Into The Fire - E. L. Todd Page 0,31

table and handed it over. “And you look hot tonight, by the way.” Without waiting for my reaction he headed to the door. “Let’s go.”

***

His parents lived in the suburbs in Connecticut. It was a nice little house with a decent backyard. It wasn’t a mansion by any means, but it was definitely comfortable. It would be nice to be away from the city every once in a while.

We sat down to dinner and made small talk. This time, Ash was affectionate with me and I didn’t need to remind him to be. His arm went over the back of my chair and he spoke to his parents like everything was great.

His parents were nice, but I was irritated they were making their son jump through hoops just to get back the money he loaned to them. It was so morally wrong it left a bad taste in my mouth. Ash was a little crazy and over-the-top but he had so many good qualities. Why did they feel the need to change him? I wouldn’t change anything.

His mom clapped her hands excitedly. “Now that dinner is ready…”

“You’re going to get the check book?” Ash blurted.

His mom ignored his comment and returned with a photo album. “It’s picture time.”

“Picture time?” Ash asked. “Why would Alessandra want to see pictures of me?”

“Because I’m your girlfriend,” I reminded him. He could be really dense sometimes.

“So?” he asked. “That still doesn’t make any sense to me.”

“Just shut up and sit there.” His mom sat beside me and flipped through the pages. “And here’s Ash’s story…” The first few pictures of Ash were of him as a baby.

“Ugh,” Ash said. “I was one ugly baby.”

“Were not,” his mom said defensively. “You were beautiful—still are.” She continued flipping the pages to pictures from his little league days. “He was always good at sports.”

“I’m good at everything,” Ash said.

“Can you be quiet for a few minutes?” I asked.

His mom chuckled and kept turning the pages. When we got to his time in high school, his handsome features really came in. He lost all his baby fat and was nothing but hardness. Slight facial hair was on his face. He wasn’t as tall as he is now, but he was still gigantic.

Then she turned the page to his military days. There were pictures of him in his uniform when he was sworn in, and other times when he was visiting. I’d never been a fan of the uniform but Ash looked really hot in it.

“So handsome,” his mom said. “Strong man.”

I leaned toward him and lowered my voice. “You really fill out that uniform…”

That stupid grin stretched across his face. “Maybe I’ll put it on for you when we get back.”

That’d be nice.

His mom finally put the album away. “We have such a handsome boy. We’re very lucky.” She patted his shoulder affectionately.

“Thanks, Mom.” He sipped his wine and kept his arm around me. “Alessandra and I were talking about me going back to school.”

We were?

His mom sat back down again. “Really?” She couldn’t hide the happy surprise in her eyes.

“Alessandra says I’m really good with sketching, so she thinks I should pursue a degree in art history, maybe become a professor or something.”

I couldn’t picture Ash ever doing that.

“That sounds like a great idea,” his dad said. “An admirable goal.”

Why couldn’t they just accept him for exactly who he was?

“You’re really rubbing off on him,” his mom said. “But in a good way.”

“She’s pretty amazing,” Ash said. “I’m lucky she puts up with me.”

Sitting there and lying to his family felt so deceitful. Ash shouldn’t have to pretend to be someone else. It simply wasn’t fair.

“Let’s move into the living room for coffee and dessert,” his mother said.

“Great idea.” His dad rose from the table.

I turned to Ash and gave him an accusatory look.

He knew what it meant. “I just have to get through this. Then I can tell them where to go.”

***

Ash walked me to my door. “Thanks for putting up with my family tonight.”

“They really aren’t that bad. It’s obvious how much they love you.”

“They love me so much that they want to change me?”

“I admit that isn’t fair…but they mean well. At least, they think they do.”

“Whatever.” He leaned against the door panel with his hands in his pockets. “So…you like a man in uniform, huh?”

“Well, you looked really hot in it.”

“I look hot in everything—and nothing.” He gave me that smartass wink.

“You’d be the perfect man if you were a little more humble.”

“I