“Do we wait for it to cool or let the icing run all over the place?” Lina asked.
“You know my vote on that.” Ashley grabbed a rubber spatula and dipped it in the icing, mixing it around while Lina pulled the cake out of the oven.
They each took a large piece and dribbled frosting over the top. “Here’s to new things,” Lina said, taking a bite. “And hitting the gym tomorrow.”
“Here, here.”
Ashley’s cell phone rang just as she was finishing her last bite, and she lunged for it, ignoring Lina’s smug grin. Yes, it was Chase, and yes, it was yet another highlight of this good day.
“Hey.” She walked down the hall and went into her bedroom, closing the door, but not before sticking her tongue out at Lina.
“Hey, yourself.”
She’d missed him today, but somehow, getting this private conversation was almost better than hanging out at work where they’d always had an audience and the boundaries that came with being coworkers.
“Anything exciting happen at work today?” she asked.
“Flynn came and took Yolanda to lunch. I saw them making out in the parking lot as I was leaving for my break.”
“No way.”
“I know, and yet, it kind of makes sense, don’t you think?”
“Nope. No way. Gross.”
Chase laughed. “How’d your interview at the shipping place go? That was today, right?”
“It was terrible.” She bit back a grin.
“Um, why do you sound happy about that, Ash?”
“Because the dental office called right after, and I have a job.”
“What a relief. Congratulations.”
She filled him in on all the details as she slowly changed into her pajamas with her one free hand.
“What are you doing?” Chase asked. “It sounds like you’re lifting weights or something.”
Ashley smiled. “Close. I was trying to get my tank top over my head while still holding the phone to my ear.”
“I don’t know why I even asked.”
“Kids in bed?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “But Gabby’s running a fever. If she’s better in the morning, I’ll send her to school. Otherwise, I guess I’m taking a sick day.”
“I could watch her.” The suggestion popped out automatically. It wasn’t like she had anything better to do.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Well, why not? I don’t start until Monday. And you know Mr. Davidson will freak out now that he’s down so many people.”
“I don’t know, she might get you sick. Mr. Davidson will get over it. We’ll be fine.”
Ashley was about to counter that she didn’t care if she got sick, but maybe Chase had other concerns he didn’t want to mention. Maybe he didn’t want her further pushing her way into his life. She’d already pried enough in their phone conversation yesterday. She knew he didn’t have anyone else to rely on, but obviously, he wasn’t ready to change that.
“Well, the offer stands, but you do what you think is best. I better let you go.” She hung up and went in the bathroom to brush all the chocolate out of her teeth. It was only eight-forty-five. She hadn’t gone to bed at eight-forty-five since the sixth grade, except for the unfortunate few times she’d had the flu. But after cleaning all day and that somewhat disheartening end to their phone conversation, she suddenly felt tired.
