"No Longer Neighbors"

Chapter 8

Thank you everyone for reading.

I hope you enjoy the final chapter in our saga.

Previously...

"So, that's it? We're over?" Tank's voice had a mixture of sadness and realization.

She held his hand tightly in hers. "I love you, Tank. I am sure I always will. I will always be here for you, as a dear good friend." She leaned in and kissed him softly on his cheek.

…...

Ashley was stretched out on the couch that Tank had moved out into the monitor room for her. She had told him she didn't want to be in the way in his office while he was busy working. He tried to argue, but she won. She had a nice little set up going on. He had brought over a small table for her along with a lamp. He made sure she had water, coffee, plenty to eat, and helped her up when needed since she couldn't walk on her leg without crutches yet. She was out of work and injured, and he had been taking care of her. She still lived with him in his apartment. He insisted, but they both knew they were only friends now. It wasn't easy, but they did care for one another and at least the fighting had stopped. He had even given her a job. She was his assistant. Which translated to: Please help me with this mountain of paperwork!

She stretched and looked over at her out box. She was actually getting a lot of paperwork done today. That is, until Heather walked by.

"Oh. You're still here. How's the leg? I bet you are almost better, right?"

Ashley could hear the lack of caring and the jealousy in her voice. She found it amusing.

If anyone shouldn't like someone, it should be me hating you.

But, I don't.

Weird.

Ashley smiled at Heather, then looked down at her obviously injured leg. "Almost."

"Good." Heather said flatly before walking into Tank's office.

Woody was pleasantly surprised when he started receiving texts from Ashley again about two months ago. They were short at first, but over time got longer. She didn't ask for him to take her back. She just talked about her life and asked about his.

Woody had walked in behind Heather and had stood back to watch the exchange between the two women.

Will you look at that...

She's finally moved on.

"Well, isn't she a sweetheart?" Woody joked as he walked up to Ashley.

Ashley's eyes widened and she screamed. "Woody!"

She tried to get up and run over, forgetting about her leg. Woody caught her before she could fall and held her in his arms, as Tank hurried out of his office to check on her. He stopped short at the site in front of him, but where rage and jealousy were before, now was understanding. He watched her beam up at Woody, and knew they had done the right thing breaking up. He knew he was looking at love.

Woody nodded to Tank as a greeting, which Tank returned.

"Tank, doesn't Ashley have some time off coming to her?" Woody asked.

"What? I haven't worked here that long." Ashley answered.

Tank nodded. "Yeah, she does have some time."

"Good." Woody looked at Ashley. "You are looking pretty tired."

"Hey!"

Woody just shrugged and laughed.

"I think a few days relaxing at the beach would help." He winked at her.

Ashley smiled at him and nodded.

"The beach? I don't think I have ever been to the coast here in Georgia." Tank thought out loud. "I always thought of you as a city girl, Ashley. Do you even like the beach?"

Woody and Ashley just smiled at each other. She had told Woody long ago that when she was younger growing up in East Texas, that she would make the hour and a half drive to Galveston a couple of times a week just to see the sunrise. She would spend everyday there if she could. As for the city, Woody knew she grew up in the country. Ashley enjoyed working in Atlanta for the excitement, but she was definitely not a city girl.

Instead of pointing out to Tank how he was wrong, she smiled and simply answered, "Yes. I love the beach."

Tank looked at the two of them again, then turned to Ashley. "I guess there is a lot about you I still don't know."

Hearing the words she had once said to him, repeated at her, seemed somehow fitting. She smiled at him and took his hand. "We have the rest of our lives to get know each other, Tank, as good friends." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

Heather appeared in the door way at that moment. She had a stern look on her face and it was directed at Ashley. Ashley gave her a small smile. She looked at the couple now holding hands, then looked up into Tank's eyes. "I think you make a beautiful couple, and I wish you nothing but happiness."

Now, it was Tank's turn to kiss Ashley on the cheek.

Ashley wobbled a little on her crutches, and he tried to steady her.

"I think I can stand on my own two feet now."

"Yea you can." Woody replied. He looked her in the eye and they exchanged a look of understanding.

Tank stood quietly watching the two of them.

Then, Woody bent down and swept Ashley up in his arms.

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to carry you off into the sunset." Woody proclaimed and kissed her.

…...

The beach was wonderful. Being spring, the weather was warming, but the tourists wouldn't arrive till summer. They rented a little beach cottage and spent the weekend as friends. There was a lot of hand holding, kisses on the cheek, and snuggling, but nothing further.

"This weekend was perfect, Woody. You always seem to know what I need when I haven't got a clue."

He laughed and held her tight.

"I'll always be here for you, Ashley."

…...

He visited Ashley twice more over the next couple of months, and on the last visit, he helped pack up her things. He watched the moving van drive off before they got in the taxi to ride to the airport.

He stopped Ashley before she got in. He held her hands in his and looked her in the eye.

"Ashley, I want to spend the rest of my life with you in what ever way you will let me. I love you. I always have, and I always will." Then he leaned forward and kissed her.

Ashley took a second to rejoice in his words. The words she new were true, and they were exactly the same words her heart screamed to him. Without thinking and with his hands still in hers, she shouted out, "Marry me, Woody!"

…...

I hope you enjoyed this story. I loved writing it.

I wasn't sure whether to end it with Woody carrying Ashley off or with the spontaneous proposal from Ashley. Let me know what you think.

Thank you to all who encouraged me to write it.

Ojjacobs, and everyone who shared with me their own experiences as well.

Melanie

groups/1531043130494701/?ref=bookmarks This link is to a FB FF group page I created. Check it out.