Kiss the Past
{Prologue}
“I’m sorry, for breaking all the promises I wasn’t around to keep,” a cell phone sang as Ashley’s ears perked up. Things had been wonderful since Christmas last year- everyone was healthy and happy. That’s all that she could ask for. Ashley sighed, leaning over in her seat, picking her phone up and reading a text message from her sister-in-law. The ringtone was not a special note; it was just her favorite Jonas Brothers song that they ever released. The vocals were so powerful… Nick’s voice was amazing; Joe’s as well. But, that was beyond the point as she read a text message from Andie.
Play date with Alarie and Adam?
Before Ashley could even type up a response, there was a ring at her door. Standing up, leaving Adam in front of a toy xylophone she walked to the front door to see Andie holding Alarie in her arms. Alarie squirmed out of her mother’s arms and toddled down towards Adam.
“Adam! Adam! Guess what I gots today!” the two year proclaimed at the eighteen month old stared at her quizzically. Adam couldn’t’ speak but the bare essentials. He could say “mommy” and “daddy” and “more”, but other than that, it was a work in progress.
Alarie stared at her cousin as if he were an idiot. “Look!” she stated. “I gots a Olivia Brown doll!” she said, showing a Barbie doll.
“You broke down and bought the girl that?” Ashley asked quickly.
Olivia Brown was Disney Channel’s latest project. Think Hannah Montana with special powers. Wizards of Hannah Montana Place. Shaking her head, Andie looked at her friend seriously.
“They were all over the place!” she complained. “I thought that Miley had made a comeback!” Andie pouted, grabbing the doll from Alarie’s hands; making the two year old complain loudly.
“She looks evil!” Ashley burst out, taking the doll from Andie. “Oh my god…” Ashley bent down and looked at her niece. “Auntie Ashley’s gonna borrow this, okay? She wants to show Uncle Kevin when he gets home from work, okay?” she asked.
Alarie pouted once but gave in, walking to Adam’s side, plopping down dramatically.
“Speaking of,” Andie stated. “When does the lawyer extraordinaire get home?” she asked, giving a small roll of her eyes. It was slapped off her face with a towel as Ashley moved to wash some dishes.
“Any minute now,” she informed. Ashley and Kevin had made sure that his schedule was no longer all nights- but to do that, Kevin had to step down from partner, to associate. Less hours meant less money, but it wasn’t like they were struggling. What with the reunion tour raking in millions, they were fine. For now, at least. Ashley wouldn’t even go into the fact that Kevin and the boys were going to make another record.
Ashley bit her bottom lip and looked over at the two kids playing. Her mind had been going to the idea of another kid with Kevin - but no, she wasn’t ready. She could barely stand spending the day at home with just Adam; how could she do that with another kid? “So,” Ashley said. “Kevin wants another kid,” she said quietly. “And… I was thinking about borrowing Alarie for the weekend,” she told Andria. “Like… just to scare him out of his mind about having another kid,” the brunette stated.
“Ohh, you’re so evil,” Andie smirked. “God, you are.” she giggled. “Well, I’ll see if Joe can talk Kevin out of another kid.”
“Right-o.” Ashley said simply as the front door was knocked on once again. She tossed her towel down and walked towards the door; swinging it open to see Emily.
Emily had been welcomed to the family just as Brittany had been. Emily was already looked upon as an Honorary Jonas Sister; so when Emily walked in the house, Ashley hugged her tightly and Alarie ran to her. “Auntie Emily!” she called, while hugging her legs.
The latest edition to the home, smirked gently, patted Alarie on the back and made her way into the kitchen, placing her shopping bags on the table in the kitchen. “Wow. Okay,” Emily informed. “Girls, I’m very excited. I’ve got some good ideas for this weekend’s party.”
“Party?” Ashley asked.
Andie smirked at Ashley. “Don’t mind her,” she said, turning her head to Emily. “We tend to keep her out of the loop so she can’t back out.”
“Kevin’s party!” Emily grinned. “His birthday! He is turning the big 3-0.”
“Or the “dirty thirty”, as Joe calls it.” Andie chimed in.
“Well….” Ashley said, forgetting that Kevin’s birthday was in four days. “What’re we doing?”
“Big, huge, party.” Emily smiled.
“We’re paying,” Andie smirked. “For all of us, including the kids and mom and dad to fly out to Las Vegas,” she grinned.
“We rented out the Playboy club at the Palms and we’re gonna just have a blast…” she grinned.
“And Nicole?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Emily stated.
“Emily,” Ashley said in a warning tone.
“Kidding!” Emily shrugged. “I dunno… it’s her fault that she’s nineteen.”
“Really, Em?” Andie grinned.
“We’ll slip her something,” Emily offered. “Sound reasonable to the Queen?” she asked, raising a brow at Ashley.
Ashley pouted her lips before nodding her head gently. “All right, all right.” she informed.
“Perfect!”
As the front door swung open and the girls heard Alarie cry out “Uncle Kevin!” and Adam cheer “Da-da!”, Emily raced to hide the bags that were on the table as Ashley went back to her dishes; acting as if they weren’t just talking about him.
Kevin was wearing a black suit - looking sharp, his hair still as curly as ever. “Andie,” he said, kissing his sister-in-law on the cheek before moving to his wife, kissing her gently.
“Evening,” he beamed.
Ashley would be lying if she said that she didn’t like Kevin being home at five-thirty like normal people. Ashley would also be lying if she said she was looking forward to going to Las Vegas for his birthday.
“How’re you feeling, Kevin?” Emily asked as she came out of the bathroom; having flushed the toilet and drying her hands off… only Ashley and Andie knew she had been hiding the gifts.
“What do you mean?” Kev asked, hugging Emily.
“How do you feel now that you’re about to go over the hill?” she taunted.
Everyone in the kitchen with Kevin at that particular moment was under the age of thirty - one under the age of twenty-three.
Ashley laughed, shaking her head. “Guys, it’s not funny..” she smirked. “I mean.. it’s not Kevin’s fault that he’s gonna be Old Man Jonas in four days,” she deemed.
“You’re going the right way for a rough night,” Kevin warned.
The girls gave “oooohs” and took that as their cue to get out of the house. Emily and Andie kissed Ashley’s cheeks before waving goodbye to Kevin, taking Alarie and leaving. Adam toddled over to his mother and father as Kevin leaned down and picked his son up, cuddling him to his chest. “How was Daddy’s boy today?”
“Good,” Ashley informed. “Hit his head today, though.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he is. Not like the first time it’s happened,” Ashley reminded.
“Well, if he does it any more, he’ll turn out like his Uncle Joe.” he said in a childish tone.
Ashley snorted once and sighed once. “Baby, I’m in no mood to cook,” she said. “Can we go out tonight?” she asked innocently.
“Of course.”
“Why don’t you invite the boys and we’ll have a family dinner?” Ashley suggested.
Kevin shrugged. “All right.” he leaned over, kissed Ashley and handed her Adam. “I’m gonna go change outta my monkey suit.” he grinned.
Ashley nodded and moved down the hallway to the bathroom when she knew he was upstairs. She saw the bag and there was a note on the inside of the bag.
Ashley, give this to Kevin tonight.
Inside were the plane tickets to Vegas and a black and red piece of lingerie.
She’d never wear that.
Not even for Kevin’s birthday.
