A Match Made In Heaven?

Chapter 17

I stand there staring back at Ashley, wondering what the hell she is doing here.

"Lucy, I'm sorry to show up unannounced. I know that you are off the clock, but I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes?"

I stare back at her, still a little bit surprised to see her here. "Oh, yeah. Is everything okay?"

She hesitates for a moment. "It's just about Clay. Could we maybe go for a quick cup of coffee?"

Now it's my turn to hesitate, feeling more than a little awkward at the situation that's unfolding in front of my eyes. "I guess I have a few minutes. Let's go across there." I say, pointing across at a small café across the road.

Ashley nods at me and we start to walk across the road. We enter the café and order some coffee. We grab a table near the back and sit down. Ashley is fidgeting with her hands, and I can tell that something is bothering her.

"Ashley? What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

Ashley looks up to me, and studies me for a few moments, before blurting out her next words. "Clay."

I try not to react upon hearing his name. I shift a little uncomfortably in my seat before answering her. "Oh, what about him?"

"Well, you know when you matched us? Was I his first choice?"

My eyes widen a little in surprise at her question. "Yes, you were."

"Right." she says, as she looks down at the ground.

I can tell that Ashley wants to say more, but she doesn't seem to know how to get the words out.

"Ashley, why did you ask me that?"

"Uh, it's just, I'm not sure if he's really that in to me. I mean, I thought maybe he was only settling for me, after he was turned down by some other girl?"

"No, not at all. Ashley you were definitely his first choice. I wouldn't lie to you about that."

Ashley looks across at me and smiles. "Thanks Lucy."

"No problem. Can I ask you what makes you think that he's not in to you?"

I can see Ashley's cheek flush a little, and she clasps her hands together on the table. "It's kind of embarrassing."

"Trust me Ashley, in my line of work, I can assure you that I have heard just about everything. Nothing will shock me, so please don't feel the slightest bit embarrassed."

I see Ashley's shoulders relax a little "Okay, it's just, I thought that maybe at this stage we would have done more stuff, like intimate stuff."

My eyes widen slightly at the realization of what she is implying. "Right, I see. Have you guys not done stuff at all?" I ask, not fully wanting to know the answer to that question.

"No, I mean obviously we have kissed a few times, but every time that I try to take things further, he stops me and makes up some excuse as to why he has to go. I don't want to come across as desperate, but I really like the guy."

(Why the hell hasn't he slept with her? He is known for sleeping around, so what has changed? Maybe he really likes her, and want to take things slow?)

"I see where you're coming from, but maybe he doesn't want to rush you. Maybe he is trying to be a proper gentleman?"

Ashley lightly shakes her head. "I'm not so sure.......I wonder?"

Ashley pauses as she looks back at me, deep in thought. "You couldn't perhaps, talk to him, maybe just ask him how things are going with us? Just to see if he says anything to you?"