“Fine, whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            Ashley quickly closed the door and made her way back over to Spencer.

“Sorry about that.”

“A different Ashley Davies, huh?” Spencer said, sounding something way beyond disappointed.

Ashley sighed, “Listen, she’s a friend.”

“Friends don’t let friends forget their ‘undies.’”

“What do you want from me? You want me to lie and tell you that I’ve been abstinent since our last time having sex?”

“No, but don’t say you’ve changed when you obviously haven’t!”

“Why are you so mad at me? Like, where is this coming from?”

“You just don’t get it.”

“Explain it to me!” Ashley shouted, her arms waving wildly.

“I needed you, Ash. I’ve missed you for years and then when I’m finally starting to feel like I can move on without you, you practically sense it and show up out of nowhere. I can’t handle this. You can’t just decide when you’re going to be in my life!”

“Then tell me to get out of it! Tell me you don’t want me in your life anymore and I’m gone. It’s your choice. I can’t make you fall in love with me again. I know that. But if you want me to stop trying then you’ve got to let me know…so that maybe I can move on too.”

“You would do that? You would just leave me alone?”

“I would…if you wanted me to.”

“Why can’t we just be friends?”

“I can’t do that. It would be too hard.”

            Spencer had no idea what she wanted. Half of her wanted to tell Ashley that she could never speak to her again. The other half wanted to touch the brunette’s face, trace her fingers across every part of her and feel her lips against her own.

“What do you want to do?” Ashley asked, her expression pained and desperate.

“Just…just come here…and hug me…”

            Ashley wasn’t sure she had heard the blonde right, but then Spencer extended her arms in an act of physical sacrifice. Ashley made her way over to her ex-girlfriend and wrapped her shaking arms around her protectively. Spencer somehow felt safe and comforted in the unsure arms of Ashley Davies…a shield of invincibility that she hadn’t felt in years.

“I love you,” Ashley said, running the fingers of her right hand over the clasp of Spencer’s heavy silver necklace.

“I love you more,” Spencer replied, her fingers finding Ashley’s hair.

“Impossible.”

“Totally possible.”

“Couldn’t be.”

“Well…it is,” Spencer said, moving her head to get a better view of Ashley’s face.

“No way,” Ashley replied, moving her index finger lightly across Spencer’s bottom lip.

“I have to go.”

“What? Why?”

“I told Rachel this wouldn’t take long. She’s waiting up for me.”

“It’s 8:45.”

“She goes to bed at 9:30.”

Ashley responded by raising a perfectly plucked brow.

“She’s an early riser,” Spencer said defensively.

“Oh. I see.”

            Spencer wiggled out of Ashley’s embrace and reached for her purse. Ashley didn’t know what to do. She wanted to respect Spencer’s wishes, but she could feel the desperation returning to her head through way of her heart.

“Don’t go…stay,” the brunette said, enveloping Spencer from behind and holding onto her as if this was her last chance.

“Ash…”

“Stay…stay…please…just for tonight. Stay.”

“I can’t.”

            Ashley took advantage of her positioning and began to unbutton Spencer’s button-down polo until she could free her of the rough fabric altogether. She barely even noticed that Spencer wasn’t fighting the advances, allowing the brunette’s capable hands to roam wherever they might.

“Just stay…stay…stay…” Ashley chanted into her ex’s ear.

“Ash…we can’t do this. I’m getting married!” Spencer said, finally coming to her senses and quickly turning around to face Ashley.

“I know you’re still in love with me! I know it!”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not. There was a time when I still was. That time has passed.”

“Ok, then just do something for me.”

“Maybe.”

“Kiss me. Show me that you’re really over me.”

“I have nothing to prove to you.”

“You can’t do it…because you still want me—only me.”

“Ashley, grow up for Christ’s sake. A kiss between us would mean nothing to me.”

“Then do it,” Ashley said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

            Spencer paused a final moment before kissing Ashley hard, their tongues meeting in a sacred and delicate dance.