Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2)

“Right. What was it last night when you jumped me in kitchen?” I quirked a questioning eyebrow.

“Uhh . . . I’m sorry, but sweatpants leave nothing to the imagination. If you don’t want to be sexually assaulted by your girlfriend, then you should really put on something else.”

“Insane,” I whispered, kissing her again. “Besides, the driver’s license isn’t a big deal because you can drive. It’s a big deal because it will have our address on it as your legal residence. There’s no getting rid of me now.”

“I’m pretty sure I could just change it when I move out.”

“You planning to move out?” I joked. It was an idea that, a few weeks ago, would have spiked my pulse. But Ash wasn’t going anywhere. Of that I was sure.

She was mine in every possible way.

“Well, I don’t know. Are you going to stop wearing the sweatpants?” She slid her hand back down into my pants.

“No. I love those sweats.”

She squeezed my ass and winked. “Then I’m definitely not moving.”

Smiling, I leaned forward to take her mouth, and it wasn’t going to be sweet. It was going to be completely indecent, regardless that we were in a very public place. Judging by the way her eyes flashed with desire, she was okay with that.

Unfortunately, Quarry and Mia noticed our moment too. Catcalls echoed through the DMV, earning us quite a few glares from the employees.

“Ash Carson?” the older woman called from behind the desk.

“Mabie,” Ash corrected on a mumble.

“We’ll, get it changed,” I assured her the same way I had when she’d melted down the day her birth certificate had come in the mail.

Ash hadn’t spoken to Ray again since the night she’d turned him in to the police. Nor had she shown any desire to visit him in jail. She just hated the fact that Mabie wasn’t listed as her legal last name. I had full intentions of helping her change it from Carson, but it was never going to be Mabie.

Ash Page had a nice ring though.

While I wasn’t jumping into the whole marriage thing yet, I was positive it was where we were headed. I was planning to give it some time. But every day that passed only cemented the fact that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

I wasn’t a rash person.

But it was Ash. I lost my fucking mind when it came to her.

We had only been back together for eight weeks, but it had only taken four for me to fall in love with her when we’d first met. Eight weeks felt like an eternity.

“Wish me luck,” she said, pushing up to her tiptoes and pecking me on the cheek.

“You got this, baby.”

“Then I’m getting that.” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, backing away. “Oh, wait.” She turned to Quarry, snapping her fingers. “Keys.”

Quarry dropped the keys to his sports car in her hands. “Be gentle with her.”

“Right. The same way you were gentle with Flint’s SUV when you took it out mudding last week?” She smirked, knowing she’d just thrown him under the bus.

My eyes jumped to his.

Quarry didn’t seem fazed in the least though. “Oh, don’t even start. It was a puddle. You don’t even have four-wheel drive. Those hand pedals sucked too. Pushing a lever really takes the sexy out of peeling out.” He draped an arm around Mia’s shoulders when he finished signing.

She giggled, squeezing against his side.

“Ash Carson?” the woman droned again.

“Oops. Gotta go.” She patted me on the ass then jogged away.

I looked over at Quarry as I sat down in the chair next to Mia. “You are never allowed to borrow my car again. I don’t care if yours is in the shop.”

“Meh. I’ll survive,” he signed back before scooping Mia out of her chair and settling her on his lap.

I began checking my e-mails on my phone. “Please don’t molest her in here.”

“Huh?” she said and Quarry’s hands translated for her.

Mia slapped my arm to get my attention. You’re one to talk, she signed, not bothering with saying it aloud since Ash was gone. I threw up in my mouth a little.

Whatever. You look like you’re twelve. Q looks like he’s older than I am. Everyone in the room is assuming he’s a pedophile right now, I replied.

Q interjected, Hey! I wasn’t the one getting a sixteen-year-old girl naked in the back of my child molester van.

Yes, you did! That’s why I had to sell it. I don’t even want to know what you two did in that thing before Till bought you a car.

Q laughed. Oh, come on. That’s not why you sold it.

The floor was sticky, you dick. I punched him on the shoulder.

“Damn it,” he cursed, rubbing his arm.

Mia stared into space dreamily and signed, God, I miss that van.

I gave her a disgusted look then went back to scanning my phone.

Quarry asked, “Hey, why didn’t you tell us about Ash’s birthday?”

“It’s not for another month. I’ll let you know when I plan something,” I answered absently.

“Dude, her birthday was last week.”

My head snapped up. “Her birthday is April eighteenth.”