Layla
After we had finished eating and got the check, we made our way back to the car. I felt bad having Ashton pay, but after being firmly told he got it I backed off. I was now back inside the limo driving to god knows where. Ashton sat quietly next to me, occasionally tapping away at his phone. I took that time that he wasn’t looking at me to study him. To say he was hot was an understatement. He was beyond gorgeous. His brown hair was in a messy but sexy style. His dark blue suit looked great on him, but on anyone else, it would have looked funny. It made his blue eyes pop out even more. The suit jacket hugged his wide muscular shoulders and highlighted his strong arms. The jacket looked almost like the seams would burst free by his large biceps. And don’t get me started on the slacks that hugged his well-toned backside. There was something about a man in a suit that made a woman weak in the knees.
Ashton’s well-defined jaw clenched as he read something on his phone. I couldn’t help but feel turned on by that. His fingers flew across his phone, and I wondered what was going on. The longer I stared at him, the more I wondered why he asked me out. Maybe out of pity? I wouldn’t lie that just the thought of that hurt. Before I could depress myself, I felt my phone buzz in my bag. Reaching in, I saw I got a text from Kacey.
To: Layla
From: Kacey (the emoji of a crown)
How’s your date going? Did you decide to skip lunch and go straight to dessert?
I instantly felt my cheeks heat up. Only Kacey would think that.
To: Kacey
From: Layla
NO! Why would you think that?
Not even a second later, she replied. I could tell she was waiting by her phone waiting for my reply.
To: Layla
From: Kacey
What? He’s hot. You should shag him before it’s too late.
After reading her text, I quickly turned off my phone not bothering to reply. Of course, Kacey would tell me to sleep with the most eligible bachelor in New York; someone who is also the biggest player around. After putting my phone away, I looked up as I felt the car coming to a stop. Glancing out the window, I didn’t recognize where we were.
“Ashton, where are we?” I finally asked.
“It’s a surprise,” he said as his driver opened the door for us. I slid out and stepped to the side, waiting for Ashton to come out. I glanced around trying to figure out where we were, but with no such luck. After Ashton thanked his driver, he put a hand on my lower back.
“Let’s go,” was all he said, nudging me forward toward a big building.
As we walked toward the building, I couldn’t help but wonder where we were. After Ashton held the door open for me, I slid inside and glanced around. I instantly started to recognize where we were. Posters of all different kinds of sea life covered the walls, and little kids ran around their parents as they left. Ashton had brought me to the aquarium. I have never been but have always wanted to go. I turned to Ashton with wide eyes.
“The aquarium!” I said, smiling.
“Yeah, I thought maybe you’d like it,” Ashton mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck. Seeing him look almost embarrassed, I knew he didn’t do this often.
“I love it.” I looked around and saw the entrance that led deeper. “Let’s go!” I said, grabbing his arm and pulling him to the entrance. I heard him chuckle as I dragged him. I came to a stop at the ticket booth reaching into my bag to grab my wallet. Just as I pulled out my wallet, a big hand was placed above mine stopping me.
“I got it.” I started to protest but Ashton had already handed money over, and the lady was handing him our passes for inside. Glaring at the back of his head, I followed him inside not wanting to hold the line up.
“Ashton, I could have paid,” I said.
“Yes, but I asked you out so I will be paying,” he said firmly as he turned around to face me. Seeing his blue eyes staring down at me made my knees weak. I just nodded, not trusting myself to talk. Layla, what’s wrong with you? I shouted at myself inside my head. You’re letting him get to you!
“What do you want to see first?”
“Uh…I…um,” I stuttered. I looked around and saw there were three hallways: one leading to the right, one to the left, and one straight ahead. “Let’s go right,” I said, hoping the hallways just linked together. Ashton nodded at me and we both started down the right hallway.
We were silent as we came up to the first display of sea animals. I saw all different kinds and colors of fish. There were orange, red, blue, yellow, brown, and even green fish!
“Look, there’s Dory!” I said, pointing.
“Dory?” Ashton asked, confusion clear in his voice. I turned to him, resisting the urge to gasp.
“Dory? From Finding Nemo?”
“No, haven’t heard of that. Is that a movie?”
“Yeah, it’s an animated movie. Can’t believe you’ve never seen or even heard of it.”
“I’ve been too busy working to watch some kid movie.”
“It’s not just a kid movie! It’s also an adult one. It’s funny and has a life lesson.” I needed to defend one of my favorite Disney movies.
“A life lesson? And what is that life lesson?” Ashton asked as we made our way slowly down the hallway.
“Well, the story is about a fish, Nemo, that gets kidnapped by humans and is taken to a doctor’s office to be given as a gift. His dad, Marlin, goes out and tries to find him meeting all different kinds of sea life like a turtle, a shark, and Dory. Well, long story short, the lesson is that it’s okay to get out of your comfort zone, and that it’s okay to let someone or something you love go and let them find their own way,” I said, looking at the fishes swimming around in their tank. Dory’s quote, “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming,” ran through my head. The sound of my heels clicking against the tile was the only sound that could be heard. Ashton was silent as we continued walking thinking about what I said.
“Well, that’s…insightful,” Ashton finally said. I couldn’t help but snort at his response.
“It’s a good movie. One day I’ll get you to watch it.” I nodded at my goal. From the corner of my eye, I saw Ashton just smirking.
“What are you, seven?” Ashton said not even a minute later.
“Hey, a twenty-three-year-old can watch a Disney movie,” I said. He just rolled his eyes at me but dropped it.
The further we moved into the building, the more fish we saw. It was probably weird seeing a man in a suit and a girl dressed up walking around a family attraction. We looked so out of place, but thankfully the aquarium wasn’t busy today and it was only us. A few minutes later, we turned and walked under this glass fixture that let the fish swim over us. I looked up just in time to see a huge shark swim over us.
“Whoa! Look at that!” I said amazed as I tugged on Ashton’s arm. I watched what I thought was a bullhead shark pass over us. Even though we were inside, its shadow passed over us, making it seem eerie. “That’s a big shark.”
We stood under it for a little while longer, watching all different kinds of fish go over us. As I watched them swim, I couldn’t help but think how simple their lives were. All they did was swim around in their tank and didn’t have to worry about being eaten, not being fed, or have to worry about anything. I couldn’t help but think life would be so much simpler if we were fishes in a tank. We wouldn’t have to worry about work, money, family, nothing other than ourselves. It would be so nice to swim and forget about everything. I felt a soft nudge on my hip, knocking me out of my thoughts.
“Did you see that one?” Ashton asked, pointing to a puffer fish. It was the same one from Finding Nemo; when you touch it, it puffs up.
“That one is cool. If you could be any fish or sea life, what would it be?” I asked, glancing up at him as we slowly walked. Ashton was silent as he thought over my question.
“I would be a shark,” he said, and just then a big white shark swam by.
“A shark, really?”
“Yes. They are the predators of the sea, along with whales. I’d rather be the king of the sea instead of a jellyfish or something,” he reasoned.
“Typical guy response.” I rolled my eyes.
“Okay fine, then what would you choose?”
“I’d choose a dolphin.”
“That’s such a woman response.” He threw my words back at me.
“Okay, fine! It is, but dolphins are the kindest sea animals and are very smart.”
“Sharks eat dolphins,” Ashton pointed out.
“No, they don’t. Dolphins don’t get eaten!”
I turned and stared at him before starting to laugh. Two twenty-somethings arguing over stupid sea creatures, and one of them a famous CEO at that. Ashton just looked down at me like I was crazy.
“W-we are arguing like six-year-olds,” I choked out, trying to suppress my laughter. Looking up at Ashton’s confused face, I let my laughter burst free, echoing off the walls and down the hallway. “We are so w-weird!”
“I am not weird; that is you,” Ashton said as I continued laughing for no real reason. My laughter slowly started to die down, and Ashton stood waiting for me to stop with a raised eyebrow.
“Sorry, that was just too funny,” I finally said, calming down.
“You sure are a weird one,” was all Ashton said as he walked ahead. I just smirked at his back. Being called weird was nothing compared to what I’ve been called before. I honestly didn’t mind being called weird.
I quickly caught up with Ashton, and we walked all around the aquarium making small talk. About twenty minutes later, I pulled Ashton to a stop in front of an open water tank. Inside swam little stingrays, starfish lay at the bottom and along the sides, and even little sharks were swimming around. A young-looking guy maybe my age or younger walked our way.
“Hello. This is our touching exhibit. You can reach in and touch any of the animals if you’d like.”
“Is that safe? Won’t the stingrays sting me or the shark bite me?” I asked, looking at his name tag, Terry. He shot me a pretty smile.
“No, it’s perfectly safe. Come here.” He gestured for me to come closer to the tank. Hesitantly, I walked over to his side. “Just reach your hand like this and they will just swim by.” He laid his hand into the water only a few inches in. A second later, a stingray swam under his hand and his fingers grazed its back.
He looked back up at me smiling. Biting my bottom lip, I got closer, pulled my sleeve up, and slowly put my hand into the water just like Terry did. I saw a small shark making its way toward me and almost pulled my hand away when I felt a hand on my arm. I looked up and saw Ashton standing very close to me with his chest pressing into me back. He nodded at me encouragingly as the shark got closer. Smiling at him, I waited as the shark passed under my hand and I felt his slick skin. My grin got wider as I turned and looked up at Ashton.
“Did you see that?” I asked excitedly, not caring that I sounded like a five-year-old. I watched as a smile spread across Ashton’s face. I grabbed his hand, wanting him to feel it too. His hand stopped me and I thought he would tell me to stop, but I was surprised to watch him shrug off his suit jacket and roll up his shirt sleeve. He grabbed my wet hand in his and dunked both of our hands under the water. I looked up at him, amazed that a guy like him was spending his day with someone like me. Here was a handsome, smart, and slightly famous, and I was just an average woman with no good looks, and a messed-up past, even though he didn’t know that. I felt his hand nudge mine underwater, and I turned back to the tank. Coming toward us was both a stingray and a shark. Feeling their almost slimy skin, I couldn’t help but smile.
I looked to my left and saw a starfish stuck to the side of the wall. I moved away from Ashton and toward the starfish. Reaching my hand in, I felt the rough skin and watched as it moved slightly. I’ve always liked starfish and here I was, touching one. I felt eyes on my back, so I turned and saw Ashton staring at me with a weird look on his face. Shooting him a smile, I pulled my hand from under the water and made my way back to him. Terry brought us a few paper towels to dry our hands and arms. Thanking him, I dried my arm and hand before sliding my sleeve back down. Turning to Ashton, I saw he was waiting patiently for me. We silently made our way to the front of the building, seeing everything there.
When we got to the front of the aquarium, I felt Ashton’s big warm hand wrap around mine. Before I could even look up at him, I was being tugged toward the gift shop.
“Ashton, what are you doing?” I asked as he pulled me into the gift shop.
“Pick whatever you want.” He dropped my hand. I couldn’t help but feel cold once his hand left mine. For some reason, I felt like I was missing something the moment his hand disappeared.
“What?”
“Pick something.” He gestured around the shop. He gave me a firm look when I opened my mouth to protest. I started looking around. As I turned around, something caught my eye. I quickly walked over to it and reached for it. It was a dolphin necklace that was a very pretty deep blue color. It wasn’t that large, and it was just simple, but something about it was gorgeous. I softly ran my finger over it. It wasn’t like it was real or fragile, but I couldn’t help but want to be gentle with it.
“You like it?” Ashton said, not really sounding like he was asking a question. All I did was nod. Before I could blink, the necklace was pulled out of my hands and Ashton was pulling his phone out taking a picture of it.
“W-What are you doing?” I asked, watching him.
“I’m going to send a picture of this to a jewelry store and they can make a better one,” he said simply. As soon as he finished his sentence, I ripped the necklace from his hand.
“No!”
“Why? I can get you a better version that isn’t cheap.”
“That doesn’t matter.” He looked at me weird so I continued. “Even though it is cheap, it has better meaning than a replica. It doesn’t matter about the price. When I’ll look at this, I’ll remember everything that happened today and not that you got it made so it wouldn’t be ‘so cheap. I want this one,” I said firmly.
Ashton stared at me almost in amazement, but I shrugged that off. I was not going to let him spend a lot of money on a necklace so it could be better than this one. The whole reason everyone got something at the stupid gift shop was to remember everything that happened and the things they’d done while at that place. Everyone knew it was cheap shit and that it would turn green, as well as your skin, but that didn’t matter. I stared him down, holding the necklace against me. Finally, he nodded and reached for the necklace. Letting him take it, I followed him to the cashier. The lady rang it up and it came to fifteen dollars. Kind of expensive for a necklace, but it was New York after all. She handed it to me and gave me a smile.
“Here you go, sweetie. You’re lucky to have a man like him,” she said, looking at Ashton. I could feel my cheeks heating up, and avoided Ashton’s gaze on me.
“She is lucky to have me.” He smirked at me. I just rolled my eyes and thanked the lady before leaving the gift shop. I heard Ashton’s footsteps behind me. I pushed open the doors and the chilly air hit me in the face. “Thank you,” Ashton said in a high-pitched voice. He responded to himself with “You’re welcome” in his regular voice. I couldn’t help but laugh softly at him.
“Thank you for the necklace,” I said as his limo came to a stop in front of us. “I love it.”
“You’re welcome.” He opened the car door for me. Nodding in thanks, I slid inside and a minute later, Ashton was next to me. As the car started forward, my thoughts went back to everything that happened today. I went on a date with a hot billionaire today. Me! Ordinary, boring, weird, ugly me! I couldn’t wait to freak out when I got home later. I could honestly say today was one of the best days I’d ever had. The car ride back to my house was quiet but not uncomfortable. I could feel the warmth radiating off Ashton’s body next to me. I could smell his cologne. I couldn’t tell you what he smelled like, but whatever it was smelled amazing. I could literally smell him all day long.
Before I knew it, the limo came to a stop in front of my apartment. I was surprised that we got here so quick. Ashton was already outside waiting for me by the time I had said goodbye and thank you to Clark. Stepping out of the car, I turned to Ashton.
“I’ll walk you up,” he said.
“No, no, that’s okay. I don’t want you to leave your car running,” I started to say but was cut off by one of his fingers pressed against my lips.
“I’m walking you up,” he said sternly. I nodded against his finger and let him pull me into my building. We silently rode the elevator to the fifth level and got out. We came to a stop in front of my door, and I didn’t know if I should kiss him or just say thank you and bye. Before I could decide, I saw him move down and felt his warm lips press against mine. This was our second kiss and I had to say it was toe-curling. His lips were firm and soft against mine as he softly moved them. I kissed him back but before it could go any further, he pulled back. I knew my face was flushed and my lips were slightly swollen.
“T-thank you for today,” I breathed out as I looked up at him.
“You are welcome. I better go. See you later.” He pressed one last kiss to my lips. He sent me a smirk then walked off. I watched him leave, trying hard to not to stare at his butt. The moment he disappeared out of sight, I put my key in the door and walked in closing it behind me. I leaned against the closed door and stared up at the ceiling. I couldn’t stop the huge grin that spread across my face and a hand from reaching up to touch my kissed lips. I knew that in the future, if Ashton kept doing what he was doing, I knew my heart wouldn’t be the same after.