invested in the results of the paternity test but Misty knew from past experience this was just his avoidance technique. Ignore the problem and it was bound to go away. It was Ash Ketchum 101.
But this new girl was clearly not letting him get away with it.
"Ash, who are these people?" She asked through a tight-lipped smile, Misty wanted to just bury herself in the dressing gown until the moment was over. Unlike May, whose eyes were wide and clearly ready for a drama.
"Sorry, where are my manners." He laughed, Ash's second tactic was turning the problem into a joke and Misty cringed as he misread the room. "This is my wife Misty and her friend May."
"Stop calling me that." Misty hissed, but her protests were ignored.
"Misty, meet my girlfriend Dawn." He gestured between the three women as he did his introductions and Misty almost wanted to slap his hand for being so stupid.
"Is this some kind of joke Ash?" Dawn frowned, eyeing up Misty with distaste. "Because if it is, I don't find it funny."
"No joke, we've been married for… how long has it been now Mist?" He asked.
"Ten years." May helpfully supplied, long forgotten was the paternity test when there was a real-life domestic unfolding before her eyes.
"That's right, ten years." He clicked his fingers, as if he'd suddenly remembered.
"Look, someone better explain to me what the hell is going on soon or else I'm out of here." She warned, glaring at Misty as if it were somehow her fault this was all happening. She supposed in a way it was but Ash was in the wrong too.
"Why don't we give you two some space?" Misty suggested, uncurling her legs from underneath herself and standing tall. "May and I need to freshen up anyway."
"But there's only one shower." May laughed.
"Now May!" Misty snapped.
"Fine, jeez." She reluctantly agreed.
Misty felt like a dead man walking as she left the room, Dawn's glare following her all the way. If looks could kill she would have dropped then and there, it would have certainly solved some of her problems.
"Stop, I want to listen." May whined as Misty dragged her up the stairs.
"No, we are not." She instructed, practically throwing May into the spare room and slamming the door shut behind them.
…
Dawn waited until she heard the two sets of footsteps make their way into the guest bedroom before she spoke, she didn't need those two listening to her. It was humiliating enough to not know that your boyfriend had a wife of ten years, but even worse to find out because she'd clearly spent the night with him.
Her friends had always gushed to her about how lucky she was, Ash was such a nice guy but not too serious. He made everyone smile effortlessly with easy going nature and quick jokes. The perfect catch. They'd eat their words if they knew the truth.
"I mean it Ash, give me one good reason why I shouldn't just walk right out that door." She warned, hands on her hips.
"Because the first time I've seen her eight years?" He offered, and suddenly Dawn hated his lack of ability to take anything seriously.
"Oh, that's fine then." She scoffed. "It's only counts if you'd seen her in the past five."
"Look, she turned up on my doorstep yesterday out of the blue. What was I supposed to do?" He groaned.
"Turn her away, like any decent boyfriend would do." She shouted, the thought of this girl strutting around Ash's house since yesterday made her blood boil.
"She had nowhere to go, it's what a decent human would do." He defended himself.
"And what's she doing back after all this time then?" Dawn probed. "Looking to reconnect?"
"Christ no." Ash shook his head. "Wants me to sign some divorce papers, got herself a new fiancé."
"Oh." Dawn deflated slightly, least she wouldn't have to fight anyone for her man.
"Will you calm down now?" He asked. "And sit down for god's sake, I don't like having you looming over me."
Reluctantly Dawn dropped down onto the sofa, leaving a wide gap between them to show Ash he wasn't completely forgiven but she wasn't as mad as before.
"And what? If I hadn't come over today, she would have just slipped off with the papers and I wouldn't have been any the wiser that she existed?" She crossed her arms.
"It's not exactly the best ice breaker on a first date. Here's three fun facts about me I like Pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, oh, and I have a wife I haven't seen since I was twenty." He rolled his eyes.
"I think we're a little beyond awkward first date small talk now." Dawn frowned.
"I know, but some things are just better best forgotten. When I tell people that I came home from work one day to find her gone their opinion of me changes. See, like that!" He exclaimed at softening expression.
"Sorry." She bit her lip, but all she could picture was a young Ash coming home to his new wife just to find an empty home. All traces of her gone.
"Besides." He said, moving closer now that he knew Dawn had mostly forgiven me. "Have you told me about every single one of your exs."
"I guess not." She admitted, leaning into his hand that was gently caressing her cheek.
"We all have skeletons in our closets, mine just seems to have stumbled it's way back into the light." He joked with a soft smile.
"You promise nothing happened last night?" Dawn asked, she knew Ash was a bit of a flirt but she never thought he'd actually follow through with anything.
"Promise." He smiled.
"And now she's got her papers signed she'll be leaving?"
"Sure." He nodded, leaning in for a kiss.
Ash decided it wasn't worth mentioning he'd refused to sign them, it would only cause more upset. It wasn't as if he was denying as some last-ditch attempt to save their marriage, he knew that that ship had well and truly sailed. He was doing this out of principle. Misty couldn't ignore for almost a decade and expect him to be putty in her hands again. If she wanted his damn signature so badly she'd have to work for it, Ash would make sure of it.
…