Chapter 19

• Ashley
• My hands lifted up my cellphone with my left hand while the other hand was spread across the sides of my face. The morning was cold and silent. The only sound that could match up to a noise was my coffee maker machine. Emily made little or no attempt to make a conversation with me. She simply nodded when I passed a greeting to her.
• Maybe she thought I was upset at her or she was upset at me.
• I took a bottle of water and accessed the colorless liquid that was about to pass through my throat.
• Why did I feel guilty about talking to Elena that way?
• I dropped the bottle on the table and picked up my cellphone again. My hands danced around the keyboard for a while before I placed it on my ear.
• "Hi." I spoke up first, not wanting an awkward conversation.
• "Are you not supposed to be on your way to the bakery?" I heard Elena speak in a sleepy voice.
• "Are you feeling any pains? Is the baby kicking?" I hurriedly tried to start up a conversation.
• "What?" I heard her say.
• "I actually-" My voice revealed itself as a whisper, "I wanted to apologize...."
• "Ashely," Elena started, "You don't have to apologize. My words hurt you and that's pretty normal."
• "I was just upset at what you said but I realized you were right. I made a stupid mistake with Richard and I was too quick in taking decisions with Mason," My hands reached to touch the sides of my face, "-And I feel so foolish right now and I can't believe I yelled at you, yesterday and dammit, I let you take a cab by yourself." My eyes turned glossy and I bit my upper lip to stop the tears from flowing.
• "Are you crying, Ash?" Elena responded.
• "I guess so." A laugh escaped from
• my lips, giving me comfort and warmth.
• "So are you still going out with Mason?" I heard her drop a book and I guessed she was off to read one of her novels in her living room with her hand cradling her belly and patting it.
• My imagination was wide.
• "I guess so." I repeated again.
• "I really wish and hope he's the right one." I heard her sigh, "I know it's been rough since Richard and I'm sorry if I was harsh on you."
• "It's fine," My hands gripped my cell phone tightly "Apology accepted."
• "Are you not headed to work yet, Ash?"
• My eyes darted towards the clock that adorned the walls and I let out a sigh.
• I was about to talk about Mother but I didn't want to stir up another fight so I decided to let go of it.
• "I'll talk to you, later. You can drop by at the bakery."
• I didn't wait for her response as I dashed towards the bathroom and took a quick bath. I moaned as cold water hit the sensitive spots of my skin and my face. My fingers curled around my wet hair, squeezing and applying a solid amount of pressure.
• I closed my eyes and suddenly began to think of Mason. Everything was moving so fast and the events that happened over the last few days. My cheeks flushed pink as the image of the kiss we shared flashed through my memory.
• I picked up a hair brush and began to silently hum to myself.
• My mind began to spin million of conspiracy theories. Did he really have feelings for me? And was I too quick in giving him a chance?
• I touched my lips, dragging my thumbs against them and let out a frustrated groan.
• ****
• My heart ached as I and Emily walked on the pedestrial walkway. Emily had refused to start conversation with me, she simply held on to her cell phone, answering a bunch of messages.
• "Are you avoiding speaking to me, Em?" I asked and bit my bottom lip. I shot a glance at her and noticed her gaze was rather awkward.
• "I just wanted to give you space. You seemed annoyed with Elena and then you didn't want me to interfere or speak-"
• "And you're offended, aren't you?" I completed.
• "Maybe," I heard her whisper, "It's a bit hurtful when your friend shuts you out of their business."
• My hands clasped hers as I edged closer to her, "I'm sorry, Emily Winston."
• Her lips then curved, forcing a pair of dimples to form under her warm glowing cheeks. Seeing such a heartfelt smile of hers somehow made my face grew warm.
• She didn't lie when she said her best feature was her smile. A irresistible, tender, captivating smile on her face, spontaneously placed up a smile on mine too. She carried her smile around like a weapon that killed at sight.
• "So what about Mason?" Emily asked admist chuckles.
• My cheeks flushed again as we both walked.
• "I will definitely go out with him," I uttered, "B-But I hope it turns out well."
• "What dress would you wear?"
• I inhaled sharply and then a grin spread across my face and then I noticed Emily shaking her head like a lunatic.
• "The dress you wore for the fucking ball?" I heard Emily yell.
• I clasped my hand around her lips humorously and answered, "Why not? I don't have anything else to wear...or buy."
• "Isn't that too strange for a date?" Emily asked after playfully removing my hand from her lips.
• My hand reached to fondle my neck in nervousness, "Well, I don't want to look desperate."
• "There's nothing wrong in looking good for Mason. We could cut the dress and revamp it." Emily responded.
• "You are amazing, Emily." I placed a wet kiss on her cheek and I laughed as she giggled happily like a child slobbered with love and affection.
• We reached the bakery filled with rejuvenated spirits and as soon as Emily opened the door, I felt something warm and slimy touch my nose and cheeks before finding itself to my shirt, making a absolute mess of it and my mood.
• I heard Emily gasp and my finger reached to touch the tip of my nose. It was a cheese cupcake.
• I raised up my head to shoot a glare at the person who had managed to ruin my morning and dammit, it had to be Leo.
• It just had to be him.
• I noticed the way he tried so hard to hold back his laughter by trying to mash his lips together but it was futile. He then covered his lips with a finger and then spoke;
• "I'm so sorry Ashley. I didn't see you there."
• I tried so hard to control myself but the anger that bubbled from within found it's way into my throat.
• "Fuck you!" I yelled.
• ***
• Noah
• I never expected my target to be Ashley. That cheesecake was merely a mistake but her facial expression and the way her eyes kept twitching made me laugh.
• How should anyone be so mad and yet so cute?
• And when she swore at me, my mouth open in astonishment.
• "It was a mistake. " I tried to explain but she simply rolled her eyes.
• "I am damn sure it's not. " Her brows lifted up, making my eyes to drown in her beauty. Her white shirt which was now crumpled and was splashed with an extra murky color of light yellow.
• Thrusting my arms into my pocket, I shot a bemused smile before speaking, "You won't accept my apology even if I was being sincere, would you? I could dry clean it for you?"
• "No, thank you." Ashely responded, "I will be so happy if you would just stay away from me."
• A giggle escaped my lips, "Is it a new shirt?"
• I took my time to observe as I noticed her chest heave and her hands balled into a fist. My eyes darted to a laughing Emily as well.
• "Cut him some slack, " Emily nudged Ashley by the shoulder, "It was just a silly mistake."
• My lips curved upwards to produce a corny grin. I noticed the other workers also kept staring. Ashely shot a deadly glare at me and then began to walk.
• She was about to walk past me when I whispered, "You know, we could pass off as a regular chaotic couple. "
• Ashely turned and tilted her head. For a moment she was silent and when her lips opened, I had a feeling it would be deadly.
• "Too bad that you're not my type."
• I shook my head and laughed, "That's what every regular girl say about a hot, irresistible man."
• My head faced the ceiling as I tried to restrain myself from making a beastly laugh. Most women always tend to say that and it amused me. I never used my title to woo a woman. I felt a bit lucky that ever since I was a teenager, I wasn't in the eyes of the newspapers or the photographers who kept yapping for a picture.
• "Regular?" I heard her scoff, "You need your eyes checked. You have been looking at me ever since you got here."