Complicated.
8a:
While clutching the Gucci handbag over her right shoulder, Ashley stood near her parked car and stared at the small, family-owned café ahead. She couldn't believe she was actually going through with this -- coffee with, not just one, but two of her exes. For her, it was going to be an hour of awkward conversation, fake smiles, and shifting uncomfortably in her chair.
She inhaled a shaky breath, released it, and looked down at the outfit it took her nearly all morning to pick out. Finding a couple of wrinkles in her skirt, she ran both hands over the front of it, smoothing it out. Now satisfied with her appearance, she replaced her hands around the strap of her purse and forced her stiff legs to move forward.
Right outside the café, she could hear the voice of Neko Case pouring out of the speakers overhead. But once she opened the door and stepped inside, the music was quickly drowned out by the chatter coming from the noisy patrons in need of their daily java boost.
As she scanned the crowded area, hoping to catch a glimpse of Spencer or Aiden, she noticed that the building was longer than it was wide. At one end was a work station, with two cash registers and all the essential appliances needed to make the coffee being served. Next to it were three shelving units stocked with items up for purchase; like coffee mugs and thermoses. On the other side of the room, there was a small stage, which she assumed was used for open mic nights. A long couch and four small, cushioned chairs were positioned in front of it. In the center of the café, there were a dozen tables scattered about; some square, some round. What she found most interesting about the place was the color choices; lots of browns and oranges, giving off an autumn feel. The colors weren't very attractive, but they were warm, inviting, cozy.
Nearly every table and chair was occupied; however, not by the two people she was there to meet. She remained where she was for a couple of minutes, searching, until finally, amongst a cluster of people in line to order, she spied the back of Spencer's head. Keeping the blond in view, Ashley began weaving her way through the people in line.
Spencer must have heard her say 'excuse me' to someone behind her, because when she finally got up to the blond, she was turned around, facing her. "Hey. You made it," Spencer said, letting a nervous, shy smile spread across her lips.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm a little late."
"Oh, it's okay. Aiden isn't here yet." Along with the people ahead of them, the two women moved forward, which put them fourth in line. "How are you?"
"I'm good. You?"
"Great."
Ashley gave the woman a forced, fake smile before lifting her gaze to the plastic, lit up menu board above the workers' heads. She was very aware of how close she and Spencer were standing. Close enough to breathe in the scent of Light Blue, the same Dolce and Gabbana perfume Spencer wore when they were together, and feel the warmth of Spencer's body against her side. Standing there, being that close, was too much. She tightened her fingers around her purse strap, digging her nails into the flesh of her palms, and moved as far away from the blond as she could within the limited space she had.
Not wanting to slip into an uncomfortable silence and be stuck there, Spencer decided to keep their conversation going by asking, "Have you ever been here?"
Ashley glanced over at Spencer. "Uh, no. How long has it been open?"
"Just a few months. They have really good mochas. Are you still a fan?"
"Oh yeah." A small, tight smile stretched across the brunette's mouth. "My love for a good mocha is one thing that hasn't changed over the years."
"Well, be prepared to fall in love all over again," Spencer smiled, locking eyes with the shorter woman. "These mochas are amazing. The best I've ever had."
Ashley's body had tensed at the wording of Spencer's first sentence. She wasn't sure why that was her reaction. But instead of dwelling on it, she quickly regained her composure, and asked, "The best, huh?" When she lifted her gaze, she saw that Spencer's smile was still in place and just as bright as before, a sign that the younger woman hadn't noticed her reaction.
"The best. I swear to you."
While Spencer redirected her gaze to the menu, Ashley stared at her face, taking in twinkling blue eyes, a cute wrinkled nose and a pair of full lips curled into a little smile. Fuck. She's gorgeous. Spencer looked the same as she did four years ago. There were a few changes in her features, but they were slight changes and unnoticeable if you weren't looking for them. "Okay." Ashley felt the corners of her mouth lift into a smile, a real, genuine smile. "I'll take your word for it."
Spencer smiled back. "You won't regret it. I promise. What flavor do you want?"
Ashley turned back to the menu, eyeing the mocha section, reading over the different flavors, trying to figure out what she was in the mood for. Just as she was about to reply, a large man chatting away on his cell phone shoved passed her. She was wearing boots with a nice sized heel, so the collision knocked her completely off balance and sent her falling into Spencer. She felt the photographer's hands move to her waist, holding her there, steadying her. The brunette looked down and saw that her own hands were wrapped around the upper part of Spencer's arms. "Shit," she muttered, quickly dropping her arms to her sides and stepping back. "I-I'm sorry."
Spencer's eyebrows furrowed. "It's not your fault." She flicked her eyes over to the man who had pushed Ashley. He was back at his table. "I can't believe that asshole didn't even apologize. Are you okay?"
Ashley nodded, while removing the hairs that had gotten stuck to the gloss on her lips. "I, um, I'm gonna go find us a table." She slipped the purse off her shoulder, unzipped it, and fished out her wallet. "Just get me a hazelnut."
"Hey, no, I'm getting this one." Spencer laid a hand over Ashley's, stopping her from taking any cash out.
Ashley's eyes lowered to the hand covering her own, lingering there for a moment, before she finally pulled away. Licking her lips, she asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I've got it."
Ashley snapped her wallet closed and shoved it back into her purse. "Okay, thanks." With that, she stepped out of the line and began making her way to the restrooms, which were opposite the entrance. She had seen the sign when she walked in.
There were three women in the ladies room when she entered; two were in stalls, one was using the electric air dryer to dry her hands. Ashley went over to the sink, dropped her purse onto the counter and wrapped her hands around the edge. She stood there, staring at her reflection in the mirror. "This has to stop. Now," she whispered.
The woman at the dryer gave her strange look. "Excuse me?"
"Was I fucking talking to you?" the bartender snapped.
The woman muttered something under her breath, then walked out of the bathroom.
Ashley jerked a paper towel out of the dispenser on the wall and roughly wiped at her lips, removing the gloss. After it was gone, she balled up the paper and tossed it into the square-shaped whole cut out in the counter top. As she was reapplying a new coat of gloss to her lips, a toilet flushed, and a woman came out of one of the stalls and joined her at the sink. She eyed the woman in the mirror, wishing there was a way that she could trade places with her, saving herself from anymore torture. Yes, torture. She thought she could handle hanging around Spencer for an hour. But ten minutes alone with her and she was all ready going crazy.
With a sigh, she turned back to her own reflection. Why is this so goddamn hard?
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