Catch 22

32

As our friends load into the uber, I hold Rowen back.

"I don't want to leave without Ash." I say into her ear as I wave the others on. "We'll be right behind you, just gonna wait for Ashton!" I yell to them as I shut the door of the car and their driver peels away from the curb.

"How long do you think they'll be?" She asks, slinking her arms around around my waist and burying her face in my chest. I prop my chin on top of her head, smiling at how fucking adorable she looks in my outfit.

"I dunno." I tell her, turning my head to the side to look back towards Ash and Kay. I can't hear anything they're saying from this distance which I guess is a good thing because they aren't yelling. "They've got a lot of issues and I don't think Ash was expecting her to show."

"Damn, that's gotta be rough."

"He's really in love with her. I think she loves him just as much she's just scared. They both are really." I muse.

"They're probably just scared." She says thoughtfully, spinning in my arms so that her back is pressed against me. "This whole relationship thing is pretty frightening."

"I think we're doing alright with it though, yeah?" I ask, pulling my bottom lip back with my teeth nervously.

"I feel more at ease with you than with anyone I've ever met." She says quietly, leaning her cheek against my bicep that's crossed over her chest, holding her close to me. "It's a little bit worrisome how much I feel for you considering I only met you in September. It feels like so much longer." She says audibly though I think she's speaking more to herself than to me.

"I know what you mean." I tell her. "I feel like I've known you my whole life."

"Let's just fucking go." Ash says harshly, surprising both Row and myself as he approaches, his heavy footsteps beat against the concrete and he stands a few feet away from away from us, arms crossed and anger radiating off of him in waves.

"She not going?" I ask as gently as possible.

"No, she fucking left. I just want to go get fucking smashed. Tomorrow is supposed to be our anniversary and she wants nothing to do with me right now." He seethes.

"You sure, mate? You've been cutting out the drinking and stuff..." I try.

He looks over to me and the look in his eyes shuts me up pretty quickly.

"I just, I just need to escape for a bit tonight, okay?"

I nod and look down to Rowen, her face reading as concerned as mine must. The car pulls up to collect us and we pile in the back, Ashton taking the passenger seat and I call out the address of the club we had all agreed on.

"You think we should stay sober tonight?" I whisper to her when Ash is occupied by his phone.

"Nah, I think if anything he's going to need a drinking buddy. There's enough of us going out to make sure everyone gets back to the bus by morning. It's only a few hours drive tomorrow."

"Yeah, but we've got a show."

"There will be plenty of time to sober up. Not that it would be your first show hungover." She laughs and I think about the stories I've told her from our younger days. "He needs you. I'll hang out with the girls so you can be the boys tonight. Just be safe."

"You too.Say the word and we can leave." I tell her seriously and she nods in understanding, leaning forward to peck my lips, smiling as she pulls away.

I cant keep the smile off my own face. She's so beautiful and she makes me fucking giddy.

The car pulls to a stop and I hop out, extending my hand to help Rowen out after me, throwing my arm around her as we enter the club through the VIP entrance and are led to the small velvet roped area full of our friends and the crew.