Ash's Marriage Trigger - 3. Chapter 3- Coincidences

"Bam and bam!" Ash's brother, Sage, declared as he got rid of the remaining cards in his hand.

"You can't just show up late and then just up and beat everyone," Siena huffed as she began to pick up all of the Phase 10 cards and began to stack them back into the tin with Ashley's help. While the youngest of the group didn't fully grasp the entire game yet, she did her best to help Siena choose her sets.

"I can't help it if I got lucky," Sage countered. "The game is always more difficult when more than two people are playing."

"For not having played it in a while, you nearly had him, Cove," Ash commented after handing over his remaining cards to Siena.

"I only had good cards during the first half," Cove admitted.

Sage had arrived after lunch, and the Barren siblings managed to rope Cove into a few games. Siena and Sage were a bit too intense during the first few. Ash was embarrassed in their stead. They were terrible examples of good sportsmanship for little Ashley. Hell, she behaved better than grown adults ten times her age.

"Next time, we'll have games you can play, too, Ashley," Ash said aloud without thinking. That implied that there would be a 'next time.' Why did he keep digging his own grave?

"Yay!" She responded.

Ashley had never seen her dad laugh so much, not even when they played games together. When the adults competed, they reminded her of the families she read about and watched in movies and shows. That made her giddy for some reason. As fun as it had been when Siena explained how the games worked and who was winning, it was even more fun to see her dad acting just like the others.

"As great as it was to see all of you again, I think it's time we headed back home," Cove announced as he lifted a pouting Ashley into his arms.

"It was great seeing you again, Cove, and it was lovely meeting you, Ashley." Ash's mother said.

"Ash or not, remember that you are always welcome here," Ash's father added. "And you were definitely missed."

Tch! Why did it sound as if they were welcoming home a prodigal son in Cove? What was Ash, then, chopped liver?

"It was nice seeing everyone again. Thanks again for inviting us, Aster. And thanks so much for the food, Sandy."

"Oh, sweetie. You don't have to be with Ash to call us mom and dad," Sandy chided. "It's so odd hearing you call us anything else. Right, honey?"

"I feel the same," Aster agreed. "Leave Ash out of the equation and keep calling us your second set of parents, son."

The audacity! Ash could hardly believe what he was hearing. So, Cove was their adopted golden child all of a sudden?

Sage pressed three fingers under his older brother's chin. "Hey, keep your jaw dropped open for so long, and flies will get in." He then slapped Ash's back. "And don't take it so hard. They were the same with Siena's Abe and my Erin. Granted, they're our spouses, and you two never made it official, did ya?"

"How far along is Erin now?" Ash asked through gritted teeth, trying desperately to change the subject.

"Six months! Looking forward to being an uncle for the umpteenth time?"

"Yeah," Ash responded. "I'll be sure to spoil the baby so hard they won't even remember who their father is."

"Hey!" Sage scoffed. "No need to go that far!"

Cove and Ashley said their goodbyes to Sage and Siena, who then shoved Ash forward as a hint for him to walk them out politely. Feeling chagrined, Ash walked them over to their car. Just as Cove unlocked the vehicle, Ashley began to shake her head.

"Wait, daddy, I wanna give bigger-me a hug goodbye!" She pleaded.

Cove glanced Ash's way as if to excuse her insistence. But Ash already had his arms held out to carry the little girl. As Ash held her, she squeezed him into a child's tight hug. However, the kiss she pressed to his cheek startled the shit out of him. Luckily, he didn't drop her. Cove then strapped Ashley to her car seat.

Ash swallowed in nervousness when Cove turned towards him.

"Think it through, Ash." Cove insisted. "You have my number for whatever you decide or if you just want to talk."

"No, I don't," Ash replied with a slight frown. The two of them hadn't exchanged numbers yet.

"Siena added it in during one of your bathroom breaks."

"She what?" Ash asked as he immediately checked his phone and scrolled down the contacts list. At first, he couldn't find Cove anywhere. Then, he found what Siena labeled his number. Crush Daddy? Seriously? When the hell had she figured out his unlock pattern!? "Do you have mine?"

"Yes, Siena gave it to me, as well," Cove admitted. "Is that alright? I can delete it if it makes you uncomfortable."

"N-no, that's fine."

Cove gave Ash another smile that made his heartbeat kick up. Stop it! He argued with his own body. An exchange of numbers was nothing. So what if Cove expressed intentions of wanting to get back together? They probably wouldn't cross paths again after this. Ash didn't want them to. What happened was just some rare incident.

"Then, I look forward to your call or text." Cove leaned down to whisper into Ash's ear before pressing a kiss to Ash's cheek.

The shorter man stood in place long after the Mitchells pulled out of the driveway and drove off. First, the daughter and then the father? On each of his cheeks, to boot!

Ash had to push down the urge to scream. When he turned back towards the house, Siena and Sage wore identical smug expressions on their faces. How long had they been standing outside the door? They'd seen everything, didn't they? Damn siblings.

"Whatever you both are thinking, it's not happening," Ash declared.

"I don't know," Siena drawled. "I've never seen anyone name their child after an ex."

"There is no way that's true!" Ash rebutted with wide eyes. "It's just a coincidence!"

Sage slapped Ash's back. "Or it would be if we hadn't heard it directly from the horse's mouth. Cute origin story, too."

"Tell me you're joking," Ash pleaded.

"Ask Cove yourself if you don't believe us," Siena taunted.

Nope. That was never going to happen. Ash refused to allow them to bait him into such a thing. If all went well, he'd never contact Cove ever again.