Ashton knew damn well he had no right to be here.
The church was crowded with people in pastel dresses and suits, the room blindingly bright as the sun peered through the tall windows, glinting off sparkling teeth and champagne glasses. He scrunched his nose at the sight, finding the cotton candy colored assortment of guests to be sickeningly sweet and mildly unsettling. If he wasn’t stolen away behind a curtain, he knows he would stand out in his blue jeans and green flannel—the nicest clothes he owned, his father’s brown old leather jacket weighing heavy on his shoulders as he tucked himself further into the corner. A potted tree hid his face from view, peeking through the fronds as he gauged the situation. It had been a miracle in itself that he’d managed to slip in unnoticed, the families and friends chattering with excitement and swooning over each other’s outfits. Ashton was going to get frown lines after today, marring his pretty face with the evidence of his crimes.
He was not the kind of guy who should be rudely barging in on a white veil occasion, he knew that, but Jade—God, she wasn’t the kind of girl who should be marrying the wrong guy. And any guy who wasn’t Ashton was
wrong, but for Elliot fucking Munson to be standing at the altar, smug and proud as he leans back to whisper to his family as they waited for the bride to be ready—well, Ashton thanked God Almighty for the strength he was blessing upon him. It could only be divine intervention alone that kept him hidden and not marching up the aisle to knock that fucking smirk of Munson’s stubby little face.
Jade Munson—how gross, how bland.
Jade Pines? A symphony comparable to Mozart and Beethoven. A hymn sung by the angels and a truth written by fate. It had a ring to it.
If only he hadn’t… Ashton curled his fingers into a ball, nails digging into his palm as he tucked his chin to his shoulder and fought to keep his emotions in check. It had all happened so fast. He hadn’t meant to yell, he shouldn’t have raised his voice. It was just… it was the wrong place, wrong time. He could hear her now, asking him for the fourth, fifth, sixth time about their plans after graduation and he’d lost it. He’d thrown his fist onto his desk, the bang ear-splitting as he rose to his feet and turned to her, voice pitched high in frustration as he told her to let it go, as he told her not
now. She’d asked when
now would be and he… God, why did he say never? Why did he let her believe that he didn’t want a future with her when that was so fucking far from the truth?
A ring had burned in his pocket that night, long after she’d stormed off—long after she’d blocked his number and disappeared up North.
How could he tell her that he was afraid of holding her back? That he knew if he told her that college wasn’t in the cards for him and he needed to head back to Texas, she’d give up on her dreams and follow him to the ranch? He couldn’t do that to her. He couldn’t let her settle with him when she was meant to be so much more.
Why couldn’t he have told her that instead of hurting her so badly?
The face she’d made still tortured him, fear twisting her pretty features into something so haunting. Tears had welled in her eyes, the blue glistening and shimmering with wetness. She’d choked out a question, wondering what he meant—wondering
why. Ashton doesn’t know why he told her it wasn’t working because it
was. He doesn’t know why he told her to go when all he wanted was for her to
stay. She was his forever and in a fit of panic, he’d thrown his future away.
Jade had gone off to New York while Ashton tended his family’s ranch. She’d gotten her degree while he cared for the cattle. She’d run into Elliot back in Beacon Hills while he busted his ass trying to bring glory back to his parents’ land.
He’d heard through the grapevine about their romance. Jensen slipped him small details here and there. Elliot had convinced Jade to move back to their small town, setting her up to be the housewife she never wanted to be. When he stopped by his uncle’s cabin and saw the wedding invite pinned to the fridge, he lost his breath. It was as if the air had evaporated, the world a vacuum as it stilled around him.
No.
No, that was supposed to be him. It
was going to be him if he had any say in this. Jade was making the wrong choice; she just couldn’t see that yet.
Jensen had tried to talk him out of this Ludacris plan, but clearly, he wasn’t successful. When the preacher said
speak now, Ashton was going to vouch for a second chance. It had to work.
It just had to.
He could spot his cousin in the crowd, Jensen’s head occasionally swiveling away from Iris as he searched the room for Ashton. Pride swelled in his chest as his cousin sighed in defeat and turned his attention back to his fiancée. There was something so heart-warming that Jade still included his family on her big day, that she wanted to share this moment with Jensen and Sabrina and Blake—the pair likely running late, as always, as he wasn’t able to spot them just yet.
Too bad Ashton was going to step on it.
He wonders briefly if she had suggested inviting him as well and Elliot shot the idea down.
A hush fell over the guests as the organ began to play a ghastly version of
Here Comes the Bride. Blake and Sabrina cut in just before the bridal party made their way down the aisle, stealing seats in the back of the room—on the opposite side of Ashton’s corner. The grimace on Ashton’s lips trembled, his nose scrunched as he watched the pairs march down to the altar. Erin’s smile was forced as she leaned discreetly away from Freddy, leaving as much space as possible between them. He was barely able to keep himself from snickering, nearly giving himself away at the sight. He had never liked Erin, always butting heads with Jade’s twin and never getting along. If nothing else comes from today, at least he got to see her suffer a little.
The others filter in behind them. Sadie and some tall blond guy. Charlie and a long-haired tan male. Chrissy and Zach arm in arm. Something didn’t sit right with her side being filled up with his friends and not many of her own. The whole ordeal was so extravagant and over the top. Drapes and smothering amounts of obnoxious decor. Flowers spilled across columns and the church pews. It was gaudy. It wasn’t Jade. How could she ever say yes to someone who so clearly didn’t know her?
Or maybe Eli did and still pressed for their wedding to look like this. Ashton’s fist clenched tighter.
The music took a softer turn as the bridal party settled, less harsh and abrasive and so much sweeter as the doors opened once more. Ashton’s breath hitched, a soft chorus of awe filling the room as the guests fawned over her beauty and he was no better. His heart wept in his chest, a cacophony of stuttered beats he feared everyone could hear. He sank deeper into his corner but tilted his head around the potted plant to see Jade better. Ashton wishes he hadn’t, wishes he hadn’t dared to come here in the first place.
Jade was… God, she was breathtaking. He knew she would be. He had imagined this day a million times since he’d met her, but his heart splintered as she walked away from him and not
towards him. He knows that she was wishing it was him at the altar. He knows it.
Her dress had a sweetheart neckline, accentuating her curves in a modest yet oh-so-tempting way. The bodice clung to her chest before spilling into loose fabric around her hips, a billowing lace skirt sprinkled with embroidered white flowers. Two loose sleeves hung around her arms, slivers of puffy fabric that matched the train of her gown. It was the only thing here that screamed
her, and Ashton hated it. His stomach churned and his hands grew clammy.
The preacher’s voice was droning. He shared smarmy smiles with Elliot and Ashton hated the familiarity the two had while Jade’s eyes continued to drift among the sea of people as looking for someone—looking for him, who else would she be searching for? He felt grounded in his decision, a new burst of confidence swelling deep within him as the preacher dared for someone to speak now or forever hold their peace.
A pin could drop, and it would echo in the silence of the room. This was Ashton’s last chance; this is what he came here to do. He emerged from behind the plant, curtain falling back into place as swift steps took him to the end of the aisle. Guests gasped at the sight of him, his hands wringing in front of him to hide their trembling. All eyes were on him, faces filled with horror, but he didn’t see them.
He was only looking at Jade.
“I know I have no right to object,” Ashton started, stepping down the aisle in a mockery of the trek she’d just made, “But Jade, I can’t let you marry the wrong guy.” Elliot went to lunge but Freddy and Zach leapt forward, pulling him back as he struggled in their hold—knowing their friend’s violent streak and not wanting him to get arrested for battery on his big day. Jade was stock still, speechless with tears in her eyes and a ghost of a smile on her lips as if he’d answered a prayer. As if she was hoping he’d rip the doors open and beg for her.
Ashton threw his arms apart, his jacket whipping with the motion, voice rugged and desperate as he prayed, “Don’t say yes, Jade.
Please. Run away with me. I’ll meet you out front if you need to change, I’ve got the Jeep ready. Don’t wait or say a single vow. I just, I need you to hear me out and he said, ‘speak now’!” He pointed petulantly at the preacher, his mouth agape as eyes shifted to him.
The tears dripped down her cheeks then, carving winding paths through the make-up she didn’t need as she nodded, pushing her flowers into Erin’s chest and grabbing the skirt of her dress with both hands before racing down the aisle and into Ashton’s open arms. The guests came to life, shocked sounds and baffled cries as they rose to their feet. Jensen stood, eyes wide with amazement that his cousin’s plan actually worked. Blake was hooping from his corner seat and Sabrina smacked his arm to get him to stop. Ashton spun Jade in his arms, the fabric of her gown shimmering and shuddering with each twirl. “My sweet baby Jade,” he purred, a mere whisper in her ear as he clung to her—so damn scared to let go. There was a crash at the altar, the pedestal knocked over as Elliot freed himself from his friend’s grip. Ashton had never seen someone so mad, but he knew what losing Jade felt like and could sympathize.
“Ashton, go,” Jade said, the first words he’d heard from her angelic voice in years, and he stuttered into action. He didn’t let her go, instead hoisting her up bridal style (ha, ironic) and making a run for the door. Jensen and Blake leapt into the aisle, grabbing onto Eli and dragging him to the ground. Blake whooped for his best friend from where he was crouched beside a squirming Munson and Jensen just shared a proud smile his way as he shook his head.
The warmth of the sun basked upon them as he charged through the doors, throwing his shoulder into them before skipping down the steps. He was on autopilot, turning left to the parking lot and then right down the rows to where he’d hidden his vehicle in the back. He hadn’t realized that Jade was tugging on his collar until he was setting her down beside the Jeep to fish out his keys. His brows drew together in confusion at the hard look on her face, a pensive crease to her own manicured eyebrows as she stared up at him.
“Why?” Was all she could get out at first, choked on the emotion swelling her throat as she smoothed her palms over his chest—comforted by the thump of his heart beneath her touch, “Why’d you break up with me?”
Ashton sighed, a deep, sorrowful sound as he brought his hands to her cheeks and blinked down at her with teary eyes—the green was so vibrant, so unnatural under the wet shine. His voice was hoarse as he promised, “I never wanted to, darling. Never. I just—I was so damn scared of you throwing your life away for me. It was damn foolish of me to do what I did, but you got your degree, you got to
live. Would’ve killed me if you didn’t follow your dreams 'cause you followed me to Texas instead.”
“Why
now?” Jade pressed, trying to understand.
“Cause not a day went by that I didn’t regret what I did to you, Jade. Should’ve been me you were walking towards. I knew it was my last chance to get you back,” Ashton admitted, not sure how she would take his answer, “Just glad Jensen pinned the damn invite on the fridge to rub it in.”
Jade laughed then, a sudden, startling sound that rang in his ears like church bells. It sounded like coming home. His head cocked in confusion as she moved her hand to her stomach, clutching herself as she gasped for breath—his hands falling from her face as she doubled over.
“Hey, hey,” Ashton drawled, accent heavier with his years back home, catching her chin between his thumb and index finger and tilting it back until she caught his eye, “Wanna let me in on the joke?”
She took a shuddering breath, wiping a tear from his eye before sharing those world-shattering words, “Who do you think told him to put it there?” And Ashton stood dumbfounded. She let out another breathy laugh, eyes wet and so hopeful. “You’ve always been the one to save me, Ash. I was… I was worried you weren’t going to make it. Jensen wouldn’t tell me anything.” She hiccuped then, taken by the whirlwind of emotions—it had finally hit her that she’d almost married the wrong man, that she was a runaway bride and had abandoned her lover at the altar.
“Jadey-baby,” Ashton shifted his palm to cradle her cheek, thumb swiping at her tears as he dipped his forehead to hers. This close, he could see every sparkle of blue in her eyes. “You’re my girl. I should have never let you go.”
She whimpered, nodding along as she agreed, “That was pretty stupid of you.”
The crash of the church doors being thrown open had the pair jumping, knowing the car was hidden well enough, but it wouldn’t take long for them to be found. “C’mon,” he instructed, helping her into the passenger seat and scooping her dress up and into her lap so it didn’t get caught in the door. Ashton ran around the Jeep, wishing it was just a little shorter so he could have slid across the hood and gotten a laugh out of her. He cranked the key and peeled out of the parking lot, watching the shrinking silhouettes of the groom and his guests fade as he sped off.
He reached over to turn the radio down, pulling off to the side of the road once they were a fair distance away. His eyes caught Jade’s briefly before his fingers snuck into the pocket of his dad’s jacket and fished out a velvet box. Turning in his seat, he held it out to the love of his life, knowing the timing was awful, but he couldn’t wait anymore.
“What do you say to giving this whole wedding thing another go?” Ashton asked, a charming smile dazzling on his lips, teeth flashing and eyes alight with hope and mischief, a benevolent combination.
“Ashton,” she gasped, awing over the diamond he displayed to her, “I–”
“It was my mom’s. I was gonna propose back then but I…”
“I know, Ash. I.. I don’t like what happened, but I forgive you. It was good intentions just–”
“Poor execution, I know… So what do you say?”
“Yes! You idiot, it’s always been yes.”
“And it’s always been you, Jade.”
“You too, Ash. It’s always been you. But when you… when you didn’t come after me, I—”
“You don’t have to explain a damn thing to me, honey,” Ashton promised, taking her left hand and slipping Eli's ring off of her finger and replacing it with the family heirloom. It looked perfect. It was perfect.
He rolled down the window and threw the other into the street, Jade letting out a baffled squawk before gut laughing. Ashton joined her, cackling until they couldn’t breathe. The whole situation was so incredibly absurd. She knocked their foreheads together as they fought for air, winding down from their fit and savoring the heat of him.
“Are you ever going to kiss me?” She panted at him, and his lips lifted in a second long smirk before easing onto hers. It was slow, relearning one another after all these years. They took their time, tongues meeting and hands tiptoeing across each other’s skin—exploring all of the ways they’ve changed, all of the ways they’ve stayed the same.
They were breathless when they parted, sharing air and touching in every way they could across the center console.
Jade whispered to him then, eyes shut, and mouth twisted into a bashful smile—cheeks a brilliant pink and toes curled, “I’m so glad you were around when they said ‘speak now’.”