The Love of Lies

Slippers

Ashton’s POV

I was indifferent about Vanessa, but now, I really don’t know what I ever saw in her. She’s a manipulative b*tch, and telling Toby that I made her have an abortion is a line she shouldn’t have crossed.

I have said those words to Cori, a woman I slept with once and was angry with for blowing me off, but I would never have said that to Vanessa, who was my girlfriend only a year ago.

However, she and I always used protection, so if she was pregnant, it wasn’t by me. I’m not judging the woman, everyone is entitled to their mistakes, and I’m currently expecting one of my own, but to pin the blame on me to someone who could have potentially used that to impact my career is absolutely disgusting, specifically because it’s not true.

“I know that you have no reason to believe me, but I didn’t sit with them to upset you.” Cori is back to looking bored out of her mind, and I realize too late that she thinks my attitude is because of her.

“I heard; and thank you for coming back.” It's awkward at our table right now, and unable to take it, I ask Cori if she's ready to leave.

“Just us?”

“If you aren’t comfortable with it, I can arrange for a car to take you back while I drive in another.”

“Okay.” Cori stands, and on the way out my mother follows, likely wanting to make sure that she and I won’t cause another scene.

“Wait, can you two take a picture?”

“Mom…”

“It’s not for you.”

“Mrs. Lewis-”

“Cori, you had a very unfortunate upbringing, so I understand why you don’t see the importance of what I’m asking, but your baby deserves better. You can at least give it one image to look back on and be proud of; unless you plan to tell your son or daughter that they were a mistake.”

I watch the woman’s face go somber before she allows my mother to guide us to a place at this event that I’ve never been to.

“Do they do this every year?”

“Yes, your father and I have our picture taken regularly. Mrs. Dillinger’s cousin owns a wedding planning business, so in the beginning, she set this up as a way for him to advertise his services, but it’s become a tradition now.”

“Is that why people come so dressed up?” Cori looks like an enlightened child, and I hate that my actions are cutting the fullness of her life short, but her assumption is dead wrong.

“My dear, some of the women here wear ball gowns to go to the gym. This is just a way to show off.”

“How?”

“These pictures don’t come cheap.”

“Then forget it, we can just use someone’s phone.” Cori is serious, and that makes me chuckle.

My family doesn’t live on a budget, and while we don’t have as much money as the Dillinger family, we aren’t worried about a couple of hundred dollars.

It takes a good fifteen minutes for Cori and I to finally get in front of the large stairway, and having never taken a couples photo, she and I stand straight, almost military in appearance. There’s a person sized space between us, and my mother looks irritated by our display.

“What is that supposed to be?” The photographer says, his feminine and high pitched exasperated tone taking me aback. “You two must really dislike one another?” Cori and I exchange glances and laugh, realizing at the same time how spot on the man’s assessment is, although I can admit that I don’t hate Cori, but I'm still angry with her.

“Look how beautiful your smile is,” the man says, making me study Cori’s face, agreeing with him because it’s true, but when he approaches me, I realize that the compliment wasn’t directed at her.

The man approaches, arranging my tie and jacket as he continuously compliments me from my teeth to my eyes. Cori keeps scooting away from us, but I keep moving closer to her, and eventually I reach out and grab her arm, careful not to be too rough, and get slapped again.

“Oh, are you two together?”

“Yes.”

“No,” Cori and I answered at the same time, and I gape at the woman, who laughs so loudly at my expression that I unintentionally smile.

“You really couldn’t back me up this one time.”

“This is much more entertaining.” I pull another shocked face and Cori laughs even louder, clutching at her belly which worries my mother, making me worry as well.

“Are you feeling any pain?”

“No… I’m just hungry,” Cori whines, prompting me to straighten my back and pull her into a hug.

“Put up with me this one time, okay?” The woman doesn’t look as put off as she usually does, and I realize that me touching her isn’t the problem, it's the way that I come off that bothers her.

“Much better,” the photographer says, “and the next time that you aren’t interested in someone, just say that.” Cori giggles, and it reminds me of the night she and I were together. “Perfect,” we hear the photographer say, making us both realize that he’s been snapping photos of us the entire time.

The man looks through the images, and seemingly unsatisfied by his own work, he comes up to us and positions us in such a cliche pose that both Cori and I protest.

I respect the man’s craft, but high school prom poses are so cringy that I cannot and will not participate in continuing its legacy.

Annoyed, the photographer asks me to pose alone, then he poses Cori beside me. The woman’s elbow is resting on my shoulder and her chin is resting on her arm, a pose that doesn’t call for a smile.

We follow the man’s instructions until Cori takes an annoyed breath, so I remind my mother that she hasn’t eaten.

Cori’s POV

I followed Ashton to the front of the venue, expecting him to call me a taxi as he promised, but instead, he asked a valet to bring his car around, confusing and concerning me.

“I thought we agreed…”

“A taxi can’t get into this event. I have to take you outside first.” That sounds correct because we did enter through a gate, and I can tell that the venue is some sort of extravagant wedding estate, the kind of place where people like me typically don’t venture into.

“That’s okay then. I don’t want to stress you. I can just wait for Julia and Troy.”

“Cori, I promise that I won’t make you feel uncomfortable.” I just glare at the man, making him chuckle in understanding. “Fine; I won’t make you feel any more uncomfortable than you already do.”

I open my mouth, but Ashton’s car pulls up and the man opens the passenger door, leaving me with the option to embarrass us both further, or get inside.

I decide to take the morally high road, but only because the man said he was taking me to catch a cab, so I won’t be trapped in a car with him for long.

As soon as I get into the car I sigh loudly, annoyed, tired, and hungry. I just want to sleep, but then I realize that I’ll be alone with Ashton for an undisclosed period of time, and I almost panic.

I slapped him, and I shouldn’t have, so when the man climbs into the car, I’m crying like a baby.

“What did I do now?” Ashton’s question makes me laugh, and he must think that I’m crazy for going from fearful to hysterical. Choosing to ignore it, Ashton starts driving, and when I stop cry-laughing, he finally addresses me. “Want to tell me what the problem was now?”

“I’m sorry. I should not have put my hands on you.”

“Thank you for apologizing, but I should have been more considerate toward you as well.” I tilt my head at the man, and he informs me that he heard about my ‘upbringing’ from his family. “You never told me that your father was abusive.”

“I told you that he wanted me to drop out of school to work.”

“But I thought that you were trying to tell me that you were raised by a jerk.”

“Well… that has nothing to do with anything between us,” I reply, not wanting to get into it while I’m still feeling emotional.

“It really does. Cori, really think about all our past interactions. Not just the ones at Syd’s but also at Troy’s party.” Ashton starts referring to what I used to consider his playfulness, like when he would nudge my shoulder with his elbow whenever I said something he found funny, and when he pulled me around the nightclub.

It’s true that I wasn’t afraid of him at that time because he wasn’t being violent; he was being a little aggressive, but there was no malice behind his actions, unlike now.

“I would never put my hands on you; ever, and the fact that I made your mind go there speaks volumes to how terribly I’ve been treating you.”

Ashton’s POV

Apologies have never been my strong suit, but Cori is going to have my baby, and the way she feels about me is unacceptable.

If she and I get into any sort of custody battle later, I don’t want her to mention the fear of physical retaliation or abuse because it will create an unhealthy life for the child that I played a significant role in helping to create.

“Do you understand what I mean? I’m angry, but not enough to hit you, nor will you ever get me to that point. Your slap was like a wakeup call, and I hope that you take my calmness afterward as an indication that I don’t want to fight anymore.” Cori is playing with her thumbs, and wanting to change that she’s uncomfortable, I stop at a twenty-four-hour store.

“Is this where the taxi will pick me up?”

“You still want me to call you a cab?”

“If you aren’t going to, why did we stop here?”

“Because you look miserable, and I’m pretty sure that you’re still hungry.”

“So, you want to go inside? Together? Dressed like this?!”

“I mean… I don't think that we look bad.” Cori starts to massage her temples, but when I turn over the engine, she rests a hand on my arm.

“I am really hungry,” she says. I immediately exit the car, wanting to take her to get whatever she wants.

I don’t want my unborn child to suffer from malnourishment, and I don’t carry granola bars like my mother does, so this stop is an absolute must.

I open Cori’s door and help her out, surprised when she doesn’t tell me that she doesn’t need help, and that bothers me. She’s a strong woman, and knowing that, I can’t ignore the obvious.

“Can I trust you to wait in the car for a minute?” The woman looks confused, but I make a pleading gesture and she agrees.

I hand her the keys, run into the store, buy a pair of house shoes for us both, and come running back out, relieved to see that she didn’t take my car and ditch me.

“What did you buy?” she asks, sounding disappointed because she likely wants to pick her own snacks.

“Give me your foot.” The woman’s face recoils, and I squat in front of the passenger door, picking up her leg and gently removing her shoe before sliding on the slipper I purchased.

“Ashton…”

“I know… I know…” The only shoes I could find with a rubber bottom that won’t allow anything sharp to hurt her, look like giant cartoon sneakers. “That’s why I also bought these.” I pull out my slippers and Cori snorts, shaking her head at the item in my hand.