57

Ashely
I pulled up my skirt, glancing at the mirror once more before slowly retreating.
“It’s not perfect. ” I moaned, staring at my hair. I clicked my tongue and decided to pack it into a tight ponytail. I settled for lip-gloss, paying attention as I smacked my lips together.
In an instant, I remembered Leo’s words and I touched the sides of my head.
Should I ask him about it?
I tucked in my buttoned-up pink shirt under my jeans skirt, rolling the shirt sleeves down to my elbows. A subtle frown swept across my lips as I recollected that Mason never called.
I touched the tips of my blonde ponytail. Why would he do this to me? Why did he say that he was interested in me and pull on my heart?
I waited so long for his call even when I returned to my apartment before dinner. I kept looking at my phone, trying to get the image out of Leo off my head. Elena constantly berated me over our dinner of pasta because I kept turning it around on my plate without eating it.
When frustration got the best of me, I got up in an instant, took an apple and a fruit juice from my tiny fridge, and walked towards my room. I could hear Emily asking Elena if anything was wrong. Elena simply responded with a deep sigh.
In the middle of the night, Elena knocked on my door but I was not in the mood. I lay awake, thinking for a couple of hours.
Leo or Mason?
I slapped my palm against my nose. Why is my head filled with that crazy man? I couldn’t get him out of my head and I fought the urge not to call him back and ask the question I wanted to ask dearly.
Did he really have feelings for me?
I was afraid of being toyed with like Richard did and Mason who was my childhood crush was tossing me around like a bouncing ball.
My door creaked open with Elena pushing her head out with a smile. I was amazed at how strongly she took her second miscarriage. I knew she was sad but she wore a smile underneath those tribulations. I shot an assuring smile at her, tilting my head.
Elena walked in, still in her nightwear. She sat on her bed and let out a deep sigh.
“What’s going on with you, Ashley? Is this about mom? Maybe I shouldn’t have talked -”
I cut her in mid-sentence, advancing towards the bed and sitting on it.
“It’s not about that.” I shook my head.
“Then what is it? You seemed a bit weird during dinner. You didn’t eat your pasta. Is there something I should know?” Elena reached out to touch the strands of my hair and tuck it behind my ear, “You can tell me. I’ll keep it a secret.”
She nudged me by the shoulders playfully, urging me to speak. I gave in eventually after she kept narrowing her gaze at me.
“It’s Mason,” I muttered slowly.
“I had a good guess that was him but keep talking.” she patted my shoulder.
“My first date wasn’t as I expected,” I started, “He ran late and at first he was beginning to talk and we were flowing really well until he had to leave because of a meeting he had the next morning. Then when he calls or comes to the bakery, he rarely talks to me and I think he might love his work at the bank more than me. He promises to call but fails to. ”
“Slow down, Ash. I thought he liked you and you know, you liked him.” Elena spoke.
“He said he liked me, I do too but it’s just so complicated and I’m so tired of it. ” I uttered.
“Have you tried calling him?” Elena asked with a palm under her chin.
“I did. It’s turned off. ” I let out a frustrated groan, remembering the number of times I had called him.
I called him seven times almost every hour. I knew I would sound like an obsessive person but I needed constant validation and reassurance from him. It hurt so much when he didn’t pick up my calls. I left like a fool, a big pretty one.
“Maybe you need to take one step back and wait for him to come around. The bank is pretty busy during this period and maybe he’s stressed out. ” Elena suggested with a smile.
“That’s still not convincing enough. I just need him to call me and be there for me when I need him. Is that too much?” I asked.
“Are you sure it’s just about Mason and not you being confused about your feelings dwindling for him?” Elena asked.
“No, why would it be about-” My eyes instantly fell on the watch that adorned my wrists.
I lifted my head and swallowed hard, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“If I keep talking to you, I might run late, won’t I?” I winked at her, rising swiftly to my feet and picking up my bag.
“That’s fine. We’d talk later,” Elena answered with a brow propped up, “Right, Ashley?”
“Yeah,” I answered, slinging my bag across my shoulder, “Why are you staring at me like that? You don’t trust me?”
“It’s just that you can decide to close off on me, instead of talking about it. It worries me sometimes.” Elena crossed her legs.
“I promise to never close off on my sister, Elena. I swear on Midon.” I raised a hand while trying to hold back a burst of laughter.
“Run along, Ashely. You’ll be late for work. ” Elena chuckled, rising to her feet and walking towards the door.
“Thank you, Elena and I’m sorry-” I started but Elena cut me off in mid-sentence.
“Did you just thank me and apologize in the same sentence?” I sighted a smile beginning to spread across her lips.
“I didn’t say anything. I take back everything I said.” I pouted while lifting a shoulder.
Elena laughed and opened the door, her robust cheeks lifting in sync. I walked out, telling her to have a nice day. I sighted Emily on the sofa, reading a book that Elena loaned to her, the previous night at dinner.
“Let’s go. ” I announced, my hands rubbing along the sides of my face.
****
We took the train and I claimed the window seat on my left and sat down. The seat seemed ancient, a thin layer of dust resting on the worn-out leather. I ran a swift hand to get rid of the dust and placed my bag closer to me. Pushing aside the curtains that shielded the thin glass window, the rough concrete road full of moving pedestrians came into view.
I shot a glance at Emily who had her head buried in the book she was reading.
“What are you reading?” I started.
“Are you trying to talk to me?” she snapped the book shut, “You were quiet, yesterday. ”
“I know. I had something on my mind.” I blurted out.
“Like, what?” Emily arched a brow.
I tried to speak but I just couldn’t. I felt a bit guilty about not being able to talk about Mason without Leo being in the picture.
“You don’t want to talk about it. I get it. ” Emily answered back, starting to open the pages of the book she was reading.
I shut my eyes, briefly and reached to snap the book shut, tilting my head to look her in the eye.
“I would tell you about it, okay?” I pleaded with my eyes. Emily sighed and nodded and then I removed my hands and focused my gaze on the window.
When I and Emily alighted from the train, we didn’t have to walk so fast since we were a bit early. At that moment, I then remembered that I would have to face Leo.
How would I? Would I be able to look him in the eye?
I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks as I continued walking.
“Why is your face red?” Emily asked and I went pale with embarrassment as I placed a palm on my face.
“Nothing. Maybe it’s the wind.” I lied.
As we walked closer to the bakery, my heart kept hammering against my ribcage. I tried to breathe in and out but it wasn’t working. When we were about to enter the bakery, I let Emily walk in first.
“Leo’s not here. He’s running late. ” Emily remarked and my heart fell.
Was it another family emergency?
I picked up an apron, tying the end across my waist and trying to clean up the tables before anyone walked in. As soon as I was finished, people began walking in. Some asked for coffee with sugar and milk, others asked for bread and most people went for pies. It was hectic and demanding but at least, they complimented my swift service.
I dropped the tray, still conscious of Leo’s absence. I felt like a fool when I remembered how I made a fuss about how I looked in the mirror. It was almost noon and the bakery was beginning to get a bit full. I walked over to the counter, amazed at the overfilling tip jars.
I was still in awe when I didn’t notice someone standing in front of the counter until he knocked his hand against it.
I lifted my head, my eyes instantly falling on Mason who was dressed up in a suit. I tilted my head and the corner of my lips began to form a downward slope.
“Good morning, Ashely. ” he greeted.
“Good morning,” I answered swiftly, not meeting his eyes, “What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you, now,” Mason responded, his handsome face almost making my heart melt.
“I’m busy with work, ” I started, clicking my tongue, “Shouldn’t you be at work? You are busy, aren’t you? Are you sure you should be here and not at the bank?”
I watched as his facial expression changed and his face fell and from what I could decipher, I hit him right in the spot that might piss him off.