Tough Love

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

ASHTON.

If there ever something to set the sheer and utter panic off inside of me, then seeing her collapse was my undoing. I could deal with roofs, ladders and scaling heights with ease. But, I couldn't handle seeing Belle drop to the floor like she almost had done.

It was luck that I had moved in time to catch her before there was any real damage done to her head. Five minutes seemed like hours as I sat on the couch with her, waiting for her to wake up. She seemed ok, but I wasn't so sure.

"Ashton, trust me. I feel ok." I didn't care if she thought so. I wasn't letting her move just yet.

"Maybe we should take you to the hospital, just to be sure?" I suggested instead, rubbing my hand over her swollen tummy. "I'm really worried."

"I can tell." She smiled, placing her back over mine. "But, I promise you, that I feel more than ok. I freaked out seeing the alcohol in the fridge, it's nothing else."

That's when it hit me. Fuck.

"You know, I would never ever lay a hand on you." I assured with confidence.

"You're nothing like him." Her words soft, as she closed her eyes again. "I know you would never hurt me like that."

But, I have hurt her. Me and my stupidity hurt her.

There was a moment pause, as I just stared down at her. "I'll move the beer to the fridge outside."

"Thanks. I know it's stupid. I just remember my dad having the fridge always full of alcohol, and I guess my mind went back to one of the nights were he-" her words cut off, and I could see it was hard for her to talk about this.

I never once pushed her to speak about him, or what he had done to her. I just vowed to always love and protect her.

Isabelle had written me a grocery list for what we needed for dinner. It was long, but manageable. I told her to stay on the couch and watch a movie. I didn't want to leave her alone, so I soon made my way up the stairs and towards Jenna's bedroom.

Did I feel guilty about yelling at her?

In one word. Yes.

I hated being the dad who growl's and yells, then grounds the kid. But I also knew, that was what I had to do. It was called parenting. I knew she needed this, she had lost all my trust and I couldn't give in to her. Part of me wanted to cave, but I couldn't.

Isabelle and I were on the same page, and I felt good about where she and I were, at this moment.

Jenna was laying on her bed face down when I walked in "Jenna" I spoke, her head turned away immediately, still not speaking to me.

"I need you to go and sit downstairs with Isabelle while I head out for a moment."

"Why?" she stood up and I knew the attitude was coming back.

"Because she is pregnant and just fainted, so, I want you to make sure it doesn't happen again, just until Parker turns up." I sighed at her as I ran a hand through my hair. "I'm not asking you, I'm telling you to go and sit with her."

"Do I have to call her mum?" she looked, nibbling her lower lip.

Was this all she was worried about? I shook my head. "No. You don't have to call her mum, Isabelle doesn't want you to call her anything other than her name." I raised my hand and pointed to the door. "Now, please get downstairs. I also expect you to have apologised by the time I get back or else."

She stormed past me and down the steps, I followed behind knowing damn well once I leave this house she's going to play up again and I would have taken her with me if Belle hadn't fallen a short time ago.