Chapter 21: To Man Up

Ashton's POV

"Are you still in love with Megan, Ashton?" Alice asked me before she could even sit on the chair I pulled out for her, and her question took me off guard. I felt so afraid that if I said yes, I would know her response right away, and it scared me to death knowing I could never have Megan.

"Well, it seems there is nothing we need to talk about," she said and turned her heels away from me.

"Alice, wait, of course, I still do, and I need your help to see and speak with Megan again," I said, and she stopped in her tracks and turned around with a beautiful smile on her face.

"That is better, and I think I will give you one hour to convince me why I should help you after eight years of breaking my best friend's heart," she said as she walked closer to the table, then Alice gracefully sat on the chair across from me. While I was shocked by what Megan's best friend said, it was Megan who broke my heart when she gave up on me quickly and chose the singer who only used her for his music.

"I would like to have a strawberry milkshake. I want to drink coffee, but I still have work tomorrow. I am afraid if I drink coffee, I will find it hard to sleep tonight," she added as she weakly smiled at me.

I called the waiter and ordered a milkshake for Alice and coffee for me. I still needed to drive back to Majuscule, and I didn't think I could sleep tonight after seeing Megan.

"Aren't you going to sit down?" Alice asked as she looked up at me, and I quickly took my seat and looked at her for a long time. I could tell that for the past eight years, Alice was still the same, yet she looked more sophisticated, and I smiled as I realized she was still her best friend and had never left Megan.

"Your time is running, Ashton. I am in a hurry because I still need to do something important, and I only came here because I am curious about what you are going to say after eight years," she declared, and I cleared my throat.

"I don't even know where to start," I said, and she laughed.

"You could start from the very beginning, the reason we left Astikoz City," Alice said, and she gave me the courage to speak and tell her everything.

"Alice, my father was the reason why Megan's parents lost their jobs, and my dad threatened me that Dexter would lose his job as well if I did not stay away from Megan, and in return, he would give me my freedom to follow my dream of becoming a professional football player," I said as I looked at her in the eyes.

"I didn't care if I couldn't play football since I could still play even if I didn't go pro. All I ever wanted was to be with Megan, but when she opened up about the issue that her parents lost their jobs on the same day, I realized my father was not joking at all. I could see the pain on her face, Alice, and I didn't want to make Megan's life miserable because of me. I couldn't break up with her because you know how much I love Megan. Of all people, you should be the one who knew that I am so crazy about your best friend," I added.

"And that is why I opted to stop communicating with her, thinking she would assume that we broke up because I couldn't face or talk with her. I knew I couldn't give her up, but I knew she loved her parents so much, and she didn't want to receive any help from me because you know her, Al. She wanted to do things on her own. For how many times I tried helping her financially, we only ended up fighting," I continued.

"Lauren happened to come that day into my room, and I didn't have any plan on joining my brothers in the living room, but since I wanted Lau to leave our house, I took her out of my room, and I didn't expect Megan would be there. Do you know how much it pained me to see her that day, Alice?" I asked, and she shook her head while I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"It was fucking too painful that until now, I can still feel the pain. Hurting the girl I love is the most terrifying thing I have ever done, but what could I do? I couldn't leave our house, and I knew I would only make her life worse if I came with her. My dad was watching my every move, and I hated my father for eight fucking years. Now he has had a stroke, and he left me no choice again but to become the CEO of our company," I declared.

"They said I am one of the luckiest people in this world, but do you know what I was thinking, Alice? For me, being the son of Gregory Pritzgold was a curse," I said as I released a heavy sigh, and I could see the concern in Alice's eyes as she looked at me without blinking.

"I am not lucky. How can I be when I couldn't even protect the only girl I love?" I said in more than a whisper.

"And now that my father could no longer dictate me, it was too late for me to have Megan back. She hated me so much, and she couldn't even recognize me. I didn't expect her to forgive me for what I had done to her, Alice. I know I was such an idiot for hurting her, but when she acted like she didn't know me at all, it felt like someone hit me in the gut, and I could feel the piercing in my heart," I declared.

"It hurt me like hell that she even forgot all the memories she had with me. I hated the fact that she gave up her music and chose to be with Gael, but do you think you can help me to have her back? I know it was such a stupid question, but do you think she is not happy with Gael, Alice?" I asked, and she laughed hysterically.

"Is there something funny about what I have said?" I asked, confused, and I could even see the tears in her eyes as she continued to laugh at me. I could tell some of the customers were looking at us, and I could say others recognized me as the football player while others were curious why the woman in front of me was laughing hard.

"I am sorry, Ashton, it's just that you look so adorable right now," she said, and her face suddenly became solemn.

"You are the one who is engaged, Ashton. How can you win back my best friend when you are getting married? There is no way I am going to help you if you will only break Megan's heart all over again," she said.

"About that..." I trailed off, and I could see the disappointment on Alice's face.

"The wedding is off," I quickly said, even if Claire had stopped communicating with me after she said she would be the one to break our engagement after she came after me at Astikoz. We had to cancel our wedding because I couldn't marry her.

"Why haven't we heard about the cancellation of your wedding?" she asked, and I put my hands on my face before speaking.

"It was complicated, Al, but I can't marry her. There is only one woman I love. I tried dating different girls, but none of them could replace Megan in my heart, and I hope I still have a chance to be with her," I said.

"I will help you, Ashton, if you promise you will do everything you can to win her back and you will not surrender no matter how hard it would be to take Megan back. And most of all, if you promise me you will not leave her no matter what, and you will not hurt her ever again with another girl. You have to end your playboy character," she declared, and it was my time to laugh.

"For the record, I am not a playboy, Alice. Most of the articles you read were all fabricated. I am the only one who knows the real me, and if Megan gives me a chance, I will tell her everything, and I promise you I will never hurt her again," I said, and she smiled.

"I am not going to tell you everything about Megan because even if I promise to help you, I am still angry with you for breaking her heart and for making her cry, and I want you to find out everything about her on your own. And here, take these," Alice said as she handed me a card with a piece of paper, and I felt so frustrated that she was not going to tell me about Megan at all. When I looked at the calling card, my eyes widened in shock. It was Megan's calling card, and she is the CEO of the company where Alice was working. Then, on the piece of paper, I saw the address of a school, which made me raise my eyebrows. Then I saw another residential address.

"I gave you the address of the school of Megan's son, and if you want to win her heart back, there is no one who can help you but that angel, and he happens to love football so much. Megan's world revolves around him now, and I hope this time you will play your cards right, Ashton," Alice said, and I handed her the paper bag with the football inside.

"Then, I also provided her residential address. I love my best friend, Ashton, and all I want for her is to be happy," she said, and I wanted to ask her about Gael, but I was too afraid to ask.

"And if you want to know about Gael's role in Megan's life, well, you have to find the courage to face him, and if you want to win Megan back, you will do everything you can. Good luck, and I hope you will not disappoint me," she said.

"Aren't you a friend of Gael?" I asked.

"Yes, he is my friend too," she replied.

"And why are you helping me?" I asked again.

"Because there are things you should know, and I love happy endings. Goodbye, Ashton..." she said as she got up, winked at me, and left me more confused but happy that she gave me tips and enough information on where to find Megan.