Ashton rushed after her, catching up with her. No, he couldn’t let her get away with misunderstanding him. With just one night to meet her, he couldn’t let the opportunity go. He was surprised that Madison had cornered her when she knew exactly where he was. He himself was at his wit’s end when he received her call stating that she was planning to move to Miami for him. She knew he was working in Hotel Bayview. He didn’t know how she found out when he hadn’t informed a soul! In fact, he hadn’t even switched on his old phone for fear of it being tapped.
Her sudden phone call actually baffled him. How did she know his new number when he hadn’t even given it to Hayley? Everything was really confusing.
Before Hayley could reach the cubicle elevator, he took longer strides and grabbed hold of her.
“Let me go, Ashton,” she hissed angrily.
“Never,” stated Ashton, picking her up on his shoulder and going back to her room. She struggled against his hold, but he didn’t release her. “Stop struggling. It’s of no use.”
“I have nothing else to say to you, Ashton.”
“I’ll do the talking, amongst other things,” he added with a chuckle, but Hayley scowled more, still upset over his conversation with Madison. He went inside her room and closed the door.
Hayley struggled more, and he slowly placed her down, but pinned her against the door. She placed her hands on his chest to push him away, but he didn’t even budge an inch.
“You’re misunderstanding me, Hayley. I haven’t called Madison and neither have I informed her about my whereabouts. In fact, I ensured no one knew about my job in Hotel Bayview, Miami. I switched off my old phone in case it was being tapped. Still, Madison found out. She even found out my new number and called me, insisting on shifting there with me. I’m at my wit’s end with this woman.”
“Why? You should be glad that someone loves you so much,” said Hayley, totally green with jealousy.
“Do you think she loves me? She’s just an obsessed bi*ch who loves this game with me. I would have been happy if someone else loved me instead of her, but maybe I’m wrong. No one does. No one missed me,” he said, moving closer to her. He caught her hands in one of his and pinned them above her head.
“Who are you talking about?” she asked breathlessly, noting the darkened look in his eyes.
“You, who else?” he whispered hoarsely, leaning down to kiss her but, she turned her face away.
“No, you’re lying, Ashton. You didn’t miss me at all. If you had, you would have called me.” Ashton sighed and released her, moving away from her and turning her back to her. He couldn’t explain to her what shit he was going through. She would never understand.
“I don’t lie, Hayley. I’ve missed you like a madman, but I couldn’t contact anyone. I couldn’t jeopardize your life. Believe what you want to, but it’s the truth. It’s really sad that you can’t feel what I feel for you.” He opened the door and walked out with his shoulders slumped while Hayley blinked at his words. What did he feel for her? Why was it so complex to understand him? Why couldn’t he contact anyone? Why was her life in danger? Why were the mafia men after him all the time? There were so many questions arising in her mind, driving her crazy. The only person who could answer her was as elusive as an eel. The little time she had with him wasn’t enough!
Feeling frustrated, she was about to go after him when Skylar entered their room and shut the door, her heart thumping loudly in her chest.
“What’s the matter with you?” asked Hayley when she slumped to the bed.
“Nothing, just that Christian will marry me after we return from here. I never expected it to happen so soon, Hails. He hasn’t even given me time to get to know him.”
“It was inevitable, Skye, wasn’t it? Your family wanted that.”
“But I don’t. I dreamed of falling in love with a tall, dark, and handsome guy and marrying him one day. But I’m stuck with a tall, fair as*hole who thinks no end of himself. I can’t love him, ever,” swore Skylar.
“I thought you both loved one another.” Hayley sat dazed, realizing that her friend was in the same state as she was.
“He’s putting up an act in front of others. That’s what we always do in front of his family and mine,” she sighed.
“We’re in the same predicament, Skye. Maybe we won’t be as lucky as our friends. I love Ashton, but I don’t understand the guy. He always seems to be on the run. He doesn’t open up much and I’m still back at square one with him. His words are too contradictory. He doesn’t believe in relationships and dating, yet he wants to date me. I’m his girlfriend, yet he doesn’t contact me for weeks. I’m totally confused.”
“Oh, you didn’t tell us you are his girlfriend! I’m sure he will open up. Give him time to adjust, Hails. I think something is preventing him from admitting his true feelings to you. Even if he doesn’t, you can always pursue him and convince him. Convince him of your feelings, and he will open up.
Her suggestion made Hayley thoughtful. What could hold him back from pursuing her? Maybe it was time to take matters into her hands. She would have to tell him how much she loved him.
“Yes, Skye. You’re right. I’ll confess soon.”
However, she didn’t get a single chance to meet him. He didn’t come down to breakfast, much to Hayley’s concern.
“Where’s Ashton?” asked Granny, and Hayley was on high alert. She had been dying to ask Alexander, but didn’t get a chance.
“He isn’t hungry,” shrugged Alexander, casting a glance in her direction. What did that mean? Hayley remembered Skylar’s suggestion and took that as a cue to pacify the guy. Maybe he was still upset with her.
“I’ll take it up to him.”
“Do you want Maria to help you, Hayley?” asked Aunt Claudia.
“No, Aunt Claudia, thank you.” She served a good amount of breakfast on a tray and went towards the capsule lift. Today was the wedding and they would return soon. What if she never got a chance to make it up to him?
She balanced the heavy tray and carried it to his room. The door was open, and he sat staring at his phone.
“What’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you come down to breakfast?” she scolded him, going inside with the tray. Ashton didn’t at all look surprised and got up with a smile on his face.
“I wanted to see how much you love me.” Hayley’s mouth hung open while he took the tray laden with food from her hands.
“I don’t,” she scoffed at his reply, but Ashton’s grin widened.
“Sure you do.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her beside him on the loveseat.
“If you can feel it, why did you need to test it?” Ashton smiled, picked up a sandwich, and fed her first before eating it.
“I want to hear you say it.” Hayley smiled back, and they munched the breakfast, each acutely aware of the undercurrents going on between them.
“So, will you go back to Miami from here?” His eyes clouded over and he avoided looking at her. Hayley had the feeling he was hiding something from her, but why?
“Yes.”
His answer snubbed her to silence. She wanted to ask him a simple question.
‘What about us?’
However, seeing his reticent attitude, she couldn’t ask him anything. She feared his rejection. She wouldn’t be able to hear him say that there was no ‘us’.
“Thank you for the breakfast.” Hayley looked up into his sad eyes, her heart in a state of turmoil. Will this be the last time she would talk to him before he went away?
“Ashton, I,” she started but his phone buzzed with an incoming call and he tensed immediately.
“I need to take this call, Hayley.” He got up and left the room to take his call. Hayley sighed as her wish to ask him about their relationship crumbled to dust. She picked up the tray and left his room with a heavy heart. Would she be able to confess her feelings to him before he left? Would she be able to kiss him goodbye?
With a painful heart, she faced the day, getting ready and then helping her friend Sienna gear up for her special day. Only Skylar knew her condition.
“Have you confessed?” she asked in a whisper, but Hayley shook her head.
“No, he’s leaving immediately after the wedding. I couldn’t tell him, Skye,” she said, her eyes clouding up with pain.
“The day isn’t over yet. If you can’t say it, write a letter and give it to him before he leaves.”
“I think I’ll do that.”
Hayley wrote a simple note to Ashton.
Ashton
Maybe I’m not your priority in life now. Still, I’m waiting for you. Maybe I’ll die one day, waiting for you.
I love you so much that these little chance meetings aren’t enough for me anymore. I want more. As your girlfriend, I feel I deserve more of you. Is there any hope of an ‘us’? Will you give me a chance to be your actual girlfriend? Try me, I won’t disappoint you.
I want to understand you, to be there by your side, to be with you forever and always.
I want to be the one in your life.
Will that ever be possible?
Your broken-hearted Hayley.