after you left |ai|

32

I sat by the counter of the shop with Ashton by my side while he talked to Amber with a smile on his face. Olivia was in her carrier, deep asleep in my mom's office giving Ashton a little break. We didn't really plan on seeing each other today but I was in here already when he stopped by for a coffee on the go and it's been over an hour since he walked in.

"I have to go again but I will come back!" Amber said when a new customer walked in. It was rather quiet so she was working the counter on her own.

"I noticed you got a tattoo yesterday." Ashton said while he looked at me with a small grin. I looked down at my hands when he mentioned it before looking around to see where my mom and Amber were.

"I have just thatone but please don't talk about it here." I replied shortly when Amber walked towards us again.

"I'm going to eat at mom and dad tonight so you don't have to worry about me." Amber said with a smile before mom also joined us.

"I have food prepared for two." I said to her and she looked at me with an apologetical smile, "Do you have anything prepared for dinner tonight? Apparently I have too much food." I asked Ashton and he laughed softly before shaking his head.

"I guess it depends on what you have for dinner." He said with a playfull grin on his face.

"It's nothing special, chicken with rice and vegetables."

"Mom is making burgers." Amber said with a small laugh

"Are you just going there because you don't want to eat my food?" I asked her and she started laughing while my mom watched us with a smile. "I think that answers my question. So Ashton, do you still want to come for dinner?"

"Yeah, I'll eat the food you make unlike Amber." He said with a chuckle and we all laughed softly.

"Thank you" I said to him with a smile, "I am going to head home because I still need to prepare a bit for school tomorrow. Do you want to come now or will you come over later?"

"You have to work so are you sure you don't mind if I come now?" He asked a little insecure.

"Yeah it's fine, it's just a few math tests I have to correct, nothing big."

"I can cook while you do your work, saves you some time." He suggested and I could see my mom watching us with the biggest smile.

"That would be great, thank you." I replied before taking my purse and phone from the counter infront of me. "I have to work late tomorrow and the day after, I'll try to come by Thursday and otherwise I will see you on Friday, 7pm, right?" I asked my mom and she nodded.

"Don't worry if you can't make it Thursday. But yes, Friday at 7. Take care honey." She replied with a smile before hugging me. "And you take care of my daughter tonight." She said as a warning to Ashton

"I will" Ashton replied with a smile while he took all his things before going over to my mom's office to get Olivia

"I will see you tomorrow after work Elle!" Amber said excited before running over to hug us both when he had returned.

"I will see you tomorrow, enjoy your burgers tonight." I said to her with a smile before Ashton and I left the shop. We walked up the street to my apartment and even in the street, it was rather quiet today. The weather wasn't all too good and I guess everyone just stayed inside.

He wanted to reach for my hand, to hold it like we did every day for the past week but I pulled away. I put my hands in my pockets and walked with my head down. Even without looking at him, I knew I hurt him by doing that.

"Is this because I asked about that tattoo? Or is it something else?" I could see he had been wanting to ask it from the second I rejected him but he didn't dare to ask until we were almost at my place.