***
One hour later, Ashley emerged from her now dishevelled bedroom. She found Madison and Emily sprawledon the sofa.
“So, do I look okay?” She feared the response. Her friends had always been brutally honest. A trait she admired, but equally dreaded at the same time.
“You look perfect.”
“Yes, like so hot. Love the hair.”
They both beamed. She opted for a half-up-half-down combination, the pieces of hair that fell over her face shaping her features like a dream.
“Thanks, guys.”
Ashley fidgeted with her phone, glancing repeatedly at the locked screen. The light remained dull, no sign of activity—it made her nervous. When she’d spoken with Megan that morning, it had been brief. Since then, not a word. They’d agreed the time the day before, but the lack of response madeher uneasy.
“Why are you still standing there?” Emilychallenged.
“She hasn’t replied to my last message.”
Emily sat upright. “When did you message her?”
“About twohours ago.”
The time was 1:30 p.m. It would take less than twenty minutes to walk to Dos Camino’s.
“That’s strange.”
“That’s what I thought. Should I be worried that she’ll stand me up?”
Madison shook her head, “I’m sure there’s an explanation.” She pulled her brown headband down and proceeded to run her fingers through her brown cropped wavy hair; the new style took some getting used to. “You’ll be fine, Ash, but you need to go. You don’t want to keep the girl waiting.”
“Good luck!” Emily chimed.
Ashley exited her apartment through the large wooden door. Howard waved from his truck.
“Bagel, Ashley?” he called above the queue of customers.
“No thanks, Howard! I’m goingon a date.”
“Very exciting, have fun.”
The stern woman awaiting her order glared in Ashley’s direction.
Conscious of the fact she hadn’t heard from Megan, she took her time, stalling at the entrance to James J. Walker Park on the corner of Hudson Street. A solitary bench sat underneath a Norway maple tree with a vast circumference that shaded the surrounding area. Ashley took a seat and removed her phone from her pocket for the tenth time in ten minutes. A message appeared.
I am so sorry I haven’t replied sooner. I wanted to get my head down for an hour after my workout this morning, but I didn’t set my alarm. What an idiot! I will quickly get ready and be with you as soon as I can!
Ashley exhaled a sigh of relief. The fear of being stood up was replaced by an ever-growing nervousness. Ashley’s dating resume was slim-to-none. During her time at Long Island University, she dated two different women, the second for almost two years, but she wanted to pursue her dreams in New York and Grace had other ideas. That soon ended when Ashley left. Since moving to New York, there had been a brief fling or two, but nothing that had the potential to be the real deal. Ashley and Grace remained somewhat friends after the break-up. There had been little choice in the matter because of Grace’s friendship with Samantha Stewart—Ashley’s younger sister.
The pang of guilt returned whenever she thought about Samantha. It had been almost six months since their last phone conversation. After her move to the west coast two years earlier, their contact had diminished. Samantha had become so self-absorbed, a trait she had in common with one member of the Stewart family in particular, and the reason her parents were no longer married. It was not the time to be rehashing bad memories, so Ashley gathered herself and continued towards herdestination.
The time was 2:20 p.m. Megan had informed Ashley that she was on her way. Other than asking Megan to meet her on the corner where West Broadway meets West Houston St, she had disclosed no other details. The front of the restaurant had recently been painted a teal colour; black railings surrounded the outside dining area to the left and a large red neon sign flashed above the door. It wasn’t a 5* decorated building, but what the restaurant lacked in glamour, it made up for in quality. It was the only place Ashley would go for Mexican food.
Her phone beeped.
I’m here. I can’t see you.
Ashley spun around, her eyes rotating in every direction, looking for undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in the neighbourhood. Her gaze locked on a figure across the street. She looked sporty in a pair of black gym leggings, a black t-shirt and some white running shoes. Ashley removed the sunglasses from her face to get a better look; her long brown hair was tied tightly into a hair band. Her casual attire made Ashley feel overdressed in her jeans and expensive trainers. The glare of the sun meant she couldn’t be 100% sure it was Megan, but she waved anyway, hopeful the figure would return the gesture. She did—it was her.
