Chapter Rating: M 18+ strong language throughout MINORS DNI
Dividers: Me💁🏽♀️
Word Count: 2.5K
Chapter List Chapter 3 Chapter 5
Miles entered the house with his keys, throwing them haphazardly in the bowl that always sat by the door. He sighed heavily, the familiarity of being home already relaxing him.
“Ma!” He called out, making his way through the house.
“Ma, you not doing yoga again?” Miles shuddered at the memory before stopping in the kitchen to grab a beer out of the fridge.
“I’m outside!” Miles ventured out to the backyard to see Rainey gardening or something resembling it.
“What’s all this?” Rainey huffed
“No hello? Who the hell raised you? Wolves?” She teased
“Hey, Ma.” Miles greeted, hugging her
“Hey, sweetie.” She looked behind him expectedly “Sean inside?” Miles shook his head.
“He’s at karate. Figured I stop by until he was done.” Miles sat in one of the lawn chairs
“I thought Ashley usually takes him.”
“Ashley ain’t the only one who can do it.” Miles said defensively, cracking open the can of beer.
“Didn’t say she was.” Rainey eyed her son, she knew something was up. He’s been the same way since he was a little boy.
“So, either Ashley’s at work, sick, or there’s something else going on.”
Miles jaw tightened before he took a long swig of beer.
“Aha, I know I’m the best mom ever, but this is more than just a ‘in the neighborhood’ visit.” Rainey grabbed the seat next to him, “Spill.”
“It’s nothing we can’t handle.”
“Miles,”
“We good, Ma. We always are.” Rainey exhaled sharply before standing up to grab her gloves and tossing them in Miles lap.
“The hell you want me to do?” Rainey flicked Miles forehead.
“One, don’t curse at me.”
“Hell not even—” Flick. “Ow! Okay.”
“Two, since you’re not gonna talk make yourself useful and pull these weeds.” Miles begrudgingly put the gloves on and got to work. Miles roughly pulled the weeds out—successfully now that was a different story.
“Stop. You’re doing it wrong.” Rainey knelt next to him.
“You’re not pulling out the root. If you leave the root in the ground, the weed will grow again and kill the flower.” Rainey demonstrated “See?”
Miles muttered a quick thanks and went back to pulling the weeds, this time with more vigor.
“So, you’re gonna talk or pretend you’re not picturing someone’s face.”
“Andre called Ash last night.”
Rainey sat back as she stayed quiet.
“He’s out on probation and needs somewhere to stay.”
“Halfway houses don’t exist?”
“He-he uh got kicked out for fighting in one a few years back. Won’t let him back in.” Rainey nodded her head, listening.
“She’s not saying it but I know Ash wants to let him stay, but she can forget it. Imma put an end to all that.”
“Well—that sounds like a fucked up situation.”
“That’s it?”
“What the fuck do you want me to say?” Rainey stood, resting her hands on her hips.
“Something!”
“Ooh, I know! How about ‘Fuck Andre.’ Um , ‘He can stay on the streets.’ ‘Whatever happens to him, happens.’ How does that sound?” Miles stood up, irritation evident on his face.
“Man you sound like you takin sides.” Miles marched inside, Rainey following close behind
“No, no, no, I’m not on anyone’s side.”
“It don’t even matter, I told Ash he’s not stayin, so he ain’t stayin.”
“Oh? So that’s how it goes? Whatever you say goes, you not even gonna talk to your wife?”
“We did talk and she gotta make a choice.” Before he could utter another word, he felt the swift hard hand slap his face.
“Damn Ma!” Miles rubbed his sore cheek, he could still feel the sting.
“Did you really give Ashley an ultimatum?”
“What am I supposed to do? I can’t invite that bullshit back in my home, around Sean. What if something happens to Ashley or Sean? I’d never—” Miles stopped himself and took sleep deep even breaths.
Rainey walked up to her son and cupped his face in her hands.
“I understand why you’re scared—”
“I’m not scared.” Miles said quickly Rainey sighed
“Ok, Mr. Tough Guy. I know why you’re having second thoughts but your fear—you can’t let it bulldoze Ashley’s feelings. You had a front row seat to her childhood; we can’t even comprehend that struggle that’s going on inside her head right now.” Miles tried to look away but Rainey pulled him right back in.
“Because I can tell you one thing. If you force her, Ashley will make a choice and I can guarantee you, you’re not gonna like it. Ok?” Rainey paused
“Let me ask you this, what would you do if it were Trish?”
“I don’t know.” He said quietly “Damn.” Pause. “Damn.” Rainey rolled her eyes playfully
“Didn’t think you’d get a free therapy session, huh?”
Rainey smiled softly and hugged her son and for the first time in the last 48 hours, Miles felt himself relax. He pulled back first, and Rainey tapped his sore cheek twice before stepping back and not without Miles wincing slightly.
“Go pick up Sean, head home, and talk to Ashley. Maybe even pick up dinner for the family.” Rainey said leading Miles toward the front door.
“Aight, I’ll call you later.”
“Sure.” Rainey hugged Miles one more time before he grabbed his keys and headed out the door to the car.
“Miles!” He rolled down the window and leaned his head out. “If you talk to me like that again I’ll fuck you up.”
“I know Ma, I love you!”
“Love you too, give Sean a kiss for me.” Miles waved one last time and drove off.
“Fucking hell.” Rainey muttered as she closed the door.
Ashley stared at her phone, Miles had sent the text five minutes ago.
Just left my mom’s. Bout to pick up Sean.
That was it, nothing more. She thought about not answering, but she’d be lying if her heart didn’t skip a beat when she saw his name pop up on her screen. She texted a quick response before putting the phone face down on the coffee table.
Ok, see you later.
“You stayin’ for dinner?” Ashley called out
“Hell no, I eat real food not that rabbit shit you be feeding my brother and nephew.”
Ashley laughed sarcastically
“Takis don’t count.”
“‘Takis don’t count’.” Trish mocked “I don’t even eat Takis, bitch, I eat Hot Fries.”
“Like that’s even better.” Trish and Ashley moved to the kitchen. Ashley started looking through the cabinets to see what she can whip up for dinner. “Why the hell you come over and if you not gonna stay for dinner.”
“Damn I can’t see my family? I thought we was supposed to be bonding and shit.”
“Trish, it’s only bonding when you’re invited over.” Ashley smirked when she found what she was looking for. She then went over to the refrigerator and skimmed through it for a few. She returned to the counter with her arms full of ingredients.
“What’s all this?” Eyeing the chicken sausage, rice, spinach, cream cheese, and chicken broth that littered the counter top
“This is called real food, Trish. You may not recognize it if it’s not in a take-out box. How you gonna find a man you don’t know how to cook?”
“First of all, this cute little kitty kat right here is all my man needs to stay full. M’kay?” Ashley rolled her eyes
“You can’t just be servin’ up alfredo with a side up pussy.”
“And who you are, the pussy police?”
“What you making anyway?”
“You gonna laugh at me.”
“Probably, but I still wanna know.”
“It’s nothing major, just some chicken sausage casserole.”
“Casserole? Wow, really holdin on to that Hood Pass.”
“Girl, I still got my Hood Pass.”
“Yeah, a hella dusty Hood Pass. I guess you being a good wife and shit. Cooking for your man after a bad day.”
“He had a bad day?”
“Yeah, Miles ain’t tell you?”
“I-uh-I haven’t had time to check my phone. Work was crazy today.” Trish raised her eyebrow she’s letting it go for now.
“Mhm. Miles told me that Knox was on some bull shit again.”
“Fucking Knox. What the fuck typa name is Knox?”
“I know right, that’s what I told him…” the sound of Trish’s voiced faded as Ashley kept thinking that Miles told Trish instead of her.
“Ashley!” She jumped
“Huh? What?” Trish was rushing over to the stove and turned the burner off.
“First of all, you gonna burn the damn building down.” She tossed the smokey pan into the sink, then turned around to face Ashley.
“What the fuck is going on with you and my brother?”
“Nothing is going on Trish. We’re good.”
“Yeah right, next time you lie at least tell a good one.” Trish slid Ashley’s phone across the counter. Her text message still open to Miles contact clearly showing they barely talked today.
“Andre called me last night.”
“Dre? He finally out?”
“He needs somewhere to stay…”
“Let me guess, Miles said fuck no. Why they got beef?” Ashley looked away she and miles promised they wouldn’t talk about it—ever.
“Well, whatever it is—it must be fucked up.”
“It’s way more than fucked up.” Ashley went back to trying to get dinner started. Trish following her around the kitchen.
“Even though I don’t know what went down between them two, all imma say is this—”
“Do we really have to do this?”
“Shut the fuck up, I’m trying to be a good sister-in-law damn. If it was me, would you let me stay?”
Ashley looked up from chopping the vegetables.
“You ain’t Andre.”
“That’s not my question.”
Ashley opened her mouth and hesitated.
“I don’t know.” She said honestly
“That’s what I thought.” Trish pulled her keys out of her purse.
“Talk to your husband.” She said before turning to leave.
“I didn’t know I was on an episode of Trish, Fix my Life.”
“Bitch, you should be saying you’re welcome. I should charge your ass. Tell my brother to stop being a bitch.”
The door clicked behind her. The house went quiet again.
Ashley had just pulled the casserole out of the oven when she heard the slam of a car door. She put the casserole down on the stove. Approached the door, stopping by the mirror in the hallway to fix her hair. The door swung open and in ran Sean, dropping his backpack and duffle bag by the door.
“Hey Mom. Bye Mom. Gotta pee!” Sean ran past Ashley and straight to his bathroom.
“Don’t leave your bags here!” The door closed behind her. She turned her head and saw Miles standing there. For a moment they didn’t say anything.
“Hey.” She breathed
“Hey.” They both walked into the kitchen and that’s when she saw them. Two brown paper take out bags. So much for a home cooked meal.
“I uh, got us dinner. Wasn’t sure what you wanted so I—” Miles stopped himself when he saw the steaming hot casserole dish on the counter.
“Oh, oh fuck I should’ve asked. My bad, Ash.”
“It’s okay, really. We can save the casserole for tomorrow.”
“No, babe you made dinner.”
“Miles, it’s okay.
“But I don’t want the food to go to waste.”
“It doesn’t have to.” Sean walked into the kitchen and his eyes lit up
“Mom! Is that the sausage thing you make?” Ashley chuckled
“The chicken apple sausage casserole? Yes, it is.”
“Yes! My favorite. It’s Dad’s favorite too. Isn’t that right Dad?”
“Yeah, yeah it is.” Miles responded looking directly as Ashley. “Sean put the food in the fridge and then go get washed up.”
“Yes, Dad.”
Miles reached into a black bag and pulled out two bottles of wine. Ashley’s eyes lit up…slightly.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
Miles stood at the sink, washing out the casserole dish while Ashley put the leftovers away. Sean had just finished his homework and went off to bed leaving Ashley and Miles alone. They moved around the kitchen in a comfortable silence, not like this morning when the remnants of the argument from last night was following them around like a dark cloud.
“How was work today?” Miles asked,
“Fine.” Lie. “How about you?”
“It was aight.” Also a lie.
“So, you ready to talk?” Miles nodded his head
“Yeah.” They moved to their bedroom, shutting the door behind them.
“I’m sorry—”
“I’m sorry—”
They both started at the same time. They both let out a breath as if they were releasing the pressure out of the room, the tension slowly leaving their body.
Miles took a step toward Ashley until they were mere inches apart. He grabbed her hands and looked her deep in her eyes.
“Ash, look, I messed up. That, that was fucked up and it wasn’t fair to you to try and make you choose between me and your brother. You aint deserve that. I’m sorry for rea, I wanna figure this out with you, not against you.”
“Yeah, well I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have kept that call from you. I know how all this shit with Andre hits you…us. I just didn’t want to open old wounds again. But it wasn’t fair to try and keep it from you. You deserved to know.”
“I love you Ash, I don’t wanna ever do this shit again.”
“Love you so much, Miles. Me neither. Ride or die.”
“Ride or die.” He echoed back, their lips met in a long deep kiss like they were both trying to put the last 24 hours behind them. When they finally pulled away, Ashley leaned her head onto Miles chest, listening to his heart beat.
“I know you lied about work today.” Ashley said
“How you know?”
“Trish mentioned it when she came by.”
“Trish came by?”
“Mhmm, she said stop being a bitch.” Miles laughed, his first real laugh today.
“Yep, sounds like Trish. So you gonna tell me what really happened at work?” Ashley groaned loudly she stepped back and plopped down onto their bed.
“The fucking day I had. If I hadn’t gotten that promotion I swear I’d be on the pole five minutes ago.”
“The fuck you would, ain’t nobody gonna see that ass but me.” Miles sat next to Ashley and they cuddled on the bed as they talked about their day from hell.
“Aye, fuck Knox, for real.” Ashley said
“I know but, he in charge so…” Miles trailed off
“You could always tell Collin about that idea you had…”
“No, no.”
“Why not?”
“Cause, it’s just that, an idea.” Ashley decided to drop the topic for now.
“So what we gonna do?” Miles sighed, he didn’t have to ask to know what Ashley held as talking about.
“We can talk about it in the morning. Actually talk it out. Aight?”
“Yeah,” They held each other, the sounds of cars driving by outside their bedroom window filling the space
Blindspotting's Season 2 finale takes time to celebrate Miles and Ashley's romance through a breathtaking and memorable montage.
Some answers come in the form of long, essential conversations, but few series can show what’s crucial through a thoughtfully compelling montage, and Blindspotting is one of them. The series’ attention to detail and unique craftsmanship of combining poetry and dance with vulnerable performances make it a must-watch success. This fact comes from its first season, but the closing moments of Blindspotting’s Season 2 finale take it to new heights, elevating the series’ heart by bringing romance to the forefront.
Miles and Ashley’s relationship defines loyalty in a manner so few shows have mastered, and the montage finally answers burning questions while concurrently grounding them to a foundation from where they can undeniably sprout higher. Blindspotting’s use of movement and performances ensures that these beats effectively establish Miles and Ashley’s love for one another while, at the same time, subverting the cheating trope through the one form where it works.
“ We look into eyes when we want to better understand. To love. YET, it’s impolite to stare. Why? And when we’re ashamed, what do we do? We look away. ”
