Ashley stepped inside, sweat still fresh on his skin after the jog. He dropped his keys onto the table with a clink, pulled off his tank top, and made his way to the bathroom.
After a warm, quick bath, he towel-dried his hair, slipped into loose joggers and an oversized tee,scanned the slightly messy room, Ashley let out a sigh.
" Time for a clean up" , he muttered to himself.
He grabbed the speaker from the shelf connected it, and moments later, soft R&B
chords floated into the air.
🎶 "Can't we just talk? Can't we just talk?" 🎶
As he moved around the room, wiping down surfaces and tossing laundry into a corner, he sang along under his breath.
🎶"Talk about where we're goin'…" 🎶
He glided into the kitchen, grabbing tomatoes and onions from the fridge with a flourish, dancing to the beat.
🎶"Before we get lost, let me out first…" 🎶
He started chopping occasionally tossing his hips and singing between swipes of the knife. A spatula became microphone.
🎶"I ' ve never felt like this before...." 🎶
"ASH!"
Faint. Muffled. But he didn't hear it. He was in the zone—shoulders bouncing, body swaying as he spun a ladle in one hand and reached for the eggs with the other.
"Ash!"
Still nothing.
🎶 "I just need time…" 🎶
CLICK.
Suddenly, the music stopped. Silence.
Ashley blinked. "Hey—what the—?"
"ASHLEY, FOR GOD'S SAKE!"
He turned—and BAM!
He bumped right into someone. The eggs almost flew from his hands.
"Wha—Liam?! What the hell?!"
"Finally," Liam huffed, rubbing his chest. "I've been yelling your name for ages!"
Ashley barely had time to process Liam's surprise return when a sudden voice rang down the corridor.
"Ash? Ash! What happened? Are you okay? I heard a bang—"
Before he could respond, the door swung open, and a petite girl with brown eyes and honey-brown curls rushed in, slightly out of breath.
She halted mid-step, eyes going wide.
"Liam?!" Her voice lifted in pure excitement.
Liam turned, grinning like a puppy.
"Baby!"
"When did you come back?!" she squealed, already flying into his arms.
"This morning," he chuckled, hugging her tightly. Without hesitation, the two shared a sweet kiss that lasted just long enough to make Ashley groan.
Ellie the only grand daughter of victor, the bar's owner and clearly his favorite. She also happened to be liam's girlfriend.
Liam, on the other hand is a soft- spoken guy with a gentle smile and a heart too big for his chest. He'd started working at the bar two years ago and when victor release how far his place was from work, he practically forced Ashley to let Liam move in.
"Ugh. Not in my apartment, please," Ashley muttered, rolling his eyes and walking past them toward the kitchen counter.
The girl giggled and peeked at him over Liam's shoulder.
"Jealous?"
"Absolutely Not!" Ash replied flatly, then crossed his arms.
"Anyway, what are you doing here, Ellie "
She grinned, pulling away from Liam but keeping his hand in hers.
"Grandpa's calling. Said he wants to see all of us at the bar. Something about the weekend setup."
(Ashley song: " Talk" by Khalid ")
*************
A sharp, high-pitched voice cut through the bar's mellow hum.
"Grandpa!"
Victor, sitting at his usual booth, jolted and awkwardly tried to hide the cigarette he had just lit. But it was too late—the smoke was already curling lazily into the air, betraying him.
"Really? Again?" Ellie stormed toward him, hands on hips, eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and scolding affection. "I told you to stop! It's bad for your health, Grandpa!"
Victor gave her his best innocent smile, though the cigarette between his fingers ruined the effect.
"Sorry, my princess. Just one. Last one. Promise."
Before Ellie could launch into another lecture, the door creaked open and in walked Ashley and Liam.
Ashley lazily raised a hand.
"Hey, old man."
Liam gave a small wave.
"Evening, Mr. Victor."
Victor blinked. Then blinked again. He tilted his head.His brows shot up. "Liam? The month's already over?"
His voice was filled with surprise.
Liam rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish smile forming.
"Uh, not really. Kinda changed plans last minute."
Victor stared for a beat longer, then gave a small grunt and waved a dismissive hand as he pushed up from his chair.
"Anyway, I called you all because I'll be out for a few days." He paused, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. "You'll be running the bar this weekend. Got it?"
Ashley and Liam nodded while Ellie just folded her arms.
Victor walked a few steps, then stopped mid-stride and turned halfway back. His gaze settled on Ashley.
"Ash, you're the eldest. I'm counting on you. Take care of the others while I'm gone… especially my little princess."
Before Ashley could respond, Ellie groaned dramatically.
"I can take care of myself!"
Victor simply waved a hand over his shoulder and disappeared into the backroom.
Ellie turned to Liam, her eyes softening.
"Now, where were we?" she whispered before leaning close and gently tugging on his upper lip with a playful pout.
"I missed you, idiot."
Liam grinned and leaned in, wrapping an arm around her waist. Ashley, already half-turned, rolled his eyes and brush past them.
He stepped outside into the quiet evening air. The sky was painted with soft oranges and purples, the kind that made you stop for a second.
Ash reached into his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and leaned back against the wall.
He took a long drag.
The smoke rose slowly, curling above him like a sigh he couldn't quite release. He exhaled, eyes locked on the sky, and for a second, everything else faded.
*********
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