The Wright Choice

by Kristy Gibs

  Please, just leave me alone.

  Ella

  I hit send and tried to put all thoughts of Preston and his growing obsession with Ashton and me out of my mind. Preston hurt me once; I wouldn’t allow him to ruin anything else for me. Especially whatever is going on with Ashton and me.

  17

  Ella

  Leading up to my big date with Ash, I was a bundle of nerves. I didn’t know what to wear, what to say… what if he thought I was a total loser? I was in the midst of a mini panic attack when Lucy showed up. She took one look at me and shook her head.

  “Oh, honey, stop freaking out!” she ordered as she sat next to me on my bed. “Get your ass in the shower so we can get you ready.” She smiled and nudged me.

  Taking a deep breath, I got up and walked toward the conjoined bathroom. “Don’t forget to shave,” she yelled, and my face flushed.

  I lost my V-card my sophomore year in college to a guy in my art history class. To say it wasn’t memorable would be an understatement. It was over before it really began, and it hurt. My experience since that night was non-existent other than taking care of myself when I needed to, so the possibility of sex with Ash scared me. Would my lack of experience turn him off? Despite being anxious, whatever I did with him. It would be memorable.

  After taking an extra-long shower, taking extra care of certain areas of my body, I emerged in a robe to see Lucy waiting with a brush in her hand. My room was transformed into a mini salon.

  “Not that you need it because you are beautiful, El, but I am going to make sure you knock him dead. Now sit!” I sat on my vanity chair, which was now in the middle of the room. Lucy set to work, pulling my hair into large curlers, slathering my face with all sorts of serums and lotions, and carefully explaining each step. I wasn’t completely clueless, but I didn’t go nearly as extreme as Lucy. When I looked in the mirror for the first time, I was speechless. With my hair in a casual beach wave style and my makeup carefully done, all I had to do was get dressed.

  “What should I wear? I don’t even know what we are doing?” I told my friend. With her hand on her chin, she scanned the contents on my bed.

  “Well, since he didn’t give you any details on your date, other than he is taking you to dinner, you need to be prepared for anything.” She pulled out a brown suede skirt and white crisscross V-neck sweater— which Lucy insisted would play up my breasts without coming off as slutty— brown booties, and a black crossbody purse. Never in a million years would I pick out this combo of clothing, but I looked hot. It wasn’t over the top but just enough that whatever we did, I would be comfortable.

  “Wow!” I said as I checked myself in the mirror.

  “You look hot, Ella” A grin of satisfaction crossed Lucy’s face. “My work is done here.” She laughed.

  “Thank you, Lucy. I feel... beautiful.” Turning to my friend, I hugged her.

  “Gabriella Costa, you are beautiful. I just added a little makeup and did your hair, but you didn’t need me. This,” she pulled away but turned me back around to face the mirror, “is you, my little butterfly. You’re gorgeous; you need to get used to it.”

  The ringing of the doorbell had me looking toward the bedroom door. He was here...

  “Go get’em, girlfriend. I am going to clean up and get out of here.”

  “Okay, I can do this,” I said to myself as I picked up the black jacket Lucy gave me in case it got cold.

  “Yes, you can. You will be fine. Text me later. I want all the details. Don’t do anything I wouldn't do.” She winked at me.

  Leaving my room, I walked slowly down the stairs, and there, in the foyer, talking to my mom was Ash. When he saw me, he stopped talking and his eyes widened, causing me to blush before a grin spread across his face. He was dressed in dark jeans, a dark gray button-up with the top button undone. He looked like he just walked off a photoshoot for GQ magazine. It had to be a sin to look as good as he did.

  “Oh, Ella. You didn’t tell me your date was with Ash!” my mother said, instantly embarrassing me.

  “Er… I thought I did?” This was mortifying. I was almost twenty-three years old, and my mother stood in the foyer gushing at my date like I was in high school.

  “Well, we better get going,” I said before I grabbed Ash and pushed him out the front door.

  “Good night, Mrs. King. I won’t have her out late,” Ash yelled over his shoulder.

  Slamming the door, I rushed down the porch steps. “Oh, my God. That was awful.”

  “Why was that horrible?” Ash asked as he grabbed my hand.

  “I need to get a place of my own,” I groaned.

  “You look beautiful, Gabriella- not that you never do. Shall we get going?”

  I nodded. He motioned for me to walk first.

  Like the night he drove me home, he opened the passenger door and let me in. The sun had just begun to set as we drove down the Pacific Coast highway. On days like today, when the weather was beautiful, I almost forgot I was in California. I looked over at Ash, who had on dark sunglasses as he hummed along to the music on the radio.

  “So, I may have had a little help with picking the restaurant from Jax,” he confessed as we pulled into the parking lot of Sobu, my favorite restaurant in Malibu.

  “I hope you don’t mind?” he said as he parked the car.

  “This is perfect!” I declared. I found it extremely sweet he would go as far as asking my brother what my favorite restaurant was. Despite my brother giving his blessing on our date, it still had to be awkward. No one wanted to think about their baby sister with their friend.

  When I got out of the car, Ash grabbed my hand as we made our way inside. I was getting used to the feel of his hand in mine. For the first time since being home, I was truly happy. I wasn’t worrying about Preston and Mia or anyone else. The only thing that mattered was how amazing it was to be out with this charming man who slowly wiggled his way into my heart.

  It was still fairly warm outside, so we opted to sit out on the patio overlooking the ocean. Once seated, I picked up the menu and scanned the selection. There was so much I wanted to try, it was hard to decide. The waitress approached, and I ordered a glass of wine. I should probably stay away from vodka tonight. Ash ordered a local IPA that was on tap.

  “So, I was thinking,” he said to me, making me pause from scanning the menu. “How do you feel about doing the multi-course tasting menu?” I had always wanted to try that, but the price was pretty steep.

  “Ash, it’s so expensive!” I didn’t want him to think money was all I cared about. We could have eaten at a food truck, and I would have been just as excited as I am.

  “I think you are the only woman in Malibu worried about how much something costs.”

  My face immediately fell, and I bit my lip. What did that mean?

  “It isn’t a bad thing, Gabriella.” He grabbed my hand from across the table and ran his thumb over the top of it before he continued. “It’s actually refreshing to know you aren’t after my money— wait, that came out so wrong.”

  I burst out laughing. “I know what you mean. I'm not a gold digger... or am I?” I winked at him, and he relaxed.

  “So, what do you say?”

  “Let's try it.”

  He smiled at my answer, and when the waitress returned with our drinks, he told her we wanted to do the multi-course tasting menu. “Tell me about Europe. You were gone a year, right?”

  “It was amazing. Best decision I ever made.” although when I first got home, I thought it was the worst. The rational side of me knew Europe was not an experience I would remember the rest of my life, but it also changed me as a person, in a good way. “London was our home base,” I said, remembering it like it was yesterday. “The first night, I was so nervous. I knew a few of my classmates, but as I am sure you can see, I am socially awkward, so getting comfortable took some time.”

  “You are far from awkward, Gabriella.”

  Heat rose in my cheeks. I wasn’t
sure if it was from his words or the wine. “Thank you, if only you saw me before I left.” I laughed, thinking about how different I was now. “I got to visit so many places and museums; it was a dream come true.”

  “What place was your favorite?” he asked, seeming very interested in the program.

  “That is a tough one. We usually traveled around for a week or so and then went back to London for ‘class’ before going someplace else. Let’s see, we went to Amsterdam. That was an experience. I never smoked before, but I did try a brownie, and although delicious, I was super paranoid for most of the day.” His eyebrows raised, I couldn’t help but laugh. “That was our shortest visit. Paris, Switzerland, Italy. It was everything and more than I imagined. For years I learned about Monet, Van Gough, but seeing it up close, it was almost magical. I probably sound like the biggest nerd.”

  “You sound like a woman who is passionate; there is nothing nerdy about that, Gabriella.”

  “You're the only person who calls me Gabriella,” I blurted out a little too loudly, and more than one person looked over at us curiously. The outdoor area was large and nearly every table was filled. People spoke in hushed voices, so with a little carelessness, the entire place could know our business. I looked down at my clasped hands that were in my lap.

  “That’s why I do it,” he added, and I brought my gaze back up to him as he took a swig of his beer.

  “What about you? How did you get into the music business?”

  “My dad, he was a musician.” I saw a glimmer of pain flash in his eyes.

  “Was?”

  “He passed away when I was fourteen.” His face fell, and I couldn’t help but reach over the table toward him.

  “I am so sorry for bringing it up, Ash.” He squeezed my outstretched hand.

  “Don’t be sorry. It was a long time ago. He was in a band. That was how my parents met. He was gone a lot, always traveling and stuff. When I was fourteen, all the partying caught up with him.” He took another swig of his beer. “From a young age, I wanted to be in the music business, but I didn’t get the musical talent from my dad, so the next best thing was finding the talent.” He shrugged.

  My heart broke for him. I, too, knew what it was like to lose a parent. The waitress walked up at that moment with our first course, breaking the sadness hanging in the air.

  Our first course was a deep-fried fish salad served with aged sake. We both dug into our meal, and all conversations of work ended. We commented back and forth on what we thought of the salad.

  Ashton set down his fork and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “So, I have to ask, and then we can never talk about it again. You and Preston...” he trailed off. We had to have this conversation at some point.

  “Nothing ever happened between us, if that is what you are getting at.” He let out the breath he must have been holding and sat back in his chair. “We were only ever friends. I thought maybe there could have been more, but what I felt wasn’t more than a schoolgirl crush. I think it went on so long because I never had anyone else who intrigued me.” I didn’t say it, but I was sure he understood I was referring to him.

  “Good to know...” he said

  “Preston is so far from what I want in a potential partner.”

  “Tell me what your potential partner would be like. I might know someone...” He ran his hands through his shaggy hair as he teased me.

  “Hmm...well, smart, funny, extremely good-looking, thoughtful, and charming...” I was describing him, and he knew it.

  “Well, you are in luck...” He wiggled his eyebrows. I was beginning to see just how lucky I was.

  Our second course was a sashimi salad with lettuce handrolls and sweet sake.

  “So, how long have you and Jax been friends?”

  “Since college.” I was surprised at his answer. I thought their friendship was something new.

  “You and Jax have been friends since college, and I never met you?” I would have remembered him if I had.

  “I thought the same thing, but it’s probably best, considering you weren’t even legal at that point.” I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of a thirteen-year-old me ogling over Ashton. “I started working at RevoltTrax about eight months ago. Before, I worked for a much larger company.”

  “Why’d you leave?”

  “I hated it. The money was more than I could ever imagine, but I didn’t like working for vultures. They didn’t give a shit about the artist or me; all they cared about was money and publicity. Once I realized that, I quit. By chance, I ran into Jax one night. Working with him is the best decision I ever made.” Lifting his glass, he took a swig of his beer. “Why did you choose art?”

  “It just sort of happened. I always loved to draw, and once my parents saw I actually had talent, they asked me if I wanted to take art classes, and of course, I said yes.” I thought about my first art class. I was so scared but my dad, he took me. A small pang in my chest had me clearing my throat. “Every summer I went to Italy with my dad to visit family. He took me to museums all over Europe, and my love for art exploded. Art was a big part of my life.”

  Our third course was the chef’s sushi assortment, and it was delicious. I opted out of trying the spicy sake, but Ash seemed to enjoy it.

  By the time our main course came, I was stuffed. I didn’t think I could possibly fit anything else in, so I only tasted each dish. Ash laughed when I told him he was going to have to roll me out of this place. We declined dessert, and instead, Ash suggested we take a walk by the water.

  With my shoes in one hand, and Ash holding the other, we strolled along the water's edge. Tonight, so far, was turning out to be the best date ever.

  “I missed the beach,” I confessed to him. “I didn’t have the opportunity to check out any of the beautiful beaches in Europe.”

  “Hmm... I wouldn’t mind taking a nice beach trip.”

  Was he saying he wanted to go on a vacation with me?

  We stopped and just gazed out at the water, the glow of the moon reflecting off of it. Ash turned to me, and I looked up at him.

  “I have been wanting to do this since the first time I laid eyes on you.” He leaned down and crashed his lips into mine. At first, it was sweet, but soon, I couldn’t get enough of him or be close enough to him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I was pressed up against his hard body, making me want him even more. Pulling away, he stepped back. For a moment, I thought he wasn’t feeling at all what I felt.

  “Ella, if we continue doing this right now, I may not be able to stop myself.” He cupped my face with his hands. Brushing his thumb over my parted lips, I closed my eyes, taking in the feel of his gentle touch. When I opened my eyes and met his gaze, there was fire in his eyes. He dipped his head and kissed me again, this time slow. I wanted to protest when he pulled away. “Let’s get out of here.” He whispered against my lips, and all I could manage was a nod. At this point, I would go anywhere and do anything with him.

  We got into his car, and I was sure he was going to take me back to his place. Nerves began to creep up within me, but I was disappointed when I realized he was taking me home. After pulling into the driveway, he turned the car off.

  “Gabriella, look at me.”

  I turned my head toward him. “What's wrong?” he asked, a concerned look on his face.

  “Nothing, tonight was great. Better than great, actually...” I confessed.

  “For me too...” I cupped his face, and he pulled me closer to him. “I had to take you home, Ella. I am going to do this the right way with you. You are special to me.”

  My heart swelled.

  “This...” he said, looking me in the eye, “means something to me.”

  The moment his lips met mine, I melted into him. What began as slow and sweet turned intense, and a frenzy came over me. Before I knew what I was doing, I leaned so far over the console, I was practically on his lap. His hands were tangled in my wild mane of hair, and all I could think about was
what I would do to be in the backseat right now where I could straddle him and take what I am dying for. Just as fast as it began, it ended. He pulled away from me and pushed his forehead close to mine. He let out a little growl, and I giggled. “If I don’t walk you to the door now, I won’t be able to stop myself,” he said before he placed me back in my seat and got out of the car abruptly.

  Never had a man made me feel the way he did... not even Preston. With him, I had never shared anything but words. He opened the car door and held out his hand, and I grabbed it. Pulling me out of the car, he pushed me up against his car and crashed his lips on mine. I fisted his shirt, never wanting to let go. I could kiss him forever.

  The clearing of someone's throat had me pushing him away, my face reddening when I saw Jax standing on the porch with his arms folded across his chest. “Jax!”

  His stern look cracked, and laughter filled the air.

  “He may be my friend, but you’re still my little sister. I had to make sure you made it home in one piece.” He winked, and Ash laughed.

  Ash didn’t think anything of the fact that Jax was intruding on our date. Between my mom earlier and Jax, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ashton thought my family was all sorts of crazy and decided to never see me again.

  “I promised you I would treat her right,” he said to my brother.

  “I know, dude. I just came to see what you guys would do. Carry on,” he said before he turned and walked back into the house. While hiding my face in Ash’s chest, he continued to laugh.

  “What's wrong?” he began to massage the back of my neck with the arm that was wrapped around me.

  “Ugh… My family, they are the worst,” I mumbled.

  “They care about you, Ella. So many people do.” I hoped he was one of them. After another passionate kiss, he pulled away from me. “Good night, Gabriella.” He brushed his thumb over my lips. “I will talk to you soon.”

  18