Brian’s PoV

My breath caught in my chest and my grip on Ashlynn’s hand tightened. I had to get Ashlynn and everyone else out of here. They had no reason to get caught up in this. “Get out of here, you guys. I can handle her.” I whispered to Matt. Matt shook his head and squared his shoulders, showing me that he was staying right there.

“We’re not leaving you, bro.” Zacky added. I looked at both of them with a look of appreciation and nodded in understanding.

“You’re on your own. I don’t care.” Johnny said, starting to walk out the restaurant doors.

“Johnny! Don’t be like that! Brian needs us!” Ashlynn scolded.

“I’m no use to him like this, Ashlynn. I’ll be out in the car.” Johnny said, sneering at Ashlynn and walking out the door clumsily.

“Get out, you stupid bastard! I’m tired of your shit!” I yelled after him, rage starting to build up. “Asshole...” I mumbled. Ashlynn looked at me with a sorry look on her face. I shook my head and exhaled loudly in an attempt to calm myself.

“What are you doing here?” I turned to Michelle, ready to face whatever might happen.

“I should ask you the same thing.” Michelle crooned. She sashayed over to me and, placing her hands on my shoulders, kissed me on the lips. Ashlynn gasped and tore her hand away from mine. For a moment, shock overtook me and I couldn’t move, much less pull away. I gradually gave in to her touch, closing my eyes and deepening the kiss.

Suddenly, two pictures flashed into my mind. One was Ashlynn’s beautiful, smiling face, and the other was Michelle with someone very familiar to me standing by her side with a terrified look on his face and his arm outstretched, reaching out to me, trying to get away from Michelle. My eyes widened as the pictures faded and I snapped back to my senses. What the fuck am I doing?! I yelled in my head. I jerked away from her grip and glared at her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I hissed.

“Oh, come on, Brian. You still love me and you know it.” She replied with a seductive smile and a wink. She leaned towards me in another attempt to kiss me.

I pushed her back. “How could I love you after what you did to me? What you did to Sammy?” I was to the point of yelling by now. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at us, but I didn’t care. I had to deal with this bitch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ashlynn huddled in the corner in fear. My heart broke. I didn’t want Ashlynn, or anyone else, for that matter, to witness this.

Michelle’s smile faded and was replaced with anger. “Don’t you dare bring up Sammy, Brian!” She screamed. “I only did it to protect him! You hurt Sammy! You left me!”

“I would never do anything to hurt you or Sammy! You took my son away from me! You divorced me! How do you think that made me feel?!” I roared.

Michelle’s focus suddenly shifted to Ashlynn and she looked at her in disgust. “Who’s this scaredy-cat bitch?” She snorted.

I watched as Ashlynn’s face contorted in anger. She stood up quickly and stormed over to Michelle. “What did you just call me?” She yelled in her face.

Michelle remained calm. “I called you a bitch, bitch. Are you deaf too?”

“Don’t you dare call her a bitch!” I felt the angry words lick like fire in the back of my throat. I grabbed Ashlynn’s hand and pulled her back to my side. “She’s your replacement, Michelle. Her name’s Ashlynn.” She looked at me with a loving smile. For a moment, my anger subsided and I felt my love for her wash over me all over again. I smiled back at her and stared in her breathtaking ocean-blue eyes for as long as I could.

Michelle laughed and I turned back towards her, feeling the anger rise again. “My replacement?” She scoffed. “Come on, you said it yourself, Brian. ‘I will never find anyone like you, Michelle.’ ” She said, twisting what I had actually said a month ago after we were divorced.

“I never want to find anyone like you again, Michelle," was what I had really said.

I glared at her. “You and I both know that’s not what I really said.”

She thought for a moment and pursed her lips together in amusement. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s what you said.”

I had reached my breaking point. “Stop putting words in my mouth, Michelle!” I yelled. “I am so fucking sick of you, you stupid bitch! Stay out of my life!” I turned around and grabbed Ashlynn’s hand, leading her outside, with Zack and Matt close behind.

“Don’t walk away from me, Brian! I will find you!” Michelle screamed, running outside behind me. “And when I do, I’ll kill your precious ‘girlfriend’!” She said, putting a mocking emphasis on “girlfriend”.

I spun around and looked at her with a steady fire burning in my eyes. “I dare you to try.”

Pivoting back around, I led Ashlynn to my beloved purple 2012 Ford Mustang and opened the passenger door for her. *A/N: Look at the notes for a picture of the Mustang* She smiled at me in thanks and eased into the leather seat. I walked over to the driver’s side and climbed in as well, shutting the door a little harder than I wanted. I winced and pushed the key in the ignition, forcing the car to life. Zacky, Matt, and Johnny all piled into the cramped back seat, with Johnny sitting on Matt’s lap this time. Ashlynn reached over and ran her fingers through my dark, gelled-up hair, causing me to look over at her. She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight. I reciprocated the smile and took her soft hand in mine.

I realized Michelle was probably still standing at the entrance to the restaurant. Sure enough, she was right there, shivering in the cold with her arms crossed, looking very upset. I smiled triumphantly at her and waved with my other hand. She sneered back and flipped me off. I laughed and threw the Mustang into reverse, looking back to make sure there was no traffic. I drove off, looking at Michelle in the rearview mirror. Hopefully, this is the last time I ever see that bitch ever again. I thought, relief washing over me when I realized that I had won this time. That relief was short-lived, however. I frowned. Sammy was still in Michelle’s custody. My son, my life, was in her grasp, and I had no clue how to get him back. I felt tears starting to surface in my eyes, but I blinked them back. I have to be strong. If I can’t do anything, then maybe Ashlynn can... I thought, looking at her in the corner of my eye. I shifted my attention back to the road and focused on the mental image of Ashlynn, instead of the doubt that was slowly surfacing in my thoughts. I stroked Ashlynn’s hand with my thumb. Ashlynn could be the only way to save Sammy.

Notes

Brian's purple Mustang

Sorry this chapter is so short guys :( I was getting serious writer's block (again!), and I was gone on a camping trip for three days, but I hope you guys like it :)