“Ashley, that’s exactly what you are doing, you can’t push her away to save her. I see the way you two are together and you know what I see?”

“Nope, but your going to tell me anyway” I smile for the first time since I was rudely awaken this morning

“I see a perfectly happy couple, and let me save you the suspense she has some flaws, we all do. It is when you two are together that you are at your strongest.” Why is she always right?

“What should I do?”

“Call her Ashley” this is her favorite phrase of the day.

……

After about 47 voicemails, I realized she was not going to pick up my calls.

Plan B

“Hello”

“ummm Hi, this is Robbie right? Well obviously you aren’t Spencer, ok now im rambling”

“I take it this is Ashley”

“Yes, sorry to call the house, I’ve called Spencer’s phone over 50 times, she is not a fan of me right now.”

“Ohh I am very aware, so is the vase that went flying across the living room and made a stylish dent in the wall.”

“uhh ohh, its that bad? Can you please get her on the phone, I know you must think I am a scumbag, but I am trying here.” I was trying to stay calm but I was inching very close to the edge of breakdown

“I’ll do my best, well to be honest she already said she didn’t want to talk to you, I could lie and say its her dad or something? A scumbag like yourself might have better luck with that approach haha”

I never thought I would have to impersonate Arthur to get Spencer on the phone, I can remember many nights that turned into morning where we had to  ignore  his calls.

“Fine, lie.” As he set down  the phone and went to get her panic set in. I had about 3 seconds before she would know it’s me and hang up. I had to come up with best opener in the history of openers

“Hey dad!” shit out of time, god she even sounds beautiful

“Stay” that’s my pitch? Wow I would hang up on me

“Ashley?” she doesn’t sound pissed, that’s good

“I know its too late, and I don’t deserve a second shot, but stay, I`m an idiot and should have been ready to love you like you needed, but I wasn’t.”

“How can I trust you?”

“I promise you can trust me, I don’t know if that means anything to you Spencer but you really can.”

“Is that so dad” she sounds so cold, not like the Spencer I know, she sounds like a Spencer who has been hurt, hurt by me and I hate myself for doing this to her.

“Please, I just want to see you, hold you, I miss you Spencer”

“I don’t know anymore Ashley” before I could respond I heard the dial tone on the other end.

That sucked, she doesn’t know anymore? What does that even mean!

I am far from done. I fucked up, I need to fix it,

“Hello”

“Hi, its me again..the scumbag” Maybe if im lucky enough I can get her cousin to hate me too

“Your causing quite the stir today huh?” he wasn’t annoyed with me yet

“I know sorry, im guessing she is in her room throwing darts at a poster of me or something?” I hope not but I have been an ass lately.

“Actually, she is on the couch reading”

“Ok, I have a plan its sort of not good, but I have to do something. I need you to help a tad. If you don’t mind?”

“Ashley, I want to like you, but Spencer has had this look on her face since whatever you did to get a vase shattered into a million pieces. Thats face makes me want to well, kill you. However, if you think you can get that look off her face I would do just about anything.”

“Thank you so much Robbie! I love you”

But I am starting to hate this summer.