The Ladies Man

A couple of weeks have passed since the end of tour and Ashley and I have gotten back to normal finally. The first few days were a little rough, but then we decided not to dwell on that bad experience. It also helped that he promised me if he ever did anything like that again I could hit him with a frying pan. Today we were going on a walk together and I was still waiting for him at the apartment.
“So, now that you’re back on track with Ashley, when can I expect wedding bells?” Madison teased.
I gave her a glare and a slap on the arm. “What are you talking about? What loony world are you living in?” I asked.
“The one where you and Ashley love each other.” She replied.
“That may be true, but that doesn’t mean marriage.” God forbid Ashley Purdy should settle down and get married. I wasn’t giving up on us or anything. I was just being realistic.
“He’s shocked you before.” Madison said.
“Madison, we haven’t even been dating for six months yet. I really don’t think marriage is in the cards. Besides, he’s Ashley Purdy.”
Then there was a knock at the door, that would be Ashley.
“We’ll see.” Madison said as she answered the door. “Hi Ashley.” She said happily.
“Hi Madison, you seem awfully happy today.” He commented.
“Yup!” She shouted, a huge grin spreading across her face.
I facepalmed. “Madison, I said no.”
“Why not?” She asked.
“I just told you why not.”
“That wasn’t a good answer.” She pouted.
“Well it’ll have to do. And don’t you meddle.” I looked at her sternly.
Madison started humming the wedding march. I quickly clamped my hand over her mouth.
Ashley looked at me confused. “Did I miss something?”
“Yes, but it’s not important.” I blushed. He didn’t need to know this. This would send him running for the hills.
“Okay then.” He looked at me suspiciously. “Let’s go, I have something important I want to talk to you about.”
Madison giggled beside me. I hit her over the head.
“Don’t go getting any ideas.” I said.
“Awww.”
I turned and followed Ashley out of the apartment.

We arrived at a local park and started walking along one of the twisting paths that led through the trees. I took Ashley’s hand and gave it a squeeze. These were the moments I loved, just the two of us doing something mindless together.
“So, you’re really not going to tell me what was going on between you and Madison?” He asked.
“Nope. You are very persistent.” I said.
“I know, and I’m also extremely curious. Especially when a conversation goes over my head.”
“Well, we avoid using key words for that exact purpose. It helps that we’ve been friends for so long. We can fill in those words using best friend telepathy.” I laughed.
Ashley joined in. “Telepathy huh? Well I guess I won’t be finding out the easy way then.”
“No you won’t.” I agreed.
“I could just ask Madison.” He said, almost as an afterthought.
“No!” I yelled. She would actually tell him. That would not be good.
“Why not?” He asked.
“Because then I’d have to kill her and then run away to New Zealand or something.” I said.
“New Zealand? Isn’t that a bit extreme?”
I shook my head. “No, just the right amount of extreme.”
“Could I come with you?”
“No! Definitely not! Not in the travel plans!” I swear, this conversation was going to give me heart failure.
“Now I’m hurt.” He put on a sad face.
“Well, too bad. I’m not telling and you can’t ask Madison. Can we please change the topic?” I asked desperately.
“Okay.” He said. “Will you move in with me?”
I dropped his hand and stopped walking. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was frozen to the spot. He did not just ask me that. Oh my God! This is like when he told me he loved me, but worse.
“Belle?” He looked at me worriedly.
“Can you repeat the question? I don’t think I heard you right.” I managed to get out.
“I said; will you move in with me?” He repeated.
“That’s what I thought you said.” I took a few deep breaths to try and calm myself. This was crazy. “Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes. I’ve been doing some thinking and I want to move our relationship forward.” He said.
“Then, yes. I’ll move in with you.” I was a little scared, but he was right, it was the next logical step in moving forward with our relationship. It would be a good test to see if we could tolerate living together 24/7.
“That’s great!” He pulled me to him and kissed me. “I love you Belle.”
“I love you too Ashley.”

“I told you!” Madison exclaimed. She was jumping up and down as I packed my stuff. We decided that since I didn’t have much to pack I would move in with Ashley the next day.
“We aren’t getting married, I’m moving in to his place.” I said.
“But it’s close enough for me!” She yelled. “Who knows? Marriage may only be a few months away!”
“Would you shut up about marrying him!” I was getting really tired of this.
“What? Are you telling me you’d say no?” She asked.
“I don’t know!” I said exasperatedly. “I’ve never entertained the idea long enough to consider what my answer would be.”
“So you have thought about it!” She said excitedly.
I sighed. “For a split second. Then my rational brain shows up and tells me it will never happen.”
“You never know.” She said with a sly grin.
“The day Ashley Purdy asks someone to marry him elephants will grow wings and start to fly.” I said.
I zipped up my bag of clothes and went to pack my books and movies that I wanted to take with me. I piled them into a box and then folded it shut.
“Don’t forget your laptop.” Madison said.
“Thanks.” I grabbed it and stuffed it into my backpack full of notebooks.
“I’m going to miss you.” She gave me a tight hug.
I laughed as I hugged her back. “I’m moving in with Ashley, I’m not dying.” I said.
“Same difference.”
“No it’s not. I better get going. Ashley’s waiting downstairs.”
“No he’s not.” Madison said.
I gave her a confused look. Of course he was, he said he’d be waiting downstairs with his car. “Well then where is he?”
“Right here.” I turned to see Ashley standing behind me in our doorway.
“Oh,” I said. “This is better actually. It means I won’t have to make two trips.”
“What?” He asked.
“Take these.” I handed him my backpack and the box. Then I picked up my smaller suitcase and pulled up the handle on my bigger one. “Ready to go.”
“This is it?” He asked.
“Ashley, I’ve been living in a small apartment for years. I don’t own very many things.”
“Right.” He headed into the hall and towards the elevator.
“Bye Madison.” I said. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye Belle.” She gave me one last hug.
With that, I left the apartment and followed Ashley down to his car. This would be the beginning of a whole new chapter of my life.

Notes

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