Into The Fire by E. L. Todd Page B

said.
    “Can you be quiet for a few minutes?” I
asked.
    His mom chuckled and kept turning the pages.
When we got to his time in high school, his handsome features
really came in. He lost all his baby fat and was nothing but
hardness. Slight facial hair was on his face. He wasn’t as tall as
he is now, but he was still gigantic.
    Then she turned the page to his military
days. There were pictures of him in his uniform when he was sworn
in, and other times when he was visiting. I’d never been a fan of
the uniform but Ash looked really hot in it.
    “So handsome,” his mom said. “Strong
man.”
    I leaned toward him and lowered my voice.
“You really fill out that uniform…”
    That stupid grin stretched across his face.
“Maybe I’ll put it on for you when we get back.”
    That’d be nice.
    His mom finally put the album away. “We have
such a handsome boy. We’re very lucky.” She patted his shoulder
affectionately.
    “Thanks, Mom.” He sipped his wine and kept
his arm around me. “Alessandra and I were talking about me going
back to school.”
    We were?
    His mom sat back down again. “Really?” She
couldn’t hide the happy surprise in her eyes.
    “Alessandra says I’m really good with
sketching, so she thinks I should pursue a degree in art history,
maybe become a professor or something.”
    I couldn’t picture Ash ever doing that.
    “That sounds like a great idea,” his dad
said. “An admirable goal.”
    Why couldn’t they just accept him for
exactly who he was?
    “You’re really rubbing off on him,” his mom
said. “But in a good way.”
    “She’s pretty amazing,” Ash said. “I’m lucky
she puts up with me.”
    Sitting there and lying to his family felt so
deceitful. Ash shouldn’t have to pretend to be someone else. It
simply wasn’t fair.
    “Let’s move into the living room for coffee
and dessert,” his mother said.
    “Great idea.” His dad rose from the
table.
    I turned to Ash and gave him an accusatory
look.
    He knew what it meant. “I just have to get
through this. Then I can tell them where to go.”
    ***
    Ash walked me to my door. “Thanks for putting
up with my family tonight.”
    “They really aren’t that bad. It’s obvious
how much they love you.”
    “They love me so much that they want to
change me?”
    “I admit that isn’t fair…but they mean well.
At least, they think they do.”
    “Whatever.” He leaned against the door panel
with his hands in his pockets. “So…you like a man in uniform,
huh?”
    “Well, you looked really hot in it.”
    “I look hot in everything—and nothing.” He
gave me that smartass wink.
    “You’d be the perfect man if you were a
little more humble.”
    “I don’t want to be perfect,” he said. “Then
I’d never be able to shake the stalkers.”
    “There you go again…” I got my keys out of my
clutch.
    “You didn’t lose them this time?” he
teased.
    “I wouldn’t want to be stuck with you for the
night.”
    “Sure…” He wiggled his eyebrows.
    I got the door unlocked then walked
inside.
    Uninvited, Ash entered behind me. “So, what
do you want to do?”
    “I want you to go home,” I said. “Our date is
over.”
    He eyed his watch. “It’s not midnight yet. I
still get two hours of your time.”
    Damn, I forgot. “Want to watch
TV?”
    “Sure.” He moved to the couch then plopped
down. “This is pretty comfy.”
    “Thanks.” I sat beside him and grabbed the
remote.
    “Where’d you get it?”
    “Macy’s.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind when I decorate my
house.”
    “What house?” I asked.
    “The house in the mountains. You know, the
one I told you about.”
    “Oh yeah.”
    “I think we’re making progress with my
parents. They should give me the money soon.”
    “What if they want you to get married
first?”
    “Uh…I sincerely hope not. That’s a little
ridiculous.”
    “I wouldn’t put it past them.”
    “What would we do if that situation came
up?”
    “I can pose as your