C H A P T E R F O U R T E E N
ashton

mushy:
a weak breaking wave.

I found myself leaning up against the bar of the diner as I sipped on a mug of coffee which was currently keeping me awake.

Last night I had hardly got any sleep as the events that occurred that evening kept replaying in my mind on repeat.

The feeling of his lips against mine, or the way he held me like he was afraid to let go, made my heart race. It had me craving more.

This morning I was stuck working the opening shift which is normally quite busy, but today it seems extremely quiet and slow as a result of the ongoing raging thunderstorm.

Rain had been pounding against the glass of the windows as the building shook when the thunder roared through the air.

Jessa started work a couple of hours after me and when I told her about what happened last night I could have sworn she could have fainted right then and there.

Just then the bell rang overhead the entrance and a group of guys walked into the diner. I feel my smile fall as my eyes glance up to the group and a familiar face from my past.

"Jessa, whys he back?" I question as they get escorted into a booth situated in the corner of the restaurant. "He wasn't suppose to come back. Ever."

"He probably won't recognize you Ains, don't worry about it." She says with a small smile. "I'm surprised I didn't hear anything about him coming back, I bet he is probably just visiting for the week."

I groan internally before slowly making my way over to their table. I rip my name tag off of my shirt and stuff it into my bag "Hi there I'm going to be your server today, can I grab you guys some drinks?"

I'm sure to skip out on my name to prevent him from noticing who I am. Everyone except for Ashton tells me their orders. He's just sitting there looking at me.

"And for you?" I ask directing it to Ashton after everyone else ordered.

"Just a lemonade please." He says as I write it down before leaving their table.

His order hasn't changed in years. It's still the same as it was back when we would go out together.

I quickly maneuver through the diner and make my way over to Jessa who watched the whole ordeal. "He definitely knows it's me." I exclaim as I start gathering their drinks, my hands shaking as I reach for the glasses.

"Do you want me to take over their table?" Jessa asks, as I shake my head in response.

"No." I say quickly. "I need to show him that I've moved on and I'm over him. Besides it's been years since I've seen him anyways."

I gather the drinks into a tray and make my way back over to their table trying to get this over as quick as possible.

Placing the drinks in front of each of the guys I make awkward eye contact with Ashton as I hand him his drink and then taking a step back.

"Can I grab you guys anything to eat?" I ask pulling out my notepad.

A brunette speaks up and orders the group three plates of fries and burgers. I write the order on the paper and quickly walk away as I feel Ashton's eyes racking over my body in the process.

I place the order in at the kitchen before checking up at my other tables. Once I'm sure everyone's satisfied I make my way back over to the bar and wait for Jessa who's finishing up with another customer.

"Any better?" She asks as she makes her way over to me with empty plates.

"He hasn't mentioned anything about me yet." I say as I reach for a glass and fill it up with some iced tea before taking a sip. "Thank goodness my shifts over soon, I can't wait to get out of here."

Of course out of all days Dawson isn't here it's the day that I wished he was here the most.

I pull my phone out of my apron and send him a quick text.

I'm surprised that you aren't at the diner today, thought you couldn't get enough of me? -A

Before I got a response I heard my table number being yelled out from the chefs as I slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Walking into the back I notice the plates of fries and burgers sitting down on the metal surface. I gather them all into my arms before heading back over to table nine.

"Here you guys go." I say placing the fries in the centre of the table and burgers in front of each of the guys. "Is there anything else you'll need?"

"Ainsley." Ashton says causing me to look down at the floor as my heart rate increases. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine thanks. Just let me know if you guys need anything." I say with a small smile as I turn on my heels. I grab ahold of Jessa at another table she was cleaning as I drag her into the break room.

"He knows." I say leaning up against the closed door giving her and I some privacy.

"What did he say?" She asks.

"Just how are you doing. That's all he asked after what he's done to me." I say with a small laugh. "Some nerve that guy has."

"Ains. He's an ass, both you and I know that. You won't have to talk to him again after this, but are you sure you can handle it for now?"

"I can handle this. It looks worse if I just suddenly stopped serving them." I retort feeling anger building up inside me.

My phone buzzes and instantly I feel a little more out at ease noticing that it's a text from Dawson.

As much as I wish I could be there tormenting you hun, I'm stuck at work. -D

Don't forget about the party tonight. I'm done my shift in 30 minutes, I'll come swing by the diner when i'm done. -D

"That was Dawson wasn't it?" Jessa questions as I put my phone away, taking deep breaths trying to keep calm. "I can tell, your face lit up. Are you positive you're okay." She asks opening the door.

"I'm perfectly fine." I say with straight face before heading out of the room.

But in reality I was far from being okay.

-

A short time later they finally decide to pay. I walk over to their table with a debit machine as I place it down onto the table.

Ashton reaches for the machine as he places his card into the bottom. A few of the guys keep looking at me as I prayed in my head that this won't take long.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the machine started printing out a receipt. I hand him a copy as his hand lightly brushes against my hand when he takes the slip of paper.

"You guys can stay for as long as you want, have a good one." I say with a fake smile as I walk away.

As I was making my way back over to the bar I noticed Dawson walk through the doors and I let out a sigh of relief.

He makes his way over to me with a smile as I wrap my arms around him pulling him in for a hug which took him by surprise.

"Someone missed me." He says with a chuckle as I pull away before leading him over to the bar.

"Oh you wish Daws" I tease as I pour him an iced tea handing it to him as he takes a seat down on one of the bar stools.

Jessa comes out from the back coming to join the two of us. "I don't think we've formally met, I'm Jessa. I've heard a lot about you Dawson." She says with a smile.

"Likewise, I assume Ains has mentioned the party tonight?" He asks taking a sip of the iced tea as I lean back against the bar.

"She has not, i'll be there!" Jessa responds. "Anyways I've got a customer, nice meeting you and i'll see you later then!"

She brushes past me with a smile as she goes and greets the customers who just walked through the door.

I find my glance wandering over to Ashtons table as I notice he's looking at the interaction between Dawson and I, a look of jealously mixing with his emotions.

Dawson followed my gaze over to the table before directing his attention back towards me. "Do I want to know who that is over there?" He asks.

"The guy in the navy shirt, that would be my ex boyfriend." I start as Dawsons face falls slightly at the mention of the word boyfriend. "No need to worry about him though, it was years ago I'm just shocked to see him back here."

"I see." He says quietly.

"Besides if last night was any indication of how I'm feeling about you, you shouldn't be concerned." I say causing a smirk to make it's way onto Dawson's face.

"Glad to see you enjoyed last night as much as I did. To be honest I had been wanting to do that for a while now."

"Well I'm happy you finally decided to. Here I was thinking that I was going to have to make the first move." I smile before glancing down at my watch noticing my shift is over. "Now if you excuse me i'll be right back."

I maneuver my way to the back room gathering my bag and emptying my tips out onto the table before sliding the coins into my wallet. Once I grabbed everything I needed I made my way back to the main part of the diner as I saw Dawson talking to Jessa.

"Ready to go?" He asks with a smile as I walk towards the two of them.

"I was ready to leave as soon as I stepped through the door." I say with a small laugh as I stand beside him.

"I'll see you two later tonight." Jessa says as a table waves towards her. "I got to go but I'll come over early and we can get ready together."

"Sounds good! Text me when you're off" I respond as I follow Dawson out of the restaurant and down the sidewalk.

Suddenly I hear someone shout my name from behind me causing me to stop dead in my tracks.

"Ainsley." Ashton says making my heart clench. "Can we talk for a minute. Just us?"

"That probably isn't the best idea. Besides I don't have anything to say to you either." I respond as politely as possible despite wanting to tear him apart as I turn to face him.

His eyes dart between Dawson and I as he takes a step forward closing the distance between us.

"Please Ainsley. I just want to explain."

Dawson takes a step forward as well, placing himself in between Ashton and I in a protective manor.

"You want to explain? Explain what? How you cheated on me and then up and left? Cause I don't have time to listen to whatever you have to say. It's in the past, it's over with, and I don't ever want to look back at what we were. I don't want to hear from you again, just go back to being nothing to me. It's better that way." I grab onto Dawson's hand and pull him away from Ashton and towards my car.

Ashton shouts my name at my retreating figure as I don't turn around. I keep moving forward just as I have done with my life, this time with a new person in my life.

All Ashton so to me is a constant reminder that everyone who enters my life leaves when they realize how tough it is to love me.

And that is exactly what I was concerned was going to happen with Dawson.

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Word Count: 2024