Ashley
"This pie is delicious, Ashley. " Mason commented with bits of pecan pie stuck to the sides of his lips. I was enchanted completely as I sat opposite him, placing my hand under my chin and observing him with quiet sighs.
"I know, right." I replied, tucking strands of my blonde hair behind my ear. I shot a glare at Emily and Elena who kept gawking and laughing and they were few tables away from us. Elena got the hint and focused on discussing about babies and the stress with her pregnancy with Emily.
Elena had grown to like Emily ever since I had began to work at Mrs Ping's Bakery. It began from small compliments of Emily's hair to her earrings. That was the way Elena was. She loved relating with people.
I loved the fact that Mason had a manly, peppered stubble and the smell of his perfume drove me senseless.
"So where do you work?" I asked with a carefree smile. I had decided against sending him a letter or a text message asking him how he was faring over the past few months. I didn't want to look desperate and clingy neither did I want to act like I didn't know him either.
Sounds confusing, doesn't it?
I had mastered the act of not being too clingy towards men ever since my ex-boyfriend, Richard broke up with me just because I suffocated him.
That was exactly the term he used. Suffocating. He went further to explain how annoying it was for him to see me in his office with a well packed flask filled with broth without telling him beforehand.
Richard worked as a doctor in a small clinic and since his work often took a lot of time, I decided to bring him food to his workplace, every afternoon during my recess. But I wasn't ready one afternoon when I popped into his office without announcing and found his hands squeezing the ass of the receptionist and his lips buried deep into her opened shirt. Then Richard had the guts to say that I was suffocating. It took me months to recover from what he did to me but that didn't stop my childhood crush on Mason either.
"I work as a manager in Lewis Bank. " He promptly responded.
"Nice." I replied, unsure of what next to say but I continued, "I went to the ball. "
"The ball at the castle?" Mason asked, throwing his head towards.
"Yes." I was glad Mason was interested in this, "I-I danced with a Prince."
Ripples of laughter shot out of Mason's lips and I wondered why.
"You were invited and you danced with a Prince, classic joke! " Mason commented with a thumbs up.
I sighed, "I'm not kidding, Mason. I danced with him and it was great-"
"He probably just wanted you in his bed or was lying to you. " Mason scoffed.
I felt a lump in my throat, more like a big ball stopping me from speaking. Why would Mason think like that?
"It was just-"
"Just what?" I heard him ask.
"Nothing," I gave up finally, noticing he was uninterested so I decided to leave out the part that he said he was the Prince of Midon.
Dropping the mug on the ceramic plate, Mason said, "Oh, But what was his name?"
"I honestly do not remember." I laughed softly, "He never told me."
"Okay. " He joined me in chuckling, "So how was the dance with the Prince?"
"It was dazzling." I raised up a brow.
"You know he'd never want a girl like you. " Mason said while wiping his lips with a tissue paper.
"I know and that was why I left as soon I could." My fingers drummed against the table and I let out another sigh.
"I wonder why royals still exist. All they do is trample upon the poor and feed on the taxes we pay. It's upsetting. " Mason banged his fist against the table.
"Don't talk that way." I countered, "They do help, for an example, Lady Eugene. She came to the bakery once to buy fresh bread for the kids who sleep on the street."
"She does that to protect her husband's image. Everyone knows that, Ashley. One of my coworkers told me that Prince Eli wanted to pay for a night with his sister because he found her appetizing. That man disgusts me. "
I silenced him by raising a finger to my lips.
"You cannot speak this way in public, Mason. Speaking bad about a royal is forbidden and you know that. "
"It's the truth, Ashley." He looked at on me, "Why should we all pretend that he is perfect when he's not. It's as if we are all been blackmailed into silence. "
"We don't have to worry about them, Mason. We live our lives and they do too." I said with finality.
I watched him as he stared at his watch for a moment before tapping desperately on the table.
"I have a meeting to attend to catch up with...this afternoon. " he started, "-it was so nice to spend time with you over a coffee. "
"It's completely fine. " I wish I didn't blush so fast, that I had some ability to keep my emotions to myself. In an instant my cheeks are rosy and everyone sees my feelings as if I wrote them in little notes and handed them out.
"I hope we can do this again. " Mason responded, "Maybe somewhere more quiet?"
Was he asking me out or was he freaking implying it?
I felt goosebumps rise around my neck and arms.
"That would be delightful." My lips curved into a toothless grin.
I watched him pick up his coat and I kept grinning. Before he walked out of the door, he threw a quick smile and a wave and I was dazzled once more.
"Snap out of it, Ashely. " Elena was the first to speak up as she laughed and cradled her belly.
"He is so amazing. " I walked over to Elena and Emily with my hands buried in my apron.
"Then why isn't he asking you to a date or on a tour to somewhere fancy?" Elena spoke again with her brow raised up.
"Well, he implied that he would like to hang out sometime and it's a slow process, Elena. You wouldn't understand that. You're married. " I scoffed.
"I hope you're not suffering from unrequited love." Emily commented, her eyes sighting a customer entering the bakery.
"No, I'm not. " I shook my head and when I turned to look at Elena's death glare, I spoke, "Honestly, Elena. I hope he feels something for me. Maybe he's just the shy type."
"Or maybe he doesn't even acknowledge you or sees you in that way. " Elena sighed, "You have to stop crushing on him unless he gives you a signal."
"What signal? " I rolled my eyes.
"Maybe if he flirts with you or maybe if he kisses you." Elena shrugged.
"But-"
"No buts, Ashley. Don't allow him control you." Elena hammered.
"He is not controlling me. " I rebuffed.
"He is. He has been messing with your head since we were in school." Elena sighed again.
"No, he's not. " I shook my head violently.
"Ashley-"
"I have to work. " I whispered, "A customer's in already. Send my regards to Joe." I winked before walking towards the counter.. I felt Elena's gaze follow me but I was unbothered.
I liked Mason. I did a lot and I would decide whether to stop crushing on him or grow a backbone and tell him to his face.