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“Deal.” Within minutes, plans were made to meet up at The Ridge for dinner, and then to go see a movie. Ashlynn carefully handed him a mug as she sat down beside him on the sofa. “We’re all set for later. We’re meeting them at the pub at seven.”
“Mmm…perfect. The movie starts at nine so that’s plenty of time. And with the way the weather was today, I’m guessing neither will be crowded.”
“I hadn’t thought about that…”
“Everything is close enough and the roads are all clear and sanded.” She took a sip of her cocoa and hummed. “Unless it’s a blizzard, I have zero issues going out at night.”
“I guess that’s a good thing.” He took his own sip and moaned appreciatively. “Damn, Ash. This is fantastic. There’s no way this is instant.”
She gasped dramatically. “Please! I would never make instant cocoa. My mother and grandmother taught us when we were little how to make it from scratch, and I don’t care if I can make it from a pod in my Keurig because it’ll never be as good as this.”
“Seriously, this is amazing.” Then he smiled at her. “Is there anything you can’t do?”
Blushing adorably, she replied, “Well…I don’t like to brag…”
Leaning in, he kissed her cheek. “Feel free to brag all you want. I think you’re awesome.” And he did. If this whole situation with the hair salon weren’t hanging over their heads, he would swear that this was the greatest relationship he’d ever had. Unfortunately, he was someone who thrived on things being somewhat structured and orderly, and knowing there was a slight possibility of his job being threatened had him unable to fully relax and enjoy what he and Ashlynn were building.
Something had to give soon, he thought.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes while they finished their drinks. Ashlynn stood and took their mugs and placed them in the sink before walking back over and holding out her hand to him.
“What are we doing?”
“I need to shower and get changed before we go to dinner and I thought you might want to join me in the shower?” Her smile was a little impish and a little sexy and there was no way he would tell her no.
For tonight, they were just a couple going out who didn’t have a care in the world. They were going to enjoy a meal with friends and then go see a movie.
And for tonight, it was enough.
Everything had been great until he and Leo volunteered to wait on the snack line while Ashlynn and Avery went to grab their seats.
“So, um…I have to admit I was a little surprised you wanted to go out tonight,” Leo began.
“Really? Why?”
His friend looked around nervously. “Well…my mom is friends with Becky Allen, who owns Lavish Locks.”
Oh.
Shit.
“She’s going around telling people that Ashlynn caused the fire at the salon,” he went on. “I haven’t said anything to Avery about it, and my mom hates gossip of any kind so she’s not going out and repeating it…”
“And yet she told you,” Reid casually reminded him.
“Only because I mentioned that the four of us were going out together tonight. So what’s going on?”
Fortunately, the line was moving slow and there wasn’t anyone behind them, so Reid gave him the abbreviated version of what was happening and how no one had formally accused—or charged—Ashlynn of anything.
Yet.
“I hate to say this, but…maybe you should start distancing yourself from her,” Leo said cautiously. “After all, this is a career you’ve been working toward since you were fourteen. Do you really have that kind of faith in Ashlynn and your relationship that you’re willing to give it all up for her?”
Part of him wanted to be angry, or at the very least offended, at what his friend was implying, but hadn’t he thought of the same thing more than once? Still, it wasn’t so easy to just break things off and move on. He had legit feelings for her and he thought she felt the same. They lived in the same apartment building and there wasn’t any way to avoid seeing each other—something he explained to Leo.
“Better for things to be a little awkward because things just weren’t working out and you broke up, then for things to be super awkward because you lost your job and had to move back home with your parents and get a job bagging groceries because your entire career is gone.”
And yeah, his normally mild-mannered friend had a hint of snap to his voice.
