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"Oh, get the fuck out of my face!"
Ashley's countenance was a mask of consternation as she yelled at her ex-boyfriend. She was relieved she had somehow refrained from confronting him until after the last fan had left. Once the signing had ended, however, she had let loose and told him exactly how she felt about his little cryptic comments.
"Oh, come on, Ash! You aren't serious about this!" Matt said.
The blonde waved a hand at him in dismissal.
"I've never been more serious in my life, Matthew. No, go on home - leave me!"
Hardy shook his head, a slow smile spreading across his lips. She was being damned impossible. They were standing outside the store, in front of the limo that was waiting to take them both home. Ashley was vehemently refusing to ride with him. She was stupid! How in hell did she expect to get home - walk?
"Stop being foolish, Ashley... How are you gettin' home?"
"I'll fucking walk!" she yelled. "On my own two feet." She pointed down at her heeled boot-clad size seven and a half dogs.
Ignoring any further protests he had, the angry blonde woman started to walk. She knew her way home from there, and it really wasn't that far. She'd make it back in about half an hour, give or take.
Sighing and shrugging, the dark-haired man entered the limosine. As the driver started the engine, he gave him some quick instructions.
"Hey, Ash!" he shouted.
The diva didn't even turn around as she knew the limo had sidled up to her by the empty curb. She wondered what it would take to get through to him... She didn't want to be bothered!
"Don't be foolish!"
She ignored him and kept on walking. She knew the vehicle was still trailing her, as she could see its headlights reflecting off the street ahead of her. Was he not going to give up?
Several minutes passed before Matt yelled to her again.
"At least gimme a call when you get home - so I know you made it okay!"
Ashley scowled. Yeah, keep dreaming! she thought with bitterness. She narrowed her eyes as the limo finally sped up to normal speed and drove right past her. She barely watched it as it made a right turn at the next light, disappearing from her sight.
Damn him to hell! She was absolutely furious. It was hard to believe she had ever dated Matt Hardy, much less even been in love with him. The mere idea of it now seemed ludicrous.
She hated having to walk home. Sure, she'd played it all tough, in that she'd refused a ride with him in favor of walking. But it wasn't fair. She should have gotten the ride home in the limo and he should have been forced to walk home!
Shaking her head as she realized she should have laid down the law in that way, Ashley reached for her cell phone. Flipping it open, she saw that Jeff had actually sent her yet another text message. She quickly read it, a smile now coming easily to her face.
Instead of punching out a response, the blonde hit a couple of buttons, then pressed the phone to her ear. It rang twice before he answered.
"Hey," Jeff said cheerfully. "So, is the agony over?"
Ashley laughed, knowing full well that by 'agony,' he meant her being subjected to having to share the signing with Matt.
"Hey," she said. "Yeah, it is. I'm on my way home now."
"Then you lied - the agony isn't over."
"Actually, it is," she replied. "He took the limo home. I'm walking."
"You're walking?" the young man asked. "Why?"
She shrugged, even though he of course couldn't see the gesture.
"I didn't want to ride with him. We got into a big fight."
"Ash..." She could hear a sort of scolding tone in his voice. "... You shouldn't be walkin' all by yourself this time of night."
"It's only a little past nine!" she scoffed.
Jeff sighed, then, "I know, but the streets aren't always safe for a lady alone at night."
She rolled her blue eyes.
"You forget I'm from New York. I promise you, Jeff - I'm fine." A slow smile crept onto her face as an idea suddenly hit her. Instead of her intended route, she turned at a certain street and headed another way.
They continued chatting for several more minutes until Ashley announced that she had to go.
She bit her lip, her gaze trained on the house up ahead. She debated with herself for a beat, then made up her mind, smiling as she trekked up the walk.
"Ash!" Jeff exclaimed with surprise as he opened the door to see her standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"Paying you a little visit," she answered, a bright smile dominating her pretty face.
The rainbow-haired man grinned as Jack barked and jumped up a little on the woman. She greeted him quickly, and then Jeff ushered her into his house.
"C'mon, woman... Get in here!"