Chapter 146: To Gain A Friend

Ashton's POV

I left the living room with a heavy heart, and I went straight to the guest room and sat on the bed, looking into space. I didn't want to deal with Gael, but I knew she was my wife's friend, and I needed to be civil with him.

I need to control myself, or else I will become a jealous freak. Yeah, knowing Gael was in the house made me feel uneasy. He is the only man close to my wife and son, and hearing Axel call him dad still pissed me off. 

My son should not be calling Gael dad if I didn't follow my father's order years ago. I feared he would wreck Megan's family, knowing she depended on her scholarship, and I needed to stay away from her without knowing she was pregnant.

Staying away from her will always be the greatest mistake I have ever made in my life, but making her pregnant was the perfect mistake, yet the most satisfying event that happened to us.

I was afraid that the singer would hurt Megan, but I could see his concern, and I didn't see any hatred in his eyes anymore, like the last time we fought each other. Gael looked sober.

It felt like forever before the door opened, and I stood up when I saw my wife looking into my eyes with a glint of happiness, and I could tell she was happy.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked, and I nodded at her.

"Why should I not be okay?" I asked, trying to give her one of my sweetest smiles.

"You don't need to lie to me," my wife replied as she strode towards me, and she only stopped when we were an inch away from each other.

I beamed when Megan put her arms around my neck, and I pulled her closer to me,m; she was looking at me with a wide grin on her beautiful face.

"I know you are jealous, my love, and I love it," she added, and I cupped her face.

"I am fine, I just couldn't help it, and I am sorry," I said as I cupped her face.

"No apologies needed, my love. I understand because I felt the same way, too. When I saw you dancing with Claire last night, I wanted to take her place, but I needed to look fine and make everyone believe it didn't bother me. I was so jealous of your ex," Megan declared.

"I guess I have all the right to get jealous because she was your ex-fiancee, but Gael is only my friend," she added.

"You are right, Meg, but I just couldn't control myself no matter how I tried to tell myself he was only a friend; I am fucking jealous of him," I replied, and my wife laughed.

"That is sweet of you, Ashton," she responded in more than a whisper as she was still wearing the same smile, and I couldn't stop leaning down and claiming her sweet mouth. I kissed my wife hungrily, and she didn't disappoint me by kissing me back with the same urgency.

I only let go of my wife's mouth when we became both breathless; kissing Megan will never be enough.

"So, where is your friend?" I asked after sharing a mind-blowing kiss.

"He was playing with our son," Megan answered back, and I couldn't hide my dismay.

"There is something I need to discuss with you," Megan said as she pulled me with her, and we both sat on the loveseat. I could see the seriousness on her face as she stared at me.

I suddenly felt alarmed about what she wanted to talk about, and I could feel the loud beating of my heart; as I waited for my wife to speak. I think she could hear the hammering of my heart in my chest as she took my hand and looked at me with her mesmerizing eyes.

"What is it, Meg?" I questioned.

"Gael wanted to have a word with you, I hope you will give him a chance, Ashton," my wife responded, and it took me a while before I spoke to her.

"Geal and I have nothing to talk about, Megan, as long as he will not hurt you and Axel; it would be fine with me if you will see him." I replied, and her face saddened.

"Please, my love, he wanted to be friends with me again, but I told Gael, if he wished us to be friends once more, he needed to make you his friend as well," she replied, and I shook my head.

"I can't be friends with him," I firmly said, and I thought she would get angry with me when she stood up, but I didn't expect my wife would be sitting on my lap and looking at me with puppy eyes.

"Please, Ashton," she begged as she pouted her red lips.

"You are not playing fair, Meg, don't do this," I responded as I tried to avert her gaze.

"Please! Please! Give him a chance, I know you will like him, he is a good man, my love, he never took advantage of me, he provided me with everything that I needed when I gave birth to our twins." She said.

"Gael is one of the most important people in my life, and it would make me happy if you will give him a chance," my wife added as she started kissing my chin down to my throat while she was gripping on my hair.

I grunted and closed my eyes when she raised the hem of my shirt and her delicate fingers caressed my abs.

"Ashton, please, for how many years did he supported Axel and me, including Alice. Without him, I don't know where I could be right now. I was so down and hurt; but he was there to give me hope, and he helped me overcome my depression after losing our daughter." She said, and I don't want to listen anymore.

"Okay," I mumbled, and her face lit up. 

I don't want my wife to remember the suffering she underwent because of what I had done to her.

"Are you sure?" She asked, and I could see the relief on my wife's face.

"Yes, Megan, for you," I replied.

"Yehey! Thank you, my love, you make me so happy!" She stated.

"I hope you will understand I can't be his best buddy, there will always be a gap since I knew I would always be jealous of him, Meg." I declared.

"You know you don't need to feel envious of him, Ashton," she replied with tenderness.

"I know, but I can't promise you to entertain him; I will civilly talk with him, but nothing more," I stated.

"Fair enough, don't worry; I will never meet him without you, and if Gael wanted to see our son, he needed to ask permission from you." Megan said, and I smiled at her.

"It would be your decision, my love; I understand I owe him," I replied, and she kissed me instead of answering me.

"Gael was waiting for you at the front porch; he was playing chess with Axel." My wife stated.

"I need you to come with me," I softly mumbled.

"Okay, if that is what you want," she answered, giggling.

I could tell my son was having so much fun since I could hear his laughter before we could reach the main door. I felt stupid for feeling selfish; I don't want Gael to spend time with my son, and I know it wasn't right to feel this way.

"Dad! Mom! I couldn't believe I beat dad Gael twice." Axel said, and I could see his happiness as he looked at us.

"That is good, my dear," my wife replied.

"I think you should let your father play chess with Gael," Megan said to our son, and then she turned to look at me. I wanted to say no right away, but I didn't want to disappoint my wife since she looked thrilled.

"Okay, I needed to pee anyway," my son responded and offered me his seat. 

Silence followed as I sat across from Gael at the table; my wife excused herself and told us she would take our son to the bathroom.

I arranged my chess pieces as I tried to avoid Gael's gaze.

"Ashton, I know you are angry with me. I wish to speak with you so I can apologize." He said, and I raised my head and looked at him.

"Okay, apology accepted; I want to be frank with you, I don't like the idea of you being friends with my wife again, I hate you, Gael." I said.

"I know and thank you for your honesty, but I didn't come here to ruin your relationship with Megan, like the last time; I know I messed up, but I promised you, I am now a different man." He declared.

"I missed them, Ashton," he added.

"You better keep your promise. I am warning you, Gael; never hurt my wife and son, or I will never hesitate to kill you." I said, and I hated that he was beaming at me.

"You can count on me, Ashton, I will ever hurt them," he said as he moved his queen and he almost got my queen, and I felt glad he took the knight instead. And I realized I needed to practice chess more to impress my son. 

I don't want this man to be the best chess player in front of Axel because I want my son's affection.

"You don't need to be angry with me, Ashton, Megan will always choose you no matter what would be the situation is, and I envy you for having her heart through the years." Gael added.

"And Axel, he adores you so much that he couldn't stop talking about you, and your son told me he wanted to be like you when he grows up, don't be insecure with me, Ashton, I will never win against you," he continued while I felt guilty that he could read my mind.

"Besides, I am not competing with you; I just want to be friends with you," he concluded, and for the first time, I looked at Gael without judgment.

I realized maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to give him a chance to prove himself, I can make my wife happy, and I will gain a friend.