Lucky Me
Page 22
“Why me?”
“Do you remember a few months before we left? Do you remember the party you snuck out for with Natalie?”
“Yeah, vaguely.”
“Well, I was there. I had just found out about your mom and my dad. I was so angry and then I saw Wyatt Beckham kiss you. I saw red but what tore me apart is when you kissed him back.”
“I was trying to get your attention. I was young and stupid. I was just trying to make you jealous.” I say, still confused.
“That was the moment I blamed you. I thought to myself… she is just like her mother.”
“But I’m not…” I whisper, hurt.
“No, you are not, and I was so stupid to ever think you were. I was so hurt by everything and I took it out on you. I let my anger at the world fuel me. When we came back and I saw you again… The funny thing is I convinced Michael to let me come over. He saw right through me. He always did.” He says with a laugh.
“I saw you walk down those stairs and I lost my breath looking at you. My gorgeous Charleigh. I didn’t realize how much I missed you until I saw you that day. I was an idiot to push you away. I kept telling myself you deserve so much better than this life. I didn’t realize that this is the life you wanted and for some reason you wanted me.”
“Why am I here today? I was miserable these past weeks. Michael knew why and kept telling me how stupid I was being. My mother tried to convince me, but it was my father who finally made me realize what an idiot I was being. He said, son, I was lucky enough to have a woman love me with all of her heart. She put me in charge of it and I threw it away. I will never love anyone like I loved your mother. She deserves someone better than me.”
“Don’t you see, Charleigh, that’s what I was telling myself over and over again. I was just like my father. Now, my father is a lonely man without the love of his life beside him. He lost out on so much time because he didn’t think he was good enough. If he would have worked to be the man my mom deserved than he wouldn’t have lost her.”
“We were in the tour bus and I was glancing out the window when we passed a billboard. There you were. My beautiful Charleigh. But it wasn’t me beside her. She was with another man. My heart broke into a thousand pieces and I broke down. I don’t want you to be with anyone else. I want you to be beside me… if you will have me.”
Asher pauses, swallowing hard. He is holding onto his emotions.
“But…I want you to know, if you decide you do want to be with me, I will work everyday to the be man you deserve. I promise you and I’m so sorry for the shit I put you through.”
The tears are flowing down my cheeks. I’m so overwhelmed by his confession.
“I don’t know….” I sniffle.
“I understand.” He says quickly and the sadness in his eyes kill me.
“No, I mean, I don’t know what to say …. except I love you. I’ve told you this so many times. Asher, you are deserving of me and I’m deserving of you. We just have to love each other and stop the hurt.” I say.
“I promise.” He says and the wind blows through his hair.
He is the most beautiful man I have ever seen, and he is mine. He leans forward cautiously, but I’ve waited too long for this moment.
I grab his head, pulling him in close and I kiss him hard. He gathers me up in his arms and our kiss turns passionate quickly. When we break apart, he gently kisses my tears away that were on my cheeks. I kiss him softly and caress his hair. Our touch is tender like we are just now discovering one another.
“There you guys are!” Michael says, walking towards us.
Tammy is following behind him. We look over at them and then at each other smiling.
“Finally!” Michael says, raising his hands up in the air.
Tammy comes towards us smiling wide.
“You two, I swear.” She teases. We laugh and still can’t let go of one another.
“You guys were awesome!” Tammy says.
“Yeah, totally beat the shit out of everyone else.” Michael says and Tammy smacks him.
“Watch your mouth young man!” She scolds.
We laugh and, in that moment, I think it’s good that Tammy is in our lives. Michael could use a mother figure to scold him every now and then.
“We came to get you because they are going to announce the winner soon.” Tammy says.
“Thank you.” I say.
Asher gets up off the bench and holds his hand out to me. I look into his eyes and take it without any hesitation or reservations. He is it for me.
We meet up with our classmates and are awarded National Champions. The crowd goes wild and I see the pride in my classmates’ eyes. Asher hugs me and kisses me. These are the type of moments you live for.
I introduce Mr. Brown to Tammy. They hit it off immediately. If I’m not mistaken there may be romance in the air. I ride home with the boys on their tour bus and we are dropped off at Asher’s house.
Michael calls my mom and arranges a time for us to get our stuff from her house. He is moving in with Tammy and Asher. He wanted to buy an apartment, but I begged him to stay with them. Asher and I convinced him it was for the best. He checked out of rehab sooner than expected and we want to keep an eye on him. I decided to stay living with Roxy for the time being. I can’t stand the sight of my mom’s house and knowing Tim is nearby.
Asher and I have barely had much time to explore our new relationship. I made so many commitments to my modeling and the boys are catching up on all the schoolwork they missed. Prom is tonight. Asher asked me a few days ago and I’m so excited. I’ve dreamed of this since I first met him.
The media made the announcement that The Orphans are back in school and will be touring this summer. A video of us from Nationals is being played nonstop on YouTube and already there is a demand for it to be on their next album. Their label and managers have been bugging us about recording it. I’m sure we will, but now is not the time.
I enter my apartment and find Roxy playing on her phone on the couch. She has a rack of dresses waiting for me. It’s great when you have your own personal stylist for prom.
“Yay, you’re here!” She yells. She jumps up, tossing dresses off the rack, and onto the couch.
“I cannot believe you are waiting until the last minute for a dress.” She scolds.
“It kind of slipped my mind. I’ve been working so much and wasn’t sure if I was even going to go.”
“And now, look at you, he finally pulled his head out of his ass. You guys are just so freaking gorgeous together.”
“I haven’t got to see him much.” I mutter.
“Well, tonight, is going to be magical!” She says, clapping her hands together.
“I’m lucky to have my own personal stylist!” I say, smiling my appreciation at her.
“You sure are, now try this one on.” She hands me a beautiful navy dress.
After trying on ten or so dresses we both decide that we like a white two piece off the shoulder one. It has a princess ballgown quality to it and I feel beautiful.
“That dress with your skin tone and hair is stunning!”
She pulls half my hair up and let’s the rest fall to my waist in curls. She adds some diamond studded clips and makes my face up in lighter tones. I look at my reflection in the mirror and feel tears welling up.
“What’s wrong?” She asks, concerned.
“Thank you so much, Roxy.” I say, choked up.
“It’s no problem, hun.”
“It makes me sad that this should have been something I shared with my mother.” I confess. I had told Roxy about my home life. She knows about my relationship with my mother.
“It’s her loss. You are an amazing girl, Charleigh. It is her loss, do you understand?”
I nod and I hug her.
“No more tears. You don’t want to mess up your face!” She says and we laugh.
“We better get going.” Roxy offered to drop me off at Asher’s so I could stay with him tonight.
“Holy shit.” Roxy says and I totally agree.
“Girl, you are one lucky woman.” She says, fanning herself. He looks like he is modeling for a tuxedo or bridal magazine.
“I know.” I say with a big smile.
I open the car door and step out. As I stand there, I watch as he takes off his glasses. His face says it all. I’m the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. It makes me want to cry. He straightens up from the column and in what seems like two steps, he is in front of me.
“You look perfect. My beautiful Charleigh.” He says, his voice husky.
“You don’t look too shabby yourself.” I tease giving him a once over. He starts posing for me.
“I clean up pretty good, don’t I?” He says with a sexy wink.
“You’ll do.” I say with a laugh.
“Tease.” He says and then grabs me around the waist, lifting me so I can kiss him.
“Hey, no messing her up! I worked hard on this!” Roxy says with a laugh.
“I can’t wait to mess you up.” Asher whispers in my ear and tingles run down my spine in anticipation.
“Hey, let’s get this party started.” Michael says, coming outside. Tammy steps onto the front porch.
“Dang, girl, you look nice!” Michael says.
“You too, cuz.” I say and laugh at how crooked the bow tie is.
“Picture time!” Tammy says with her phone in hand.
Asher and I pose for a ton of pictures. Some silly, some cute, some downright hot which were embarrassing in front of his mom, but Asher didn’t care. I posed with Michael for a few. Michael decided to take Trix to prom. She was in heaven and I’m excited to spend my last few high school events with her. Trix arrives and looks amazing in a simple black dress. We watch as Michael poses with Trix and then we take some with all four of us.
“This could literally be in a magazine promoting prom dresses.” Roxy says looking at the photos on her phone.
Tammy nods her head in agreement. I start to go over to see them when a movement catches my eye. A curtain in my house flutters. My mom is looking over at us from the window.
I stand there and we stare at each other. I could have sworn I saw regret on her face, but she shuts the curtain. I look down and then back up to the window. I don’t know what to feel.
“Are you okay?” Asher asks, putting his arms around my waist and resting his head on my shoulder.
“Yeah.” I say. I look away from my past and into the eyes of my future.
“Let’s party!!” Michael yells out.
“Michael.” Tammy scolds.
“I’ll be good, I swear.” He says with a puppy dog look. She laughs and shakes her head at him.
“I’m keeping an eye on him.” I say. We say our goodbyes and I hug Tammy.
“I’m so happy things turned out the way they did. You guys deserve happiness, both of you do.” She says.
“Thanks, Tammy.”
I hug Roxy and thank her for helping me with everything.
“Have a great time and be safe, use protection, even though you two would make beautiful babies.” Roxy says.
“Roxy!” I exclaim with a laugh.
“I’m joking, not really, but…” I laugh and hug her again.
We climb into the limo and I feel like I’m living in a movie. This is so perfect; it can’t possibly be real!
When we arrive at the hotel where the prom is being held, paparazzi are lining up in front of the entrance.
“Are you kidding me?” Michael says, pissed.
“Let’s do this.” Asher says, grabbing my hand. He helps me out of the car and immediately the questions start.
“Charleigh, over here!”
click…click…click…
“Michael, how was rehab?”
“Asher, are you guys together?”
“Look over here!”
“Are you guys together?”
“Asher, what happened between you and Cala James?”
Cala James, the actress? What? I look at Asher with questions. He shakes his head slightly at me, but it’s enough for the paparazzi to catch.
“You were with Cala two weeks ago! Are you guys not together any longer?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Michael and Asher usher us through them. We get to the front doors and enter the foyer of the hotel. I don’t say a word. I know I should, but I’m not giving them the satisfaction of seeing us upset.
Asher takes my hand and pulls me over to a corner away from the windows.
“It’s not what you think.” He says, immediately.
“Were you with her?” I ask, calmly.
“No, yes… we were at the same place at the same time. Photos were taken and people assumed like they always do. I was never with her like that. I swear. You can even call her, and she will tell you.”
“Okay.” I say. He gives me a surprised look.
“Okay…”
“Look, I trust you. When you say nothing happened then nothing happened. I know how vicious and how manipulative they can be. Besides we weren’t technically together. Let’s have fun tonight.”
Asher looks relieved and he kisses me softly.
“I love you and you were always mine.” He whispers.
“I love you too.”
He takes my hand and we enter the ballroom. We find Michael and Trix already on the dance floor.
I don’t like the fact that the media is saying they were together, but it comes with the territory. I have to trust him, and he has to trust me to have faith in him.
He takes me to the dance floor and wraps his arms around me. We sway to the music and I’ve never been happier.
“Asher.” An annoying voice says behind me.
“Natalie.” He responds.
“Enough is enough. You can stop trying to make me jealous. It’s ridiculous.” She says. Asher laughs.
“Natalie, I was using you to make Charleigh jealous. I’m really sorry about using you like that, because that’s a shitty thing to do, but it was never you. It’s always been her.”
She looks at him with hurt and then me with hatred.
“You always get everything you want. Poor little rich girl.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve had a pretty shitty life Natalie. You are the spoiled princess who expects everything to be handed to her.”
“You know what, you have no idea what it’s like. I’m tired of being second best to you! It was finally my turn when you went off the deep end! He comes back and I feel like I finally have a chance with him, but then you just had to open your mouth and take away my soloist position and him. I had to stand in the risers with the rest of them watching you take my spot. You are on fucking billboards everywhere. Everyone knows I’ve always wanted to be a model. Then it’s just offered to you! So, who gets everything handed to her? It’s not me, Charleigh. You got the guy, the solo, and the modeling career. So, I’m sick of the poor me attitude from you. You are sitting pretty to me. Excuse me.” She says with tears in her eyes and walks away without another word.
It’s the first time she has been honest about her feelings towards me. I guess I can see it from her point of view. I start to feel pity for her, but Asher takes my chin in his hand, making me look at him.
“Don’t.” He says gently.
“You deserve everything.” He says, sincerely. I nod and push her from my mind.
I’m going to enjoy tonight if it’s the last thing I do. We have a blast with Michael and Trix. The night flies by and the last song is played. We dance and kiss to the song.
“Where’s the parties at?” Michael asks, coming up to us when the song ends.
“No parties for you!” I say.
“Come on, Char! I’ll be good!”
“How about you come with me to the after prom?” Trix suggest
s. It will be innocent fun, but I’m worried.
“I’ll watch over him.” Trix whispers in my ear. I nod my appreciation.
“What are you guys going to do?” Michael asks.
“Do you really want to know?” Asher jokes.
“Nope.” He pops the p and laughs. I don’t know what Asher has planned, but as long as we are together, it will be fine with me.
Everyone starts leaving the ballroom to escape to after prom or go to their respective parties.
Asher leads me out into the hotel lobby and takes my hand. He steers me towards the hotel elevator.
“Where are we going?” I tease. There is only one reason for us to get into the elevator.
“I got us a room. I didn’t really want to hang with my mom tonight and I wanted some alone time with you. I’m not expecting anything, if that is what you are thinking. We can literally watch television or just talk… naked, of course.” He jokes.
I laugh.
“Okay, sounds great. Let’s order room service. I’m starving!” He laughs when he hears my stomach growling.
He takes me up to the penthouse and I head to the table with the menu.
“What do you feel like?”
“You.” He says.
I turn to look at him and he is giving me the sexiest look. It takes everything for me not to jump him right now. I’m going to tease him a little even though it goes against everything my body wants.
Especially when he starts taking off his jacket and undoes his bow tie. He unbuttons his shirt, so it is hanging open displaying his beautiful chest and abs.
“That’s dessert.” I say with a wink, my mouth watering at the sight of him. He smirks. He knows what he is doing to me.
“Whatever you want.” He answers.
I pick up the phone to call in the order. He comes strolling over to me and comes up behind me placing his arms on the table, caging me in. I feel his body pressed against my back. He starts placing kisses on my bare shoulders and up my neck. My head tilts to the side and I hold back the moan as I place the order.
As soon as I’m done, I hang up the phone and turn into his arms. He lifts me onto the table and nudges my legs apart. He is squashing my dress, trying to get close. I hike it up and scoot closer so I can feel him. We both moan when contact is made. He keeps kissing my neck and then teases the side of my lips. I catch his bottom lip in my teeth and let go. He crushes his mouth onto mine. Our lips, our tongues are melding into one. My hands are tangled into his hair, trying to pull him even closer.