Chapter 41: To Be Alone With Her

Ashton's POV

"You better stop what you are doing, Ashton. You look like a teenage boy peeking in the window waiting for your crush to come out," Zachary said, and I hated that he caught me again. I combed my hair with my fingers as I turned around and looked at my best friend. And he was right; I felt like a high school boy all over again.

"What do you want me to do, Zach? Go to their cottage and say, 'Hey, Meg, by the way, we are staying at the cottage across from yours?' Do you think Megan will not pack up their things and leave before I can even make our plan A? You know her, Zach. I don't want to scare her away, and I'd better be like a senior student again than make myself look like a fool because I can't take it if she tells me again to stay away from her," I declared.

"You have to relax, buddy. I've got it covered. I already texted Alice and informed her that we are also at the retreat center, and I asked her where they are going next. She's very excited that you are here. I think nothing is going on between Gael and Megan," he responded, and my heart suddenly thumped faster as I cocked my head to his side.

"And why do you say that? I was there when Gael arrived, and when I asked Freddie to check that mansion where Megan and our child were residing, he told me Gael once owned the estate, and it is now under Megan's name," I said, and I could feel the bitterness in my words.

"Come on, Ashton. It is only understandable that Gael would provide Megan everything that she needs, especially a house and a car. Or maybe Megan bought the property from Gael since your ex was also earning money from her music, and I think the singer is not that selfish since he knew because of your ex, he became more popular, and Gael earned more the moment he started singing solo using Megan's songs," Zach declared.

"I already asked Alice about that thing, but she said it is not her story to tell. But she told me that you should never give up on Megan because she knew that your ex is still hung up on you. So, I think it is your cue to continue pursuing Megan," he added, and I smiled like an idiot.

"I think chasing time should begin right here at this place. They will have tree planting and gardening today, and in ten minutes, they will get out of their cottage, and we can follow them without getting caught because there are so many bushes around here where we can hide," he said, and I couldn't stop myself from feeling so excited about it. It feels like we are children playing hide and seek.

"Are you ready?" he asked, and I nodded at him.

I took a deep breath as I saw Megan getting out of their cottage, and I don't think I even breathed. I saw her one week ago, but it feels like an eternity, and my heart was pounding so fast that I don't think I heard what Zach was saying as I watched Megan walking through the footpaths leading to the nursery.

"Hey, Ashton, we should go now." I felt Zachary nudge my elbow.

"Yeah, of course," I said, and I couldn't believe I would be feeling this way. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. We got out of our cottage, and we dropped by the nursery after the girls left, and we chose the tree saplings.

"Do you know that you were weird today?" he asked, and I was silent, but I gave him a questioning look as I pushed the wheelbarrow where we put the tree seedlings.

"It seems like this is your first time meeting a girl, when in fact, you always tried your best to avoid those celebrities trying to get your attention. You can flirt with them easily even if you don't like them," he added, and I chuckled.

"I only flirted with some of them since I was trying to forget Megan, and most of the time I just talked with them every time they came to me, and that is what I hate about the media, because every time I talk with any of those celebrities, they put some label on it, and I know it made Megan angrier with me," I responded.

"Well, most of those girls wanted to be your girlfriend, and it was funny that every time you tried going on a date, it would turn into a disaster," he said, and I laughed.

"Yeah, and I know it was all my fault. How can I call my date Megan? And only Claire didn't mind even if for how many times I called her Megan," I said, and Zachary was laughing hard.

"Yeah, it earned you slaps," he said, and I still remember the double dates we had that I always ended up being alone after calling my date Megan. That is why only Claire became my serious girlfriend after my first love.

I could say nothing can compare to the feelings I have for Megan, and no matter what I did, I ended up longing for her. Now that I learned we have a child, my love for her intensified, and it feels like my heart is about to burst in my chest if I can't have her in my arms again. I was hoping Zachary was right about Megan and Gael; I don't want them to be together since she only belongs with me.

"You could have dated someone named Megan," he added.

"Yeah, but it would still be the same. I would only end up hurting her because Megan Corteza is only one," I responded, and I smiled when we reached the bottom of the hill, and I raised my head and realized there were already people who had started planting their trees. My eyes scanned the hill right away, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling when my eyes caught her. I could see she began digging the soil, and I was still watching her when Zach handed me the seedlings.

"We need to get going, buddy, because we have so many young trees to plant for the next generation to enjoy," he said with a wide grin and started walking uphill, and I was following behind him. I was panting already, but I was still looking in Megan's direction.

"You better plant your seedling near Megan's trees," Zach said.

"What if she gets angry with me when she sees me?" I asked.

"Use your cap, try hiding your face. Even if your build looks familiar to her, she will never mind you because I am sure it will never occur to her that you will be in this place," my best friend said. I hate that with regards to Megan, I will always lose my sense of thinking because I was feeling so excited to be with her.

I followed Zach's advice and started digging the soil, and I felt proud of myself when I was able to plant the trees I carried. I was on my way back to the bottom to get more saplings when I noticed Megan walking downhill. I couldn't stop myself from striding toward her, and I realized I became closer to her since I could now smell her sweet scent, and I was trying to control myself from not hugging her from behind because I wanted to take her into my arms.

Then suddenly, she tripped, and I was there with her instantly. I could feel my pulse racing when I put my hands around her waist to steady her. I felt so thankful I followed her, or she could have rolled to the bottom of the hill, and when she was on her feet, I intended to turn around and leave, but I wanted to see her beautiful face. When she spun her body to look at me, I could see the surprised look on her face.

I tenderly told her to be careful as I tried to make my voice sound calm. I know I made a big mistake by showing my face to her right away, but I couldn't control my emotions anymore, and I felt so triumphant that I was able to hold her waist. Being close to her made me feel so happy. Before Megan could push me away, I turned around and left her with a wide grin on my face as I realized I made her blush.

"Wow! I never thought you would be that fast, Ashton, and you already made it to first base," Zach said the moment he got inside our cottage, and I wondered what took him so long.

"Where have you been? I have been looking for you," I asked, and he was smirking at me.

"How could you walk out that easily without planting your remaining seedlings?" he asked, and I realized I still had trees to plant. Because of my worries that Megan would push me away, I left the tree planting site and proceeded to harvest some tomatoes. After gathering one basket, I returned to the kitchen and turned over the collected tomatoes.

"I am sorry. I still don't know how to act before Megan," I said, and he laughed.

"You should be ready. Alice told me we should sit with them during dinner," Zachary said, and a broad smile spread across my face as I realized I could see her again during dinner, and I spent the entire afternoon thinking about how to make her speak with me.

I took a shower, and then I got myself ready for dinner. As we made our way to the main building, I darted a glance at their cottage, but I hadn't seen anyone. The dining area is spacious, and the long buffet table is now filled with different menus. We chose a table as far away from everyone, and my eyes widened when I saw Megan getting inside the dining hall, and I could feel the knots in my stomach.

Alice sat beside me after she got her food from the buffet table. It felt like forever as I waited for Megan to join us, and I could see how her face fell when she realized she would be joining us at our table. I felt so glad there was no available table.

As I pulled out a chair for her, I could smell her intoxicating scent that made my throat dry. By the time Megan sat across from me, I couldn't explain the throbbing of my heart, and I felt delighted I was not the only one affected by being near to each other, as I could see her face blushing again. I was hoping I could be alone with her tonight.