12

I pulled up to the parking lot and parked.

"Do you want to come in or?"

"No no baby go ahead but if you take too long I'll come and get you because I'll miss you."

I smiled at her cheesiness and kissed her nose before unbuckling myself and going in.

The bell rang over my head as I walked in and immediately the one person I was hoping to avoid.

"Well well well. Hey Andy. Rethinking me taking you out?"

"Actually no. I'm just here for Ann. Her shift is over."

With that I walked past him and to the back to get Ann.

"Ann. Oh how I've missed you." I said as I hugged her.

"Yeah yeah. I missed you too Andy bear." she replied as she hugged me back.

She pulled back I helped her by picking up her bag and taking her hand to walk out.

We walked out and were almost at the car when I felt someone grab my shoulder and turn me around.

Before I could even comprehend what was happening, I felt someone kiss me and I froze, triggered by everything that I had been through.

I don't know how long I stood there, frozen to the memories that haunt me but eventually I felt myself being pulled away. I looked up just in time to see Jessy swinging and making contact with Luke's face.

He stumbled back and held his now broken nose and I saw Jess going in for another one but I gripped her hand just wanting to get on the day and go bowling with my best friend and girlfriend.

"Leave him. Let's go."

She eyed him before spitting on him and turning to me.

"Are you okay Andy?"

I nodded and walked towards the car.

"I don't think I can drive." I mumbled holding out the keys.

"Well if the owner doesn't mind I would love to drive this baby."

I smiled and tossed the keys to Ann and got in the back while Jess and Ann got in front.

The entire drive I was spaced out but I managed to appear fine.

"Okay so Andy is amazing at bowling. She kicks my ass every single time."

"I wouldn't say that. You just suck at bowling. But don't worry, I still love you."

We all laughed and got out. I walked over and laced hands with Ann before walking in.

"Hey guys welcome, how many games?"

I looked to Jess and Ann letting them decide.

"We'll play 2."

"Okay. Let's just get your shoes right."

We put on our shoes and went to bowl. Let the games begin.

~~~<>~~~~<>~~~~<>~~~~<>~~~~<>~~~~<>~

"That was fun. We need to do this more often." Ann said as we greeted her.

"Definitely. It was fun watching Andy kick our asses."

"Oh for sure. Thank you guys for bowling. And for dinner."

"You're welcome babe. I love you. Come and see Alec yea? He misses you." I hugged her one last time before watching her walk in.

I got in the car and we started the drive home. I'm waiting for her to bring up what happened when we picked up Ann but she stayed silent the drive home, looking out the window while she held my hand.

I parked the car and we walked in going to put our coats on the stand.

"I didn't bring this up sooner, but are you okay. Be honest." I turned to her to see her standing crossed armed across the room.

"I'm okay. I promise." she unfolded her arms and nodded.

"You didn't have to hit him you know."

She rolled her eyes before answering.

"Like hell. He kissed you. My girlfriend. Without your permission. He deserved it."

I rolled my eyes this time. So if I wasn't her girlfriend it wouldn't have mattered.

"What? So if I wasn't your girlfriend it wouldn't have mattered? He could have done it because I didn't have a woman claiming me as her own. Whatever. Violence isn't the answer anyway."

"I didn't say that. Now you're putting words in my mouth and overreacting." she tried walking towards me but I was mad. At everything.

"I'm overreacting?! Whatever."

I stormed past her and outside, curling up in the hammock.

She's probably gone upstairs.

After about an hour of wallowing outside in the cold I decided to go and apologize because I was in the wrong.

I got out of the hammock to see her reading on the steps leading up to the door.

I reached out for her and she took my hand before following me inside.

I handed her the blanket on the couch. We were both outside in the cold but I cared more about her right now.

"I'm sorry I yelled and got mad for nothing. You were just protecting me and I shouldn't have gotten so mad."

I looked up at her and I knew I looked like I was about to cry. Evidently I was.

"It's okay baby. I'm sorry for getting mad too. I would have punched him even if you weren't my girlfriend and I don't think of you as a posssion but an equal. I love you so much. And I'm sorry I got mad at you."

"I love you. You must be cold. I'll run you a bath." I walked over to her and hugged her, kissing her cheek and walking upstairs.

We had our first fight and I hated it. I hated how yelling at her made me feel. I never want to do that again.

I walked into the bathroom and started the bath. I also added a bath bomb in her favorite colour, blue.

I walked out once the bath was set to see her sitting on the bed.

"The bathroom down the hall has a bath set for you. Enjoy it."

I smiled as she walked over to me and kissed my head.

Once she closed the door I made my way to the bathroom. I stripped out of my clothes and sighed in contentment of the temperature of the bath.

I sat there until the water ran cold, thinking of everything. When my ex and I fought she hit me, swore at me. Yelled at me. She would even force me when I didn't want to. Jessy isn't anything like Sam. She's so kind. And she has such a beautiful soul.

I made a discovery in the bathtub. She's my person. The person I marry. Obviously not right now. We've moved so fast already. But someday I'm making that woman my wife. We'll be an official family. Her and I, Alec and Taylor and any other kids we have.

I wrapped the towel around myself and walked to the bedroom to change. Jessy was in bed already waiting for me.

"I left a set of clothes in the bathroom."

I nodded and went in to change into the t-shirt and shorts she left out for me.

The shirt was hers. The one she wore before I made her change and it smelt heavenly. Just like her.

I walked into the room and jumped straight in bed, keeping my distance from her incase she was still mad.

"Dumbass why are you sitting over there. Come here and gimme love."

I looked up at her to see her smiling at me with open arms and nothing but love in her eyes.

"Are you sure? If you're still mad I can give you space."

She sighed and seeing as I wasn't moving, she shifted so that she could pull me into her arms.

"I'm not mad but I wouldn't withhold cuddles in bed with you if I was."

I nodded slightly against her.

"Baby. Are you okay?"

I nodded in my head.

"You promise my love?"

I nodded again and put my arms around her. I felt her relax against me and kiss my head.

"I'm really sorry about earlier baby. I love you and I don't want to fight with you ever. And when we do fight I want to make up with you as soon as possibly because it's torture knowing you're mad or upset or hurt because of me."

"I know baby. Now get some rest my love. We're going shopping tomorrow."