Chapter 7: You have taste

"What's going on here?"

I didn't even have to turn around to see who that voice belonged to. Her strong Essex accent echoed through the strangely quiet room. I made no movements to pull away from Blake but he, on the other hand, jumped away from me as if my skin was scorching hot and was burning him. His face scrunched up as if he was in pain from the sudden movement. I could hear the light footsteps getting closer behind. Blake avoided my gaze as he stepped even further away.

I forced a smile onto my face and turned around to face her, "Sloan," I started.

She had an oversized white shirt that she probably took from my father, clinging to her wet skin and showing her young curves. The unbuttoned shirt revealed the red bikini she wore underneath. The water from her hair dripped onto the floor, creating wet trails as she walked towards me.

I took a quick glance at Blake and fortunately, he wasn't looking. Turning to face Sloan, I continued, "I see you've tried out the pool."

She stopped a few steps in front of me. Her gaze shifted between me and Blake and I knew exactly what was going through her mind. I didn't care about what she saw or what she thought of it. She has no rights to give her opinion, especially when it involves me. She's a nobody.

Sloan hummed, "It's refreshing, innit?" She flicked the hair off her right shoulder and looked at Blake. She bit her lip before looking back at me with a wink, "I'm well jel, babes. You have taste."

She walked past me, lightly brushing my shoulder with hers. I stopped smiling and gently massaged my cheeks that was starting to hurt from forcing the smile. I don't know how long I'm going to have to keep faking it around her. I have to talk to my father soon - if he would even stop to listen to me even for a second without having to rush off to some meeting or a stupid date with Sloan. When he told me that he was coming home, I thought everything was finally going to get better. I thought I was finally going to be happy. Finally have something to look forward for. But now, I don't even know if anything else can ever make me happy and honestly I don't think it matters to anyone anymore.

I felt a warm hand on my arm, bringing me out my thoughts.

"You okay?" Blake was standing next to me, looking at me. His hand softly rubbed my arm.

I let out a breath before looking up at him and shook my head, "I should be asking you that."

He opened his mouth to respond but I held my hand up to stop him.

"At least let Charlie take a look at it," I said, leaving out the part where my mind was screaming at me to say how much it hurt me to see him like this. Even more so when it's my fault.

Blake looked at me for a moment, trying to find a way to get out of this but I held my gaze, almost pleading. He sighed, "Okay." His hand dropped from my arm and I instantly missed the warmth on my skin.

I pursed my lips and mouthed a 'thank you.' I wanted to hug him, just to make him feel better but that would only hurt him. Reluctantly, I nodded and stepped away from him to go back up to my room.

I really needed to breathe.

My eyes weren't even trying to process the other things around me. It was as if my peripheral visions had stopped functioning. My focus was my room door and that was all I could see. I practically skipped towards it before closing it behind me, leaning back against it as I took multiple breathes. A smile was dancing on my lips but this time it wasn't forced. I slid down the door and pulled my knees to my chest.

I thought back to how close to each other we were standing. I had known Blake for years but I've never felt like this. Sure, there were times where I was really worried about him to the point that we would mirror each other's emotions without even realising it. When he was having a bad day, out of nowhere, everything would seem gloomy to me. This time, yes, I was really worried but it felt different. Touching his cheek and playing with his hair. Never would I have ever thought that I would be doing that. I felt my cheeks heat up just thinking about the way he looked at me.

A knock on my door made me jump slightly. The smile on my lips dropped and I was brought back to reality. Blake is my best friend, my bodyguard - nothing more. I wasn't ready to have expectations and have it be ruined again.

Another knock followed by a voice that I never thought I would hear, "Ashley?"

I immediately got up from the ground and opened the door. I was ready to throw all the questions I had and just yell at my father but the way he was standing by the door, fidgeting with the button of his shirt. I closed my mouth. I had never seen my father look like this, "Is everything okay, dad?"

He shifted his weight nervously from one foot to the other, "It's um...the th- um..." He took a deep breath and continued with actual words, "It's Sloan. She..."

Upon hearing her name, I clicked my tongue and shook my head, "No. I don't want to hear it." I moved to close the door but my father put his hand firmly on the door, keeping it opened.

"No, wait, please. Hear me out," he begged, his eyes are soft and he looked almost helpless. It was definitely a rare sight.

I sighed and leaned against the door frame, crossing my arms over my chest, "Seriously, dad. When were you planning on telling me?"

"I know. It's been hard-"

"Hard? You had the time to get freaking married but you couldn't even slip in a few minutes just to inform me that another woman is going to be in our lives now? What were you expecting? That I would happily welcome her as if she was my actual mom?" I was yelling at this point but I couldn't stop myself.

"No, listen-"

"No, you listen. It's my turn to be heard now. I'm tired of just being brushed away like I'm nothing. Do my feelings not matter to you? You know how much I still think about mom. You promised that it would be just the two of us. You promised that you would try, dad. Try. That was all you had to do. Try to be the father I needed. Someone I can lean on. Someone who would wipe my tears away and say that I'm not alone. Countless nights I cried, thinking about mom, craving to be held in someone's arms. But where were you, dad?" my voice was thick with tears. They were flowing down my cheeks and I didn't bother wiping them away. I wanted him to see how much pain I was in.

His brows furrowed as he took a step closer to me, "Ashley..."

"All I've ever asked is to spend time with you. Is that too much?" My voice cracked towards the end as I let out a sob.

My father shook his head quickly, "I'm sorry, Ashley." He closed the distance between us and pulled me into his arms, "I'm so sorry."

I didn't push him away or tried to get out of the hold. For a moment, I simply stood still, contemplating if I should give in but I soon realised I was too weak to hold back. I held onto my father as I sobbed on his shoulder.

"I didn't know. I had no idea. I'm a horrible father. I spent way too much time trying to prepare things for the future that I forgot about the present," his chest vibrated as he spoke. I wanted to talk back but I had no energy left so I let him continue. "I'm sorry I wasn't around, Ashley. There are many things I wish I had done differently but it was too late now. But I promise, Ashley," he leaned back and held my face in his hands, making me look at him, "I will try from now on. For real this time. I promise you."

Without even realising, a smile form on my lips. It was as if my mind acted on its own without my consent. I pulled away from the embrace and wiped the tears from my cheeks, sniffling.

"Would this be a bad time to tell you that Sloan really needs your help?"

I head snapped back up at him. The smile dropped again and I was ready to hit him with another chunk of my yelling but he stopped me.

"I know this is bad. It's just..." he trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck, "There really aren't many women in here and..."

I raised a brow.

"Plus, Sloan specifically asked for your help. She said to tell you that you have taste," My father smiled, pleadingly, "Apparently, that's supposed to convince you."

I was about to argue back but then, I remembered the same exact words came out of her mouth when she saw me and Blake. I scoffed to myself.

She's threatening me.

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- S.R. Fizz