Chapter 586: Fire & Ice Cafe
Friday, March 3rd, Afternoon
The cafe was nice and quiet as she sat in the booth sipping at her glass of water. Looking around, she watched the patrons come and go. She waited for her meal to come but also wanted to be left alone. The first wasn't, but the second wasn't always guaranteed as of late.
Ashlyn yawned and looked down at her phone. Usually, to kill time, she would read news articles. But with the basketball team about to play in the Final Four tomorrow, the news was about them. Ashlyn doesn't read the press until after the game. So, other than reading adverts left on the table, all she could do was sit and wait.
The bells over the door rang. Ashlyn looked up and saw Royce Parker walk in. He removed his sunglasses and saw Ashlyn sitting in the booth alone. He smiled and walked toward her.
"Hey Royce, what brings you here?" Ashlyn asked.
"I had to get out of the house, as did the kids," Royce said.
"So, what are they doing?" Ashlyn asked.
"Whatever teenagers do, as long as they aren't arrested, I'm fine with them doing what they want," Royce said.
"That's an interesting philosophy," Ashlyn said.
"Sasha said, you teach them your rules, morals, and expectations, hope that it sticks because when they were out of sight, they'll do whatever they want," Royce said.
"That interesting; how has it worked so far?" Ashlyn asked.
"So far, so good," Royce said.
"Well, I ended up pregnant at fifteen," Ashlyn said.
"We all walk our own paths," Royce said.
"Do you want to join me, Royce?" Ashlyn asked.
"Sure, why not," Royce said and took a seat across from Ashlyn. Ashlyn signaled the waitress. The waitress, named Lileas, came over.
"Yes?" Lileas asked.
"Royce needs to order on a separate check, please," Ashlyn said.
"Okay," Lileas said and turned to Royce, "How many I help you?" Royce ordered, and Lileas left.
"Will have dinner with me but won't pay?" Royce asked.
"It's not a date, and I'm married," Ashlyn said.
"So, no kids today?" Royce asked.
"My dad is watching them tonight; he sent me out to have a night because tomorrow is basketball," Ashlyn said.
"So, you come here of all places," Royce said.
"Need to eat, like the food, and I don't know what I'm doing after this," Ashlyn said.
"How about a movie?" Royce asked.
Ashlyn shrugged, "Not anything interesting in the theaters," she said.
"What about a double feature of The Hustler and The Color of Money?" Royce asked.
"Where is that?" Royce asked.
"A small art house just up the peninsula towards Wilmington," Royce said.
"I didn't see those movies listed," Ashlyn said.
"They don't list on Fandango," Royce said.
"Okay," Ashlyn said.
"So, do you want to go?" Royce asked.
"Sounds interesting, but no, I have a busy day tomorrow," Ashlyn said.
"Yeah, semi-finals game; who are you playing?" Royce asked.
"Millbrook," we're going to Fayetteville," Ashlyn said.
"The venue?" Royce asked.
"Methodist University," Ashlyn said.
"How are things going with the team?" Royce asked.
"We're beaten up and tired; Coach Scott gave them the day off to rest and recover; we just did a walk-through," Ashlyn said.
"One of those things, I see, any major injuries?" Royce asked.
"The usual, nothing like when we were in high school," Ashlyn said.
"How is your knee?" Royce asked.
"It's there," Ashlyn said.
"How different would it be with you out there?" Royce asked.
"I don't know, we wouldn't have had Kelly, and she helped set the screen for Kay to make the winning shot," Ashlyn said.
"Good point," Royce said.
Ashlyn nodded and looked out the window. "I don't always think about that game; I was on the sidelines and didn't play all game," she said.
"You were recovering from a knee injury; you just had knee surgery," Royce said.
"Believe me, I know," Ashlyn said and rubbed her knee, "But it feels empty to me."
"Did you know what Anna Barclay thinks of the game?" Royce asked.
"Why do you ask?" Ashlyn asked.
"Anna didn't play that game, if I remember correctly," Royce said.
"Yeah, well, she played two years later when she won her second championship," Ashlyn said.
"Different days," Royce said.
"Yeah, different days," Ashlyn said.
"Does the idea make you nervous about the game tomorrow?" Royce asked.
Ashlyn shrugged, "We have a bulldozer, when I played, we were a sports car," she said.
"I think you'll be as successful as you want to be," Royce said.
"Is that visualization and manifestation?" Ashlyn asked.
"I just see something in them," Royce said.
"What do you see in them?" Ashlyn asked.
"They don't want to lose," Royce said.
"Every player doesn't want to lose," Ashlyn said.
"I mean, like Jordan not liking to lose," Royce said.
"Okay, I doubt that," Ashlyn said.
Lileas showed up with her food. Ashlyn nodded to Lileas and went on to eat. Royce waited a few more minutes until his dinner arrived, and they ate in silence.
