“If you could just maybe… help me carry the food and insulin out to my car?” he asked her. He didn’t like requiring her help like that, but she had offered and he knew that she didn’t want to just send him off on his way if he was struggling. He also wouldn’t mind the extra time – though brief – with her.
Becca came around the corner, grabbing the food and insulin bags and letting Ashton lead the way back out to his dad’s truck in the parking lot. “Should I just throw it in the back, or…?”
“Uh,” he said thoughtfully, considering. “I think it’d be safer up front on the floor. And then Skipper can ride shotgun.” He smiled and patted his dog on the head and had him lying on the front seat on top of a comfy old blanket in no time.
She carefully laid the food down on the floor below Skipper, and then placed the insulin flat on top of it. “It might move around a little, but it should be all right as long as you’re not driving too far.”
She had to know that he wasn’t. His parents’ house was just up the road a ways.
“Thank you so much for your help,” Ashton said to her gratefully, offering to shake her hand. She took his hand and they shook. It felt a bit strange. He’d never shaken her hand before. That would be a weird thing for a couple to do, and he hadn’t shaken her hand when they first met either. He believed that he’d given her a nod or something in an attempt to seem cool and aloof, like most teenagers pretended to be but weren’t. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Please do,” she replied. “It’s my pleasure. I’m happy to help make sure that this good boy sticks around as long as possible.”
Ashton got into the driver’s seat of the truck and drove off down the road, back to his parents’ house. He hoped that Becca really would consider what he’d asked her. Even if they just went out as friends, he kept telling himself, though he knew that he wanted it to be more than that. He hadn’t exactly been thinking about her all of these years, hoping that she might still be thinking of him. But just the same, she was a sight for sore eyes and reconnecting with her just felt right. He wasn’t going to stay in Meridian; make no mistake about that. But he wouldn’t mind having another tether there instead of only having his folks to visit. They were good people, but they were nowhere near as enticing as his former flame could be.
He hoped that he hadn’t scared her off by asking her out so quickly after seeing her again. She said she would need to think about. She never was the type of girl to lie.
Chapter Eight
Well, that was awkward. Becca didn’t know how she was supposed to respond to such a question. It had been so long and he had hurt her so badly back then, so she didn’t want to just immediately jump into his arms and say yes to going out with him. She knew that her friends would back her up on that, too. He was going to skip town again soon, too, so she didn’t want to set herself up for yet more heartache. She also didn’t know if she wanted a long-distance relationship, even though she knew that the internet made those easier now.
Her head was kind of fuzzy the rest of the day, thinking about things that ultimately had nothing to do with anything important. The main thing she wanted to do was make sure that Skipper, Ashton’s dog, was going to be okay. She hoped that he got his head out of the clouds enough to take down the information that she’d given him. At least she’d printed out some instructions and tips for his parents as well. She wondered a little why they hadn’t come along with him.
As soon as she got home from work, Becca changed into some fleece pajama bottoms and an old t-shirt and collapsed on her couch, ready to just check out some streaming comedy that she didn’t have to think too much about. Then she decided that she simply had to text her friends and update them on what had happened. They would likely be excited that he asked her out but agree with her that she shouldn’t be too hasty to say yes. “OMG,” she sent them in the group text. “Ashton not only recognized me, but he asked me out.”
It didn’t take her friends long to respond, which was quite the ego boost. She always used to assume that her life was boring compared to theirs and that they wouldn’t have much interest in it, but there they always were supporting her. She supposed that it was yet another sign that she had the best friends.
“Whoa,” Jaz texted first. “Isn’t that a little quick?”
“Did he preface that with anything?” Erin asked. “Any questions about how you’ve been or how you fared after he tore your heart out and threw it in the street?”
That’s a bit dramatic, Becca thought, but she appreciated the sentiment just the same. “Nope. He basically went from listening to me tell him how to take care of his dog to asking if I wanted to go get a coffee with him. He seemed pretty surprised when I didn’t readily say yes, too. As if I wasn’t kind of in the middle of something.”
“Ugh, men,” Teri texted. “I’m glad you didn’t immediately say yes. Have you said yes since, though?”
This is what she thought would most surprise them.
“I told him I’d need time to think about it,” Becca said. “I didn’t want him to think that I was so eager to go out with him again. And also, we had more important matters to think about at the time. It would have been weird to be all flirty with his poor old dog right there on the exam table.”
Her friends didn’t respond at first, and she imagined that they were thinking at over. “Good call,” Jaz said. “Keep the personal stuff out of your job.”
“But are you going to say yes?” Erin asked slightly impatiently.
Becca smirked a bit. She hadn’t exactly made her mind up on that yet. She wanted to say yes, but she was clearly hesitant for a reason. She was nervous about what might happen if she gave him another chance. Things were so different now, and she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing… It could be easier now, but it could also be a lot more complicated.
“I’m not sure yet,” she replied honestly. “I really do want to give it some thought.”
Ashton had seemed to understand that she wasn’t rushing into anything. She was relieved to learn that he was going to stay in town for a while instead of running off back to New York as soon as he realized his dog wasn’t actually dying. But that also meant that his departure would be looming over their heads while he was there.
There’s also the fact that it’s been so long since we were last together, she thought as she continued to ignore whatever Netflix show she’d clicked on. I’ve grown up and changed. Not a lot, but a decent amount. He’s probably changed too… For all I know, he’s a real arrogant jerk now.
He hadn’t really seemed like a jerk, but the situation called for him to be polite and concerned. What was he was like outside of a setting like the vet’s office? Becca would essentially be getting to know him all over again, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to do that. It was going to take so much effort and the end result could be exactly the same. But then she imagined his handsome face and the caring way he had looked at Skipper. A jerk wouldn’t look at his pet like that. She thought of his smile when he finally could take the time to focus on her, and she blushed slightly.
Yes, it would be nice to go out with him. She wouldn’t mind seeing more of him again. She just knew that she would have to go into it with a semi-guarded heart. She would never forgive herself if she got hurt by him in exactly the same way when it came time for him to leave.
At least this time, I know that he’s leaving. There’s an expiration date, possibly. And I feel ready to deal with that. Ready-ish.
A few days later, Becca called Ashton’s parents’ house. She didn’t have his cell phone number, and there was something kind of silly and sweet about calling his old landline like she’d done back when they were kids. When his mom answered, Becca felt like giggling. “Hello Mrs. Miller,” she said to her politely, imagining that she was still so much younger than the older woman and not an adult who was more or less an equal with Ashton’s mom now. “This is Rebecca Chapman. Is Ashton home?”
“Oh, hi Becca!” h
is mom cheerfully chirped. “I didn’t recognize your voice. Hang on, I’ll go get him for you.” She placed the phone down and Becca could hear a brief, muffled conversation between mother and son.
After a few moments, Ashton came on the line. “Hey Becca,” he said right away.
She felt her cheeks get hot and she was glad that he couldn’t see her. “Hi Ashton,” she replied. “Just calling to let you know that I’d love to grab a coffee with you if you’re still up for it.”
There was a clear smile in his voice. “Oh! Oh, that’s great. Thanks for thinking about it and letting me know. It was really nice to see you the other day and I’d love to catch up and spend some time with you. When would you be interested in meeting up?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not available during the day until Saturday after one…” Becca sincerely hoped that they wouldn’t miss out on a date – if that’s what it would be – just because she had work. That would be the story of her life, though…
“Saturday after one works for me,” Ashton replied. “I’ll be sticking around for a few more weeks, to make sure that everything’s on track with Skipper and his medication.”
“That’s really sweet of you. I can tell you really love your dog,” she said, laughing softly. This was going well so far. She didn’t know why she was putting so much pressure on herself. Nothing serious hung on this date.
If it’s even really a date.
“Do you want me to pick you up from your place?” he asked her. “I’m still borrowing my dad’s truck, but it runs well.”
Becca didn’t think that it would be a good idea to rely on him for a ride, just in case things ended badly. After all, they were exes and though it was so long ago, she wasn’t sure she ever fully healed from that past heartbreak.
“Nah, thanks though,” she answered. “I can get there. Which place were you thinking?”
“Lincoln Station?” Ashton suggested.
Becca had half expected him to say something like Caribou Coffee or something, but the café he suggested was much nicer. She smiled, appreciating that he wanted this to be a fancier affair than just hitting the nearest chain.
“Sounds good,” she said to him. “See you there Saturday at, like, one thirty? Don’t mind me if I’m wearing scrubs.” She thought that she would probably be able to change before meeting him at the café, but she could never guess how she would be doing on time. It changed from shift to shift.
“See you then,” he replied enthusiastically. “I look forward to it.”
“Me too,” Becca said. “Bye.”
“Bye.” As soon as the call ended, she sat there on her couch, clutching her cell phone to her chest as if it had been given to her by Ashton himself and she would treasure it forever. Really, it was just the tool she used to communicate with him… Along with many other people in her day-to-day life. But right now, it was the only piece of him that she could embrace.
Things at the animal hospital went smoothly enough during the following week; nothing nearly as fun and interesting as seeing her ex at her place of work, though. Thankfully, most of the pets in Meridian were healthy and well taken care of. There were, of course, always exceptions, but Becca had a stiff-upper-lip approach to the times that weren’t so happy. She always did her best to ensure she gave the best care to her patients, and sometimes that meant saying goodbye to them…
I’m glad I didn’t have to do something like this for Ashton’s dog, she thought during one of those bleak moments as she watched some owners cry as they cuddled their cat one last time. I would have definitely lost it.
Being a veterinarian meant that she had to find a way to be strong for her patients and their owners, especially during tough times like this. Try as she might to avoid it in all cases, it couldn’t be avoided forever. By the end of her work day on Saturday, she was more than ready to get some coffee and maybe a bite to eat with Ashton. He would help take her mind off of the sad things. Then again, he had brought sadness into her life all those years ago, but she didn’t think that they had to talk about that. Particularly if this was going to be the only time they got together to catch up and reminisce. She hoped that he felt the same way.
Becca went home after work and took the time to change into some skinny jeans and a glittery teal tank top. She wanted to show off her curves without showing too much skin. She washed her face and put on some makeup as well, wanting more than anything to appear as though she had made an effort instead of just showing up all disheveled for their date. Then she called for a ride with her phone and waited the three minutes it took for a driver to arrive outside of her building.
Becca’s driver was friendly and helpful in the way that most Uber drivers are – he didn’t say much and he got her there in record time while obeying traffic laws. He also offered her a free little bottle of water, which she wasn’t about to pass up. Once they arrived at Lincoln Station, she thanked the driver and got out of the car, careful to close the door gently behind her so she wouldn’t accidentally slam it and ruin the nice rapport they’d had going. I should give him a tip later, she thought. But she wasn’t going to look at her phone while on her date.
She headed inside the café and looked around for any sign of Ashton. It didn’t appear that he was there yet and she didn’t want to pick a table for them. He might have preferences that she didn’t know about, and since he was technically an out-of-town guest, she wanted him to choose where they sat and sort of anchor this get-together as much as he wanted to.
A few moments later, after telling several members of the wait staff that she was waiting to meet someone and didn’t wish to be seated yet, Ashton appeared. Becca waved at him and he came right over, giving her a short, loose hug in greeting. He was a lot taller than she remembered, but of course he could’ve grown in the years since she’d last seen him in person. The last time she’d hugged him.
“How are you?” she asked with a smile once he pulled back from the hug and was smiling down at her. Time spent at home and not worrying about the health of his dog seemed to have lightened his mood exponentially.
“I’m doing well,” he replied. “Much better than I would be if it wasn’t for you and your hard work the other day. Skipper is going to live at least a few more happy years because of you.”
Becca blushed slightly and waved that off a bit. “Aww, it wasn’t just my doing. You brought him to the vet and made sure that he was taken care of, and I assume that you’ve been helping your parents figure out the insulin shots.”
Ashton nodded. “Yes. They’ve gotten good at it, too, which will be good when I have to head home.”
“Exactly,” she replied, trying not to let her heart sink at the thought.
One of the café hosts led them to a table near the center of the room and they sat down across from each other. Becca liked that they were going to be able to look at each other without it being weird. I still probably shouldn’t stare, though.
She took the opportunity to look over the menu first. If they wanted to be able to sit a while together and chat, then they were going to have to make sure to order enough food and drinks. “I know coffee doesn’t exactly go with pizza, but I think that’s what I’m going to get. It’s sort of a brunch.”
Ashton smirked at her a little. “I was thinking of getting a pizza, too.”
“Want to share?” she asked him.
“Sure,” he replied.
He surprised her by ordering a soda instead of a coffee. I guess he doesn’t have to get coffee just because we’re at a café, she thought. But she still thought it was odd. “Are you not a coffee drinker?” she asked him once they’d ordered and their waiter had gone away again.
“Hmm? Oh, I am but I try not to drink it at any time other than in the morning. Otherwise it keeps me up so late.”
Becca could respect that. It was much wiser than she usually was. She drank coffee at all hours of the day, and she thought that she slept fine for the most part. Then again, she did take a while to fal
l asleep and have to read in bed most of the time in order to lure herself into a sleepy state. “I should probably try to cut back. At least by the evening. I’ve made full pots of coffee at eleven o’clock at night sometimes.”
Ashton grimaced slightly, but it was mainly for comedic effect. “Yikes.”
Their drinks and pizza arrived and they both dug right in. The pizza was topped with bacon and artichoke which Becca couldn’t pass up because she’d never had artichoke on a pizza before. It was really tasty, so she was proud of her choice. The large latte was very nice too, though she couldn’t help but feel somewhat guilty about drinking it now, given the conversation they’d just had. “So, have you done anything fun while you’ve been in town?” she asked him in between bites of pizza. “Please don’t tell me that you’ve only been taking care of Skipper.”
Ashton laughed a short laugh, thinking about the things that he’d done thus far. “Well, I hung out with Kevin and Matt not that long ago. They were actually the ones who told me that you worked at the animal hospital. I’m sure I would’ve run into you there anyway, but I was expecting it because they told me. I would’ve looked for you if I hadn’t found you there.”
Becca nearly dropped her slice of pizza. She hadn’t expected him to say something like that. He’d seemed a bit surprised to see her there, but maybe it was more the fact that he was seeing her in person instead of just hearing about the chance. She smiled a little at him, glad that he said he would have tried to find her if he hadn’t happened to see her. “That’s always nice to know,” she said. “How are your friends? I still hang out a lot with Jaz, Teri, and Erin from the old school days. I guess my life hasn’t changed all that much.”
Not that she was feeling competitive or anything, but she knew that she had him beat in the ‘I’m still friends with everyone’ challenge. By moving to NYC, Ashton had left a great many people behind. He seemed to be okay with that, though. Becca didn’t doubt that he had lots of cool friends back home in the city. She wondered – even though it really didn’t matter – if he liked his New York friends more than his Meridian friends. She supposed that he didn’t have to pick between them, but when it came down to it, he was obviously closer with the friends he lived near and spent the most time with.
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