His Redemptive Gift

Chapter One- Ashley

Ashley's POV

Standing outside the bar where I work with my earphones plugged in with  a particular music on repeat, the stench of old paint, sweat and alcohol reminded me of how much I hate this place but as long as it pays me enough to survive the month, serving drinks here will have to do. Ugh.....!! Rosa where are you, I thought as gazed around the parking lot , just as I began to walk towards the road she swoops in like a boss (that's what she always says).

I immediately begin to walk to her car. "Hey Ash", she beams when am near while searching for whatever in her car.

"Hey Rosa, what kept you?, you were about 15 minutes late." I asked as I settled into the car seat.

"I met this really hot guy at work with blue eyes that sparkled, a body like that of a Greek god and oh my gosh he was gorgeous" she replied with a smile and a certain twinkle in her eyes.

"Well,  oh Joy a guy like never before" I replied totally uninterested.

"Oh shut up you! " she replied knowing I definitely didn't care.

Don't get me wrong I definitely will appreciate something good when I see it,  it's just that I've got too much to think about to have enough time for the opposite gender.

"Nick asked of you", Rosa spoke disrupting my thoughts as she sped down the road.

"Huh?? " I asked puzzled

"uh.... Tall, dirty blonde, green eyed, gorgeous Nick  that works at the same cafe I work " she stated as a matter- of -factly .

"I know who Nick is, well why?? " I replied blandly.

"Give the guy a chance Ashley, you know he's totally adores you"
She replies looking at me for a moment, "he said he misses you and I quote 'l really want to see her but she keeps avoiding me ' his words not mine" she adds

I sigh as I rest my head on the car seat and stare outside, "you know why I don't want to get into a relationship now Rosa"  i reply not staring at her.

"I know but am not the one that needs the explanation babe"
She replies .

Of course she knows, Rosa became my best friend the moment she moved into our little town here in Florida, moving in to a town for your final year in high school without parents or any relative was questionable but whenever I asked she just shrugged it off and said she needed a change of environment and her parents agreed to it. We both graduated from high school last year. Rosa is like a sister to me, she knows how me and my brother became Orphans and how we ended up with someone like our Aunt; my dad's sister was our only relative after their death. My mom and dad meant the world to me and my brother-Alex, they were college sweethearts and got married from there. My Mom was an Architect while my dad was a Building Technician, since they studied in the same field they built a construction company from scratch with a few of their friends from college. Friends which I never saw again after my parents burials, they connived and took total ownership  of the company leaving me and my brother with nothing but the roof over our heads.

"Can we stop at McDonald's, I'm kinda hungry" Rosa asked

"Sure I don't think Aunt Marie has any food left in her pantry "
My aunt will rather buy clothes and shoes for herself and her little princess more like brat; 
Amber is my aunt's only child with her first husband until he left them,  maybe that's why she so bitter .

"Ashley do me a favor and talk to Nick", she says as she parks the car in front of McDonalds "he really cares about you, and you might be surprised at how well the relationship may work out"

"Yes......Mother!, Now feed me am hungry "I joke as we step out of the car.

"Bitch" she said rolling her eyes. Rosa and I placed our orders and waited. We were having our food to-go.
After our food arrived,  Rosa immediately paid for both of them.

"You didn't have to you know, I can pay for my own food" I said as we left the restaurant.

"You know normal people say thank you right" she retorted

"Thank you very much, Mademoiselle Rosa" I say jokingly.

After five minutes Rosa stops in front of my house.
"Thanks babe" I say stepping out with my food.

"You're welcome Ash ,drop by the cafe tomorrow okay, I know you are free on Sundays". She says starting up the car.

"Fine......I'll try" I replied knowing there was no escaping this.

"Bye Ashley." And she was gone leaving me to this death hole I call a home.

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Keep Going, don't stop yet🥺👊