A Storm Approaches

You, Emma and Linda come out of the trailer and return to the booth to finish out the farmer's market. You look out and see Naomi in deep conversation with a young woman. She runs her hand through her hair and tucks it behind her ear and you recognize her as Zoey, one of Naomi's closest friends. One of the sweetest people you have ever known. However, panic starts to set in. The air feels colder and your eyes start to dart around. The crowd seems to part as you see it cut through like hot knife through butter. An absolute catastrophe, a magnitude 5 storm approaches. Your Ex, Hurricane Ashley, has come to the booth.

"Hi Jace, been awhile." Ashley says sending a lightning bolt through your system. Standing before you is a true vision. Her blonde hair hanging loose over her shoulder, framing her lovely face perfectly. Her smile easy and her piercing gray eyes cutting straight through you. Her tight tank top highlighting her big boobs and flat stomach. Her mini skirt barely covering her tight, little ass. Her wedged sandals highlighting her beautiful legs and raising her eye level to match yours. You'd loved this woman completely and deeply and part of you still did. She was your first relationship, almost four years of time spent on her. You had had so many firsts with Ashley. She had helped you through your father's death. There had been so many wonderful experiences. You'd planned out an entire life with this woman and it ended so badly.

You barely squeak out. "Hey Ash." Your mind and body in turmoil. "Not since Christmas Eve..." Your hands ball into fists as you try to calm and steady yourself.

The eye of the storm surrounds you. Ashley puts her index finger under your chin and pulls you just a smidge closer before kissing you, your body and mind again struck by lightning, short circuiting your thoughts. She pulls you forward a touch more as she turns and speaks: "Let's go talk, I miss you." This tactic always used to work on you and get her her way.

You start to move with her when your eye catches Naomi's and Zoey's looks. They are subtly shaking their heads no, knowing how much pain Ashley had put you through. You see Naomi mouth Don't Go. You brain kicks in enough to pull your hand out of the way as Ashley tries to grab it and lead you away. "No Ash." You barely get those two words out.

Ashley turns to face you once again, her hand finds your cheek again. With a confident smile, she tries again "Come on, just a conversation, like it used to be."

"No Ashley. I am not going." You pause and your resolve finally clamps down, minimizing the lightning damage you had been taking from this storm. "We have nothing more to talk about anymore."

"Don't be like that. I can see you still want me. Come on." She licks her lips and eyes you like a starving predator.

"Ashley, no. We can't go back." You shake your head.

"It's all in the past. I promise. We can go back and recapture that magic." Ashely smiles sweetly and innocently. "You are making a big deal out of something so minor."

Ashley downplaying what she had done was the last straw for you. By now, your sisters had all come closer and you had a thought to end the chaos and drive off the storm for good. You turn and ask "Miss Emma, Aunt Linda, can you manage for a bit, I want to borrow the girls. Pretty please?" Emma smiles and waves you to go and Linda nods supportively. You turn back to Ashley and with the first time since she arrived, speak with a little confidence. "Would you rather not have a conversation or go have it with all my sisters and Zoey present?"

Ashley frowns deeply. She is not used to not getting her way, especially with you. "We need to talk so I guess everyone can come."

You lead the group behind the trailer so you are no longer disrupting the booth. Once all seven of you are settled, you turn to Ashley again, stare straight into those piercing gray eyes and finally ask: "Would you rather explain to the group completely and truthfully why we are no longer together or not be able to speak until the truth comes out?" You'd never told anyone anything about the reasoning. They all knew it ended and that it had been hard on you. Zoey was the only one with any information at all and you knew she wouldn't share what she knew.