“Uh, I, uh…” Spencer seemed to be at a loss for words. Realizing her lack of communication skills was due to their close proximity, she quickly withdrew her left hand from Ashley’s grasp. Feeling her confidence level instantly increase, she playfully creased her knuckles and examined her fingernails in a haughty fashion, “Eh. You’re okay.”

“Okay?” Ashley leaned back and puffed up her chest, “Please, I am top shelf, designer name, a-plus, five star-”

Spencer laughed, “Alright, alright I get it. You may be a little more than okay.”

Ashley looked at her again with a little sparkle in her eye and a smirk in her smile.

“Alright,” Spencer conceded, “a lot more than okay.”

The smirk turned into a full blown smile and Ashley leaned back on her elbow on the dock, “Now that’s what I like to hear. You’re not so bad yourself, blondie.”

Both girls chuckled at this statement, Spencer shaking her head and Ashley basking in the sunlight that was pouring down on then.

Silence filled the air as the two enjoyed this moment, the simplicity of it, the weightlessness that would disappear way too soon.

After a few minutes, a voice spoke and the tone turned serious once again.

“You know, I always wanted kids.”

A blonde head turned toward the brunette indicating that her voice was heard and silently encouraging her to go on. Ashley kept her eyes closed, her back against the ground and her head pointed to the sky.

“I was an only child and my parents and I were more strangers who passed each other in the hallway than anything else. I had friends growing up, but we were never that close. They came and went, as did boyfriends and girlfriends. I guess I just always thought that having a kid would give me something real, something permanent to love for once, you know? And something that would love me in return. I guess…I guess I just feel like I’ve never really been given the chance to love before and now it’s all just inside me wanting to get out. I figure, what better way to get it out than to give it all to my daughter or son?”

Spencer was floored, she had no idea what to say or how to respond. She was definitely not expecting such a drastic confession.

“I don’t know,” Ashley forced out a scoff, “I’m just being stupid, sorry. Sun must be getting to me.”

“No, no, no,” Spencer turned so they were facing each other and placed her hand back on the brunettes, “You’re not stupid. I…I think you’d make a great mom.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

The girls sat there for a moment, smiling at each other until a booming voice interrupted the silence.

“Hey, there you guys are.”

Ashley sat up quickly, removing her hand from Spencer’s and flipping herself around so she was facing her boyfriend.

“Hey,” Ashley replied. Spencer could only offer a small wave.

He came and squatted down in front of them, the boards of the dock squeaking beneath his weight.

“So, I have some bad news. My boss just called and the McCormick deal I thought I had in the bag just went back up in the air again which means that I have to get back home as soon as possible to secure it.”

Both girls faces fell which was noticed even by Aiden, “I’m so sorry guys. If this wasn’t so huge I would just blow it off, but this pretty much determines the majority of my commission for this year so I can’t let this one go.”

“Oh, wow,” Ashley was stunned. She looked at Spencer, fruitless because her face was unreadable.

“Well,” she heard the blonde say slowly, “that’s okay. I mean, it’s only a few days early anyway. More than anyone, I understand the importance of work.” Her voice sounded robotic, rehearsed.

She continued on, “I guess I should go get packed then. When are we leaving?”

Aiden, a little shocked by how well the girl was taking the news and how perky she seemed all of a sudden, took a minute to respond.

“Um, as soon as possible I guess. So, today if we can. If not, tomorrow’s ok.”

“Nope, today’s fine. I’ve got to go tackle my room if we want to get headed out before dark though. I’ll see you guys later.”

And with that, she was gone leaving Aiden pleasantly surprised and Ashley incredibly disappointed.