Long time no see! I always try to be better at updating but then life always seems to get in the way

…

I haven't been completely honest with you.

The words were ringing around in Misty's head like an angry beedrill. Of course, he hadn't been honest with her, men were never honest with you. May was right, they were just looking to get their dick wet, never bothered by the lies they were piling on top of each other.

"Oh god." Misty swallowed, suddenly feeling nauseous.

She glanced around the room, she should have known no bartender would never actually get the perks of staying in the pent house suite. They'd be lucky to be given a room at all, they were the lowest of the low, the dregs of the operation. Come to think of it, besides that first day she had never actually seen Ash working and even then, it had been a fleeting glance. Had he only been buying a drink and she'd made an assumption he'd never bothered to correct.

"Mist, let me explain." He said, taking her clammy hand in his own. "It's really not as sinister as you think."

He was someone's trophy husband, he had to be. And good on him, he had the looks so why not flaunt it. It's what Misty did for a living after all, clearly, they were more well matched than she thought. But the thought didn't excite her like an affair usually did, the thrill of the secrecy. Instead it made her feel cheap and used, to think of some posh, powerful business woman clutching her pearls with a glass of wine while her young, attractive husband used her money to seduce foolish, broke girls.

Misty jumped slightly when Ash dropped a photo into her lap, half expecting to see him decked out in a tux with an elderly bride hooked up to an oxygen tank. What she wasn't expecting was a simple family portrait. The smiling child was clearly Ash, she could see it around the eyes. The woman was obviously his mum, she could spot the family resemblance a mile off.

But the man, that was what really shocked her, what really took her by surprise.

"Is that Giovanni?" She frowned, squinting slightly as if it was going to change what was right in front of her eyes.

Surely it was some sort of competition win or they met him in the street and couldn't resist asking him for a photo. But that didn't explain the loving gaze Ash's mum was giving him or the podgy hands gripping his trouser leg. That was not the way you act around a stranger.

"Yep, or my Dad if you'd rather." Ash said.

"This man? This is your father?" She asked, tapping the photo as if it would change the reality.

"That's what my birth certificate says." He shrugged, hoping to disperse some of the tension that was beginning to rise.

"Giovanni? As in the Giovanni who owns this hotel? One of TIME magazines shrewdest business men? Had an empire before he hit his late 30s? That Giovanni?"

"That's Daddy." He joked.

Misty carefully placed the photo on the coffee table, staring at that happy family as if they were mocking her. She really thought her and Ash had some common ground, the lowest lacky's just struggling to get by. Instead he was a boy born with a silver spoon firmly lodged in his mouth. He'd never really understand how much she had had to fight to survive, how desperate she'd been for money, why she'd ended up in the job she did.

Unwittingly, Ash had created a rift between them. She would have preferred the trophy husband. Misty was lowbrow, it's why May always ended up dating the rich toffs. She was unpolished and rough around the edges, not exactly the type of girl you could parade around at parties.

"Can I at least explain why I didn't tell you?" He pleaded, taking her hands in his own.

"Sure." She croaked.

"I don't want you to think I intentionally set out to deceive you but it's just something I try to avoid telling people." He admitted. "You don't understand how quickly people's opinion of me changes when they find out who I really am."

"Yeah, I bet people hate hanging around a rich bastard." She scoffed with a playful eye roll.

"That's what I mean, girls throw themselves at me just because they want an easy life with a rich sucker. But you came into town and you genuinely had no idea who I was, Pallet's a small town everyone knows me. And when you said I was the bartender I chose not to correct you so that maybe someone would like me for me for once." He rubbed the back of his neck again, a nervous habit he had that Misty had constantly found endearing.

"So why now?" She asked, sure they'd been getting more serious but it was hardly wedding bells between them.

"I don't know, I guess I watched you constantly complain about money and worry where your next meal was coming from that I wanted to show you that I could look after you a little bit. Spoil you from time to time, but the money doesn't change me. I'm still Ash, I've always been Ash." He promised.

Misty glanced over at Ash, the way he looked back at her with such sincerity she longed to believe him. And why shouldn't she? Sure, he had a bank balance with god knows how many zeros but that didn't change anything else about him. He was still the same Ash who held her close at night as if she were something precious, who made her laugh so hard she would end up hurting, whose eyes shone bright in even the dullest room.

So, he'd lied? He'd just been desperate for someone to love him for who he was rather than what they believed him to be. And did Misty understand that.

"Yeah." She laughed, letting go of his hands to thread hers through his hair. "Yes, you are."

Ash's beaming smile was the last thing Misty saw before their kiss. Ash hadn't been the only one to hide an aspect of themselves to make this relationship work and he'd had the gall to come clean long before Misty ever would. Who was she to really judge?

"I'm so glad you understood, I don't think I could have lost you." Ash whispered, kissing her on her forehead.

"I'm not going anywhere." She promised.

Suddenly, every moment of their relationship flashed before their eyes. Every little thing Misty had done appeared in her mind, she hadn't thought much of them at the time but not she realised how truly uncouth she could be. God, what Ash must have thought of her.

"You must think I'm so common." Misty whined, pulling back and burying her head in her hands.

"Why would I think that?" Ash laughed as she proceeded to curl up into a little ball.

"I took you to McDonalds on a date." She whispered, since she refused to touch the pay out from Drew, she was having to be a little more careful with her spending.

"I enjoyed it." He shrugged, rubbing her back reassuringly.

"Ugh!" She cringed. "I stole all those ketchup packets so I wouldn't have to buy a bottle."

"I thought it was cute." He laughed.

"Christ, you could probably afford to buy the whole factory." Misty said, finally unfurling from her ball.

"Well, no. My dad could buy the factory."

"That's something rich kids say." She rolled her eyes.

"Shut up, you're a rich kid through association now." He teased, finally putting the necklace on her.

"I could get used to that." She smiled, lightly fingering the gem. It was probably the most expensive thing that had ever touched her skin and she hadn't had to scheme to get it. "I love…"

"Yeah?" Ash prompted, eyes sparking with hope.

Misty knew how she wanted to end the sentence but she couldn't say it, not this time. Not when she knew what her job would force her to do, not when she would suddenly have to leave town without a goodbye, not when May would never approve.

"I love it." She finished uselessly, biting her lip as she gestured to the necklace.

"Good." He laughed softly. "I love it too."

They both smiled, even if it hadn't been said they knew what they really meant.

…

May nervously paced around the hotel room, glancing down at her phone so regularly she saw the minutes ticking by.

"Where is she?" She muttered to herself, unlocking the phone and opening her text just in case Misty had replied to her and she had missed it.

But the same sight met her, being left on read was beginning to get on her nerves. She could understand if it was just a pointless message, but she had made it very clear that this was important.

She jumped slightly when she heard keys in the lock, although she'd demanded Misty come home, she was still surprised she turned up.

"So, what's this big emergency?" Misty asked with an eye roll, receiving an SOS text while in bed with Ash had exactly helped the mood.

"Gary." May said, grabbing Misty's arm to yank her into the room before kicking the door shut.

"What about him? I thought he was sealing the deal today?" She frowned, dropping down onto her bed.

"Oh, he sealed the deal all right." May scoffed.

"Then what's the problem? Surely we should be drinking champagne or something?" She shrugged despite the clench in her heart. She'd grew to care for Gary, he was a good guy underneath it all. Not that she'd ever admit it but she'd grown accustomed to the life she'd settled into here, she could see herself staying for a while.

"Did you actually ask him who he was interested in?" May demanded.

"Well no, but you were the only person he was ever around besides Ritchie so I just assumed…" Misty trailed off midsentence, suddenly the penny dropped. "Wait a minute, you don't mean…"

"Yep." She nodded.

"Ritchie? Gary loves Ritchie?" Misty exclaimed, biting her lip to stop the smile that threatened to burst out. She couldn't deny the pair had good chemistry, while she didn't see it coming, she was kind of glad it had done.

"Yeah, I accidentally walked in on the pair of them getting frisky on Gary's desk." She sighed. "This whole time I've been chasing after a gay guy."

"He can't be gay, he always has a different girl on his arm every day of the week." Misty said, she'd read all about his play boy ways. Although, after meeting him in person she wasn't sure how much of that gossip she believed.

"All beards obviously." May groaned, flopping backwards onto the bed. "We've wasted these past few months on a pointless mark."

Misty desperately wanted to disagree, she didn't feel like these past few months had been wasted but she daren't say anything, she knew it wouldn't go well.

"Where'd you get that?" May asked when she noticed Misty nervously fiddling with her necklace.

"I bought it." Misty shrugged, scared to tell May the truth.

"You did?" May frowned, it wasn't like Misty to make frivolous purchases. After a tough upbringing she was always careful with money, always knowing you were just a few hard months away from being on the street.

"Yep, saw it and I thought why not?" Misty laughed nervously, knowing how fake the comment sounded.

"Seriously?" She scoffed. "Where did you get it?"

"Ash bought it for me." She said, attempting to drop the gem under her collar so May couldn't see how extravagant of a gift it was.

"How did he afford that? Rob a bank or something?" She asked, sitting up. Misty could practically see the gears turning in May's head. "Wait a minute, didn't you say Ash went to school with Gary?"

"Did I?" She said nonchalantly. "Maybe, but there can only be so many schools in such a small town."

"Misty, you do understand the fees for Gary's school were $50,000." May practically squealed, Misty knew it was too late now. Without meaning to Ash had become their next target. "Is Ash rich?"

"A little." She bit her lip.

"And how much is a little?"

"His Dad is Giovanni." She mumbled but judging by the scream May heard it.

"Fuck off!" She giggled. "You have been bedding the heir to The Roquet fortune?"

"It would seem so."

"This is perfect." May jumped off the bed and began to pace, a plan already forming in her head.

"Why is it perfect?" She feigned innocence, May had been right all along. No good could come from her relationship with Ash.

"Misty, don't be dense! What do we do with rich suckers?" She asked, circling her fingers to encouraging her to think.

"You can hardly marry him." She scoffed. "He's my boyfriend remember."

"Not for long." May smirked. "Soon he'll be your husband."

"What?" She swallowed, her whole body turning cold.

"You heard me, it's your turn to be the wife. Poor sod's already wrapped around your finger if that necklace is anything to go by, I bet we could have him down the aisle by the end of the month." May nodded, planning the whole scheme in her head. "It will be a bit awkward because he's seen me around, but I can just say I'm your cousin or something. I'll help plan the wedding, get close to him that way then it will be like taking candy from a baby."

"No, I'm not doing it." Misty shook her head.

"Excuse me?" She frowned.

"Ash doesn't deserve to be used like that." She said, stroking the necklace. He was one of the good ones.

"Of course he does, he's a guy." She rolled her eyes.

"No, he's not one of your dime a dozen rich twats." Misty spat. "He's genuine and a decent human being, I won't let you take his money."

"Are you kidding me right now?" May cried out. "And what has he done to deserve such praise? Buy you a shiny bit of bling and suddenly you're putty in his hands."

"It's not like that." She denied.

"Come on, you're better than this Misty. Don't fall for his lies."

"He's not a liar!" Misty shouted.

"Really? So, from day one he was honest about who he really was, hmm?" May asked, taking Misty's silence as an answer. "That's what I thought. He's just like the rest of them, he has lied to you for the entirety of your relationship, you really think he is worth your time?"

"He didn't want my opinion of him to change." She whispered, but even to her own ears it sounded like a pathetic excuse now.

"Well, if he can lie about who he is think what else he'd be willing to lie about." May shrugged. "I need a shower."

"Okay." Misty said softly as she stalked from the room.

"Think about it Misty, and I'm sure you'll come to the right decision."

Misty winced as the bathroom slammed shut, and as much as she hated to admit it May was right. Who did she think she was? Some little domestic house wife who would settle down with Ash and have the obligatory two children. That wasn't the sort of life girls like her ended up with, maybe in fairy story but never in real life. The most she could ever hope for was a quick pay out and to cut her loses before she was left with a broken heart.

…

Misty knew her hands were clammy, she could practically feel the sweat seeping out her pores. Bless his heart, Ash didn't say anything. He just filled their walk with idle chit chat.

When he'd suggested a walk along the beach she'd wanted to turn him down, desperately think of an excuse to put off the inevitable. But May had read the text over her shoulder and encouraged her, the sooner she could seal the deal the sooner they'd be out of this backwater town.

"Right, what's bothering you?" Ash asked, stopping abruptly and causing Misty to stumble slightly in the sand.

"Nothing." She tried to laugh but it came off as nervous and squeaky.

"I knew it." He sighed. "I knew I couldn't make this work."

"What are you talking about?"

"I knew when you found out the truth you wouldn't know how to act around me, nobody ever does. Jesus." He groaned, running his fingers through his hair. "I thought for once I'd made it but I never get that lucky."

"Ash, no." She assured him grabbing his hands. "This is not about that, it will never be about that."

"Then what?"

"You know how I've been living in the hotel with my cousin?" She asked, remembering the story May had already planned out.

"I didn't realise she was your cousin." He frowned.

"Well she is and she's got a job across country, so she's moving." She said, waiting for Ash to fill in the blanks but he just continued to stare. "I'm leaving Ash."

"What?" He blinked. "Why?"

"She's family, we go everywhere together." She explained, not hint of a lie. At the end of the day friends could become your family.

"But what about us? You have to stay." He pleaded.

"I can't I… I can't let her go alone." She whispered, trying to stay strong but she knew it was breaking her heart to lie like this.

He's lied to you for the entirety of your relationship. May's voice reminded her, what was one more lie?

"I don't want to lose you." He admitted.

"Me neither but I have to go." She swallowed, it was time to deliver the final blow. Just like May had prepped her. "If this was further into our future and we were getting married or something you know I'd stay…"

"What did you say?" Ash with a smile.

"If we were getting married?" She repeated as Ash dropped down on one knee. "Ash, what are you doing?"

He searched frantically through the sand until he held up a sea urchin shell in triumph.

"Ash." Misty giggled.

"Misty Waterflower, will you marry me?" Ash asked, his usual cheeky grin present on his face.

Misty longed for this moment to be real, she longed to know a man cared so much about her he actually wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But that wasn't what Ash was feeling, he was swept up in the whirlwind of it all, excitement and adrenaline fuelling him on not pure love.

"Yes." Misty cried, May had told her turning on the water works was a nice touch but she wasn't sure she was acting. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Ash placed the shell on the tip of her ring finger as a token before jumping back to his feet, pulling Misty into a kiss. The sort of magical kiss only a newly engaged couple can share, tears and laughter as the pair uselessly press their lips together. Not a proper kiss by anyone's standards but one of the best kisses of Misty's life.

"I'm so lucky to have met you." Ash smiled against Misty's lips.

"No, I'm the lucky one." She replied with a heavy heart.

…