“OMG HOT ASS AT TWO O’ CLOCK!!” Sarah and I turned to Patrick and he was pointing behind Sarah and I. So as not to make it completely obvious we turned around all the way and recognized that it was the guy from when Isabelle and I went Christmas shopping together.
We turned back around and saw Patrick fanning himself saying, “Hot damn he’s gorgeous. I would just like to lick…”
That’s when Derrick had begun to cough and said, “Yes sweetie, what would you like to lick of his?”
Patrick’s eyes got huge and he turned to Derrick and smiled. Ever so sweetly he wrapped his arms around Derrick’s neck and whispered, “They’re just words Derr, but the actions are what matter. So with that Derrick … I love you,” and Patrick kisses him on the lips.
If I had somebody by my side being able to do that to I would so not hate Patrick and Derrick in this moment. Hell, I don’t even hate them because they are so damn cute together. They even one another out because while Patrick is outspoken and loud, Derrick is quiet and reserved and you can tell from just one look they love each other quite a bit. In complete and total honesty … I’m jealous.
That’s when Sarah had to say, “Well, I have to get going chickys. Gabe and I have to make all the final touches before the wedding.”
Right then and there I went from feeling like nothing to feeling like complete and utter shit. I hated bitching like that but it sucks when you know the person who you are going to spend the rest of your life with and you don’t know how to fix the problems in his life. You have to watch from a distance because he won’t let you in and as much as you try to help he pushes you away.
After Sarah gave us each a hug she said, “The next time you guys will see me I’ll be Mrs. Gabe Prescott!”
We all laughed and cheered, but I couldn’t help but wonder when it would be my time to say things like that. It just seemed like everyone around me was finding someone to spend the rest of their life with. Of course there was Jade because I couldn’t see her ever settling down. If she did though it would take someone who was out of this world because I didn’t see her changing anytime soon.
Once Sarah packed up her beach bag and left, Patrick and Derrick decided to go play in the water so I laid on my stomach, welcoming the peace and quiet and started to read.
Reading is the only thing that calms me and helps me escape. By reading it’s almost like I’m torturing myself because I wouldn’t have to read if my life wasn’t such a fuck up right now.
I envy Isabelle because she’s no longer reading books, but writing them about her and Maddox. While I probably would never write a book, I do look forward to the day where it’s a possibility that I’ll be able to share the beauty in life and not have to read about it in order to escape mine.
I was on the last chapter of my book when a little girl walked up to me and asked, “Do you know where my brother is?”
I sat up, looked at her and saw that she wasn’t much older than four. I put my book back in my bag and turned to her and said, “No, but I can help you find him. I’m Ashlynn by the way. What’s your name sweetie?”
She gave a tiny smile and said, “Jacquelyn.”
I placed my hand out to shake her hand and asked, “What’s your brother’s name, Jacquelyn?”
We started our walk around the beach when she said, “Neil.”
I was about to ask that sweet little girl what her brother Neil looked like when we hear a deep male voice screaming, “JACQUELYN! JACQUELYN! JACQUELYN!”
We turned around and saw a guy running all over the place carrying a little boy and then Jacquelyn screamed, “NEIL! TOMMY!” The guy stopped in his tracks to face us and saw his little sister. The biggest smile came across his face and he began to run to her.
Releasing her hand from mine Jacquelyn scurried on over to her big brother.
After he picked her up into his arms and spins her around Neil places her back in the sand and looked into her eyes. Very seriously he said, “Jack-O-Lantern you can’t run away like that again, okay? You had me really scared that something might happen to you.”
That was when he turned to look at me and a little smile appeared on his face but just as quickly he looked back at his little sister and said, “What if this nice lady wasn’t here? I don’t know what I would have done.”
In a tiny little voice Jacquelyn squeaked, “I’m sorry Neil. I love you,” and wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek. Just like that Neil melts and he goes from this scary big guy to this little softy right before my eyes.
I couldn’t help but stare and smile and with that I said, “Well I’m glad you found your brother Jacquelyn,” and with that I had begun to leave but I heard Neil say, “Stay right here Jacquelyn. Tommy.”
Running towards me Neil said, “Hey wait up!”
I stop and turn around to see Neil running up to me smiling. He stops a few feet away from me and extends his hand and says, “Hey, I’m Neil.”
I smiled and shook his hand and said, “I’m Ashlynn. It’s nice to meet you Neil.”
When I said his name his dimples appeared and a sly grin came across his face. He slowly let go of my hand and said, “You know it would be rude of me to not thank you properly for helping my little sister out; so did you want to go out to dinner with me sometime?”
I giggled and then said, “Really? Is this how you pick up girls?” I looked over towards Jacquelyn and Tommy and asked, “Are those even your brother or sister?”
I looked back over at Neil. He had begun to laugh and then said, “That probably just looked really pathetic but yes they are my brother and sister. Truthfully, I just moved back here and don’t really know anybody. Plus it kind of helps a little when your little sister finds some beautiful girl to help her out and find her dumbass brother because he can’t watch two kids at a time.”
All I could do was laugh because I was not expecting that and it kind of turns me on.
While Neil was blabbering he looked down at the ground but then he looked at me from under his eyelashes and asked, “So what do you think? Want to go out sometime?”
My stomach dropped and my heart began to beat really fast because while I wanted to say, “Yes,” I couldn’t help but think about Jason because I knew when I first saw Jason and shook his hand my heart belonged to him. Unfortunately, I couldn’t wait for forever so against my better judgment and with slight hesitation I uttered, “Okay.”
Neil quirked his head to the side and jokingly said, “Ash you’re going on a date with me. The least you could do is sound a little enthusiastic about it.”
Giggling, I said, “I’ll go out with you Neil.”
He smirked and said, “I don’t believe you.”
I giggled even harder and said, “I want to go out with you Neil.”
He laughed and then said, “Alright Ash relax.”
I just rolled my eyes and pushed him playfully, “Does that work on everybody?”
In a serious tone he said, “I don’t know. I haven’t done that with anyone, so you tell me?”
That’s when I knew we had just went from playful to something else entirely. I was at a loss for words but my lips quirked up in a smile and I managed to say, “I’ll let you know.”
After Neil programmed my number into his cell he said, “I’ll text you what the plans are to go out.”
I just nodded my head and said, “Okay.” I started to walk away from Neil, Jacquelyn, and Tommy. I could feel Neil’s eyes on me as I walked away and then my cell phone beeped. Taking it out of my pocket I flipped it opened. I saw a number I hadn’t saved and read the message.