Page 32 of Ashley
"Get inside," he told her, kissing her forehead. "If you're going to be busy with a work thing tonight, I'll be home later. I've got a fight with Silas I was putting off, but it's easy money. Text me and I'll pick you up after."
"Okay." Ashley nodded, and her hand was on the door before she furrowed her brow and realized what he'd just said. "Wait, what do you mean, you have a fight with Silas? Like, with him, or against him?"
James shrugged. "It's all the same."
"Not if you end up hitting each other," Ashley whispered, taken aback by his nonchalant manner, but James only chuckled.
"Don't worry about me. Silas won't hurt me. It'll be like rough housing until we decide who should win. We split the winnings 50/50, and everyone thinks we hate each other. It's a good cover, really."
That was interesting.
"So it's like acting?"
He shrugged. "I mean, I guess so?"
"Isn't that what professional wrestling is?"
He bristled at that. "We are actually hitting each other, you know. It still hurts; we just don't go a hundred percent, since we don't need to. We know each other's moves, so it's easy to make it look exciting but stay safe."
"Oh, well, that is different, I guess," she said and tilted her head to the side, giving him a confused look. "But why do people think you hate each other? You're best friends, aren't you?"
James gave her a lopsided grin and shrugged. "People don't know that."
"You two are weird," she told him, opening the door.
"Maybe, but it pays the bills. And remember, I want you texting me when you need a ride home!"
She nearly stumbled face first out onto the sidewalk at that and whirled back around to look at him, mouth gaping like a fish. "Home?" she asked, voice trembling.
He gave a look that could only be described as patient and kind, but his voice held a note of exasperation. "Yes,home. You live with me now until you don't want to. It's your place, too, do you hear me?"
Ashley nodded, not trusting her voice. "Yes," she managed when he raised an eyebrow at her. "I understand."
"Good. Now go on before you're late. I'll see you tonight, honey."
Again, she nodded and pushed the door closed. She stood there for a full thirty seconds before she realized he wasn't going to leave until she was inside. She hustled inside, and only when the door was shut safely behind her, did she see him pull away from the sidewalk as she looked back out.
"Home," she whispered, testing out the word. It had been quite some time since any place had struck her as home. Yes, New York came as close to home as could be, but she had never found that type of peace in a person, and yet, somehow, James was fast becoming her touchstone. How could a man become her anchor in such a short amount of time? It was startling but true, but what was even more so was that she had little inclination to understand it and, instead, opted to feel it where she needed it most—her heart.
* * *
"I am so glad today is over with," Natasha sighed, falling into the seat beside Ashley with a groan. Ashley looked up from the pins she was sticking into a pin cushion and raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"You'retired?" Ashley mused and shook her head. "If I had one more prima donna bellow at me for not showing off her figure, I think I might have gone postal."
"Is that why you stuck Giselle with a long pin when you redid her hem?"
Ashley rolled her eyes. "I did not stick her."
"Oh?" Natasha asked with a grin.
Ashley shrugged and looked away. "Look, maybe her thigh bobbed when it should have weaved. Who can say, really, in the grand scheme of things? If she was stuck, which she most certainly was not, then I am not to blame for it."
"Yeah, uh-huh." Natasha didn't look convinced, but the smile on her face said that she was entertained at least, and Ashley would take it. "You are planning on coming out tonight, right?"
Ashley nodded and shut her case with a snap. "Yes, are you?"
"I am, and I'm glad you are, too. I don't," Natasha waved a hand and tilted her head back as she searched for the right word, "I don't go out often, so it'll be nice to have you there."
