The Best Mistake

Ashlyn.

I couldn’t help but smile when I saw Nash’s face light up as he spoke on the phone. He was smiling a real smile and it was probably the cutest thing I’d ever seen. He pushed his hair out of his face, only to have it fall back a little into his eyes. But from what I saw his smile even reached his eyes, and I didn’t realize that was possible for Nash Carter to do.

The phone call only lasted about five minutes at the most, and as soon as Nash hung up, his face lost any excitement. It actually looked like he was a little sad. But as soon as he saw me he jumped slightly, like he forgot I was there and then his face went blank. “Alright, so we walking or taking a Lambo or something?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t own a Lambo, but the car’s this way,” I said, walking toward it. I heard the footsteps following me, so I didn’t have to turn around to make sure he was coming. When I reached Jeremy’s black Audi, I turned around and saw Nash with his jaw slightly dropped.

“You try convincing me that you’re not rich as hell now,” he said.

I bit the inside of my cheek. “It’s not mine,” I said. “It’s my step-dads.”

“Step-dad?” he repeated. I nodded, unlocking the car and getting in. He jogged to the other side and got in. “Where’s your dad?”

“I’ll tell you when you tell me about your nightmares,” I said casually. I knew he wouldn’t be telling me about his nightmares, which is why I made the deal. I didn’t like talking about my dad very much, and especially not to somebody like Nash.

“Not happening,” he said. I shrugged and started the car. Once I pulled out of my parking spot, I reached for the radio but Nash tightly grabbed my wrist before I could reach the knob- seriously, is there anything gentle about this boy? At all? “I am not listening to Justin Bieber.”

“I wasn’t planning on it,” I said, snatching my wrist from his hand.

“Not listening to Lil Wayne, either,” he said.

“Once again; not planning on it,” I said, rolling my eyes. “You have got to be the most judgmental hypocrite I’ve ever met.” He grunted, before turning on the radio. He raised an eyebrow at me as Asking Alexandria’s Not The American Average came on through the speakers. I gave him a confused looked. “What?”

He shook his head. “Nothing, just wasn’t expecting this,” he grumbled, sounding surprised.

“Judging me again, nice,” I said, rolling my eyes. I glanced over at him and noticed his seat belt wasn’t on. “Nash! Put your seat belt on!”

“Uh… no?” he asked.

“I will pull the car over if you don’t,” I warned.

He shrugged. “You’re the one that wants me here, I’ll get out if you pull over,” he said.

“Please, Nash. Just put your seat belt on.”

“No, Ash. I don’t wanna.”

“Not wearing your seat belt doesn’t make you a hard ass, you know,” I told him.

I felt him staring at me; I didn’t bother looking, but he was most likely glaring. “I’m aware, princess,” he said. “I’m not wearing it because it’ll hurt my neck.”

I glanced over at him once he said that and I saw his jaw clenching. “Why?” I asked, recalling the bruise on his neck I saw last night. It was on the left side of his neck- the side where the seat belt wouldn’t be touching- so I could only guess that it was on the other side of his neck. Which meant it was probably bruising from being choked.

“Just shut the hell up,” he told me, harshly. There was a little bit of desperation in his voice, though. Before I could say anything else, he turned the volume of the radio up loud.



“You sure you want me to come in?” Nash asked, his voice taunting. “I mean, I’m sure your parents wouldn’t be too pleased if I track dirt in their million dollar house.”

“You didn’t seem to mind the other night when you broke in,” I mumbled, getting out of the car.

“Hey, it’s your family’s stupidity for not having an alarm system,” he pointed out, getting out as well. “I mean, seriously, a house this big and no alarm? You guys are asking to be robbed.”

Ignoring him, I walked to the front door, unlocking it and stepping inside, waiting for him to walk in. I closed the door behind him. I went to say something when a voice cut me off. “Who’s that?” I turned and saw Aurora standing there, the house phone in her hand.

“Who are you on the phone with?” I asked, praying it wasn’t mom or Jeremy.

“Mary-Anne,” she answered. “Now who’s that?”

I looked at Nash who was smirking at me, arms crossed. “Yeah, Ash. Introduce me,” he said.

I rolled my eyes. “This is Nash,” I said, nonchalantly. “Nash, this is my sister, Aurora.”

“Is he your boyfriend?” she asked.

I ignored Nash’s unpleasant snort. “No, Aurora. He isn’t,” I said.

“Oh,” she said, her eyes lingering on Nash. “Okay.”

“Wait, is anybody else here?” I asked.

“Alex is here, that’s it,” she said.

I nodded. “Okay, we’ll be in my room,” I said, dragging Nash up the steps by his wrist.

He snatched his hand away. “I’m perfectly capable of walking by myself, thanks,” he said. I rolled my eyes but continued the way to my room anyway. Once we got to my room, I turned to him. “Um, do you want different clothes?” I asked. “I could lend you my brothers while I wash yours…”

He shrugged, sitting on my bed. “I don’t give a fuck,” he said.

I nodded. “I’ll be right back,” I said, turning to walk out the door. I turned back to him. “I don’t think he will, but if my younger brother comes in here by any chance, can you not curse around him? He picks up words easily and my mom and Jeremy would be livid and-“

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he said, waving his hand dismissively as he laid back on my bed. I highly doubted that he’d actually censor his language, but brushed it off since Alex probably wouldn’t come in anyway.

I opened Aaron’s door, ignoring the overwhelming scent of Febreeze that attacked my nose. (Mom thinks that since the room isn’t used, it might catch a stench. Dumb, right?) I grabbed a pair of gray sweatpants and held them up, trying to figure out if they’d fit. Aaron’s a little bit bigger due to his unhealthy obsession with working out, but it should do. Then I grabbed a plain white t-shirt that I assumed was old since it looked like it’d fit Nash perfectly.

With the clean clothes in my hand, I walked back to my room. I froze at my door when I saw Alex and Nash talking.