CHAPTER 54

I woke the next morning relatively early, it was not yet quite seven. As I laid there for a second, last night suddenly came flashing back to me. I hoped that things wouldn't become awkward between Ashley and I, or perhaps that she might think she had made a mistake. The simple fact was, even though I hated to admit to myself, I was fairly certain I had fallen in love with Ashley.

I got up, quietly went down the hall into the kitchen and started the coffee. I was standing at the counter pouring my first cup when Ashley walked into the room. She walked right up behind me pressing her body into mine, wrapping her arms around my waist.

"Good morning Brian, how did you sleep ?", she purred.

"Really good and you ?", I answered.

"I slept like a baby.", she responded, squeezing me tightly.

She released me and stepped around me grabbing her mug filling it with coffee. I moved over and sat down at the table, where she quickly joined me. I looked up several times, catching her eyes locked on me and smiling every time. I finished up and went back to my room to get dressed , then went to the family room to watch a little TV. It was Sunday, a day that was always relatively quiet around our small town. About an hour later Ashley joined me in the family room, she had taken a shower and dressed. I was watching the end of a movie, it had maybe fifteen minutes to go. I couldn't help but to keep glancing over at Ashley, I was so ready for a repeat of last night's fireworks. My cell phone caused me to come back to reality. I reached over and answered it on the third ring.

"Hey Brian, what ya doing ?", came the soft voice.

"Oh hey Court, not much, sitting here watching TV.", I answered.

As soon as I mentioned Courtney's name, Ashley turned to me with a strange look on her face. As we continued to talk I could definitely sense a slight irritation in Ashley's demeanor. What made it even worse was that Courtney then informed me she was only a few blocks away, would it be alright if she stopped in for a few minutes ? There was no way I could tell her no, I had to agree. She told me she would see me in a few minutes, then hung up.

"Courtney will be here in a few minutes Ash.", I said quietly.

"No problem.", answered Ashley.

Maybe five minutes later there was a knock on the back kitchen door, so I got up and headed that way. I opened the back for Courtney, she was all smiles. She stepped in quickly and I invited her into the family room where I had been watching TV. As I followed her into the room, I couldn't help but to notice just how she looked. She was wearing a pair of skin tight jeans, a tight sweater that was low cut and a pair of high heeled boots. Her ass looked incredible in those jeans, I had a hard time looking anywhere else. It was obvious that she had been spending a lot of time working on her appearance, it was definitely working.

As we entered the family room, Ashley turned and looked our way. I'm sure it was the first time in quite a while that Ashley had actually seen Courtney, the look on her face said it all.

"Hi Miss Thompson, how are you ?", Courtney asked.

"I'm doing fine Courtney, how are you ?", Ashley replied.

"I'm good, thanks.", Courtney answered.

Courtney sat on the sofa next to me and we began a conversation, mostly about nothing in general. Just what she had been up to, her job, things like that. Ashley pretended to be watching TV but I am sure she was listening intently to every word. After a few minutes of conversation, Courtney got up saying she still had a few errands to run.

"Oh by the way Brian, my Dad wanted me to invite you to dinner tonight if you're free.", she asked casually.

"I don't have anything up, I guess that will be alright.", I answered.

She told Ashley goodbye and let herself out of the back kitchen door quickly. I went back to watching TV, Ashley quickly interrupted.

"I am surprised at the change in Courtney. The new hair color, the clothes, she looks quite different.", she said.

"Yea, I was surprised too when I saw her the other day.", I answered.

"I hope you know what her Dad is up to ?", she asked.

"No, what is he up to ?", inquired.

"Oh come on Brian, he wants the two of you back together again, you know that.", she replied.

"Ashley, he has always been really nice to me, since the first day I met the man. He has never asked me for a thing, I respect that.", I answered.

She let it go, I think she sensed my tone. While perhaps Courtney's Dad did want us to be together, he had never put any pressure on me to try and patch things up. In fact on several occasions, he even sided with me against his own daughter.

I showered and left for Courtney's about six that evening, arriving a few minutes later. Mrs. Timmons answered the door quickly, asking me to step in. She gave me a quick hug then ushered me into the family room where everyone was seated. Mr. Timmons jumped up immediately and moved toward me.

"Hey Brian, I'm so glad you could make it. How are you son ?", he asked.

"I'm fine sir, thank you.", I answered.

"Come with me, I have something to show you.", he urged, pulling me along.

We moved to the back of the house when he had built a large office years ago, allowing him to work from home if he chose to do so. I had been in it once, he was decorated with football memorabilia from one end to the other. He opened the door and motioned for me to enter, which I did. He quickly pointed to the wall above the desk, a huge smile on his face. There hung, in a really awesome frame, the National Championship jersey I had just given him. Right underneath the frame there was a shelf on which the game worn shoes rested inside of a glass case.

"That looks really nice Mr. Timmons," I said.

"It will be the highlight of my collection once you go pro.", he laughed.

"Well, I hope you're right sir.", I answered.

We joined his wife back in the family room, she told us dinner was just about ready. I had not seen Courtney yet, I figured she must have been out somewhere. Just as we were entering the dining room, Courtney came down from upstairs. She looked amazing to say the least. She was wearing a very tight pair of black dress pants, a red button down blouse that was opened halfway down, and black high heels. Her eyes sparkled as she entered the room.

"Hey Brian, glad you made it.", she said, sitting down at her usual spot across from me.

"Thanks Court, you look really nice.", I answered.

"Why thank you Brian, at least someone noticed.", she replied, staring at her Dad.

"Hey now.", he shot back, "I always tell you you're a gorgeous princess."