On the day of her little plan her hunch came true about something big happening. The day was busy, scooping up person after person they didn't have time to think let alone breathe. The excitement didn't stop there, they gotten involved in a very text-bookie shootout, almost getting shot at twice. The adrenaline rush they had both gotten early in the morning slowly faded away and tiredness set in. That didn't stop him however accepting Ashley's invitation to go to Stan's. He would have gone there anyways, if she didnt ask him.
They were seated at the bar, the tables full, the business was blooming making Ashley wondering if Stan could stand toloose a waitress for an hour or so. But the worry soon fled as Stan nodded at her while he was getting their beers.
The place died down around eleven; the baseball crowd had left taking most of the noise too. They could actually hear the music now, a slow country song was playing in the background. A few couples were on the dance floor slowly swaying to the music.
Bosco's attention wasn't on her though, it was on Maritza his eyes followed her wherever she went, and right now he was looking at her backside as she talked to four college kids. Obviously hitting on her, and why wouldn't anyone hit on her. She was hotter than the sun. She turned around slowly walking to the bar swaying her hips just for the guys. He quickly adverted his attention not wanting her to see him looking at her.
"I hope you don't mind but I invited Hayden to come have a few with us" Ashley helping him, advert attention away from himself. He looked at her.
"What do you see in him?"
"He's not you" she smiled and took a sip of her beer.
"You didn't seem to mind a few weeks ago"
"I was emotionally distraught"
"Right"
Stan caught her eye from the end of the bar. Phase 1 was going down. Cruz was talking to Stan and nodded then headed off in the back. He then walked over to them
"Bosco, I'm not sure if Maritza can reach the box I just sent her to get, would you mind helping her? My back ain't what it used to be"
"I don't think so, her and I don't get along"
"Do it Bubble Man, she'll see how strong and tall you are and cant help but fall completely in love with you"
"I'm taking this off as part of my payment I owe you" he got off his stool and followed Stan into the back, Ashley waited a few seconds then disappeared too, she kept back far enough for no one to see her. Bosco walked in the room and Stan quickly shut the door and turning the key in its lock. Locking both occupants in.
"Phase 1 complete"
Bosco turned as soon as the door shut and heard the key in the lock; he tried the door seeing if his ears were playing tricks on him. They weren't the door wouldn't budge.
Maritza came around a corner not liking who she saw.
"What the hell are you doing here? Employees only"
"Stan asked me to help you"
"In what taking down a box that doesn't exist?"
"He played us?"
"Whoa, you actually got it right away, congratulations" She moved past him to try the door, the handle not turning.
"Very funny now unlock the door"
"I didn't lock it"
"Dammit!" she moved to the other side of the room away from the door, away from him not trusting herself to be so near to him and not do anything.
"I'm going to kill her"
"Who?" she gaze lifted up to him from the floor
"Ashley she, her and Stan are behind this" he was ticked at her for doing this to him
She sat down on a crate knowing they werent getting out anytime soon.
"Why'd you do it?" he quizzed her, she didn't want to answer but she wasn't about to back down either.
"I didn't, it was a cover up, I wasn't even in the building when it went off"
"Then why kiss me?"
"Because I wanted to"
"Why?" she didn't like where this was going
"Because I missed you, I wanted to see if you felt the same"
"And?"
"That's not important"
"NOT IMPORTANT?" they heard the music in the bar go up louder, trying to drown them out.
"Do you know how fucking times I woke up in a cold sweat seeing that explosion over and over again, your voice tormenting me. The kiss tormenting me?"
She did because it tormented her too, thinking of how much pain she put him through, from the kiss, where she tasted his love for her, and the explosion, letting him think she was in there. Her eyes drifted from him to the floor, not wanting him to see, the regret in her eyes.
"Do you? Every night for a fucking year, I saw your face, tasted you, and you vanished"
"I thought you hated me" her composure back she looked up to him again, he didn't answer her instead he moved on
"Why the hell was it a cover up?"
"I cant tell you that" he in front of her in seconds hauling her off the box, his hands gripping her arms. His fingers digging into her flesh.
"Tell me" he looked into her eyes, jaw clenching
"I can't"
"TELL ME" he shook her, his anger was getting the best of him, he instantly let her go and walked to the other side of the room, his head low. He tried the door again, just giving his hands something to do, he wanted to strangle her pretty little neck and touch the rest of her body.
"That's not going to work"
"Ahh so now she's willing to talk. What else am I going to do?" she frustrated him to no end.
"I sure as hell don't know"
"Then why open your mouth?"
He banged on the door
"Ashley you open this goddamn door or I swear I'll fucking kill you" the music went louder still. This was ridiculous. She was dead the moment he got out of here.
"That's really going to make her open the door" he'd had enough, he stalked back over to her, grabbing the back of her head his lips crushing hers. Her hands immediately went to his chest to push him away but couldn't, his skin on fire underneath her touch. His tongue slipping past her lips mating with hers.
Ashley not hearing anything on the other side of the door, she unlocked it and opened the door, she looked around the room until she saw what she had hoped would happen, she stepped back out and closed the door.
They both jumped apart, hearing the door closing, she looked past him, and he turned his head both seeing nothing. He tried to go back to the task they were doing before the door was opened, she pushed him away.
"Stop"
He dropped his arms and once again walked away from her. But stopped in mid stride and turned back around walking to her again.
"No I waited to long for this" he took her lips again, she gave in completely wrapping her arms around his waist drawing him closer, feeling his reaction to what she did to him, pressing against her stomach. His muscles on his back jumped by her touch exciting him even more.
She fumbled with his belt pulling it through its loops hurriedly dropping it to the floor; he pulled her shirt over her head it carelessly dropping to the ground along with his belt. He lifted her up onto the box she was previously sitting on, stepping in between her legs. Her legs encircling him drawing him even closer. He tasted her everywhere, the familiarity coming back to him, with each taste, each caress. Each kiss more satisfying then the last. Both driving each other wild, knowing where to touch each other to get the desired results, they wanted. He slipped inside her, never feeling anything so right as this moment.
Ashley walked up to the bar, setting her tray on the bar, waiting for Stan to finish getting others their drinks.
"Want to waitress for me full time?" she laughed
"No, I like my job"
"What can I get ya?"
"Martini and a margarita"
"Coming right up" he left her alone to fix the drinks, she thought about Hayden which kinda surprised her because she'd only known him a week and they were friends, she wouldn't even call him that. She did like how he made her feel, like there was no one else in the world only them two. Had she finally found her ever after?
Hayden walked into the bar, seeing Ashley at the bar he walked up beside her.
"Your early"
"So are you" Stan placed the drinks on the tray and off she went. She returned moments later
"I didn't know you worked here"
"I don't just helping out a friend who's understaffed… Oh that reminds me" she takes off in the back.
Dressing was a quiet chore for both of them not knowing what to say to the other. He did see tears in her eyes, and they meet each other half way arms wrapping around the other. She settled down soon after and one arm dropped so she could turn and stand beside him, intertwined with him. He kissed the top of her head, squeezing her closer.
Ashley opened the door, to find Bosco kissing the top of her head; she waited until they saw her to say anything.
"I came as soon as I knew what Stan did" Maritza and Bosco smiled
"Mmmhmm"
"Honest" trying her hardest not to smile
"Then why are you were an apron?" she glanced down to see the half apron she put on an hour and half ago, to take Cruz's place
'I just bought these pants don't want to spill anything" she quickly untied the strings and held the apron in her hand. Both looked at each other before advancing towards her, the look in their eyes had Ashley back towards the door.
"C'mon guys, I'm sure we can work it out" taking two large steps back, both keep coming closer to her. She steps back into the doorway, they become within reaching distance.
"I can lock you in here again" she croaked out wondering how many feet it was to the door outside.
Bosco lunges for her as she turns and runs, him coming after her, she pushes the door open and runs into the bar, on lookers wonder what she's doing, as he follows her out, she runs past everyone and out the door. Him close behind. She kept running, the distance between them becoming greater.
"Bosco let's talk about this, I mean you two did get together right?"
"It's not like this was for nothing" the footsteps stopped behind her and she risked a glance behind her. He stopped bent over catching his breath. She slowed too, finally coming to a stop, she turned he was now walking towards her.
"Ashley"
"Are you going to hurt me?" he took a step closer she took two back
"No"
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart" he crossed his chest with his finger
She looked him, seeing if he really meant it, the cloud covered moon, didn't help her see his face.
"Seriously?" she took a step closer
"Absolutely" he held up his hands to show her, he wasn't going to do anything. She took another step closer. This time when he reached for her, he hugged her.
"Thank you" he let her go, grabbed her arm and walked her back to the bar.
"You have a date waiting"