~ALLISON~
The storage room suddenly felt much smaller as I tried to ignore the heat of being in such a confined space with Ash.
"You certainly know how to pick a private location," he teased, a mischievous grin on his lips as he pressed me against the wall.
"What are you doing?" I questioned, trying to maintain some composure.
"Isn't it obvious? We're making out," he replied with a smirk, leaving me speechless. This was not the place for such behavior.
"You're unbelievable," I scoffed, rolling my eyes and pushing him back slightly to create some distance. "You mentioned a proposition. Let's hear it."
His smile never faltered, and his dimples were impossible to ignore. "It's nothing too groundbreaking, but it could benefit us both since we seem to have a mutual need for each other's company," he said, his hand unconsciously caressing my lips.
I couldn't tear my gaze away from him, feeling the intensity of his touch. "Why are you laughing?" I managed to ask, hoping I wasn't making a fool of myself by being so entranced by him.
"It's just a thought, but how about a friends-with-benefits arrangement, Allison? We both get what we want," he suggested, his voice low and seductive.
My eyebrow arched in surprise, and I took a step back to break his hold on me. His intense green eyes bore into mine, sending shivers down my spine.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This proposal was unexpected, and I needed time to process it.
"I want to know what it is you truly desire, Ash," I stated firmly, crossing my arms as I waited for his response.
"Well, cupcake, all I want is to make passionate love to you. I want to hear you moan my name, feel your arousal, explore every inch of your body with my hands and my mouth," Ash replied confidently.
I listened too stunned to utter a word, I bit my lower lips harder at his suggestions, why was he so good at this, his words alone made me wet and desire more.
"Can't say something cupcake" he teased.
I shake my head, bringing myself back to reality, friends with benefits? I don't think am ready to go that far with Ash.
He is tempting and so is his offer, but what if Cara finds out, Justin is already suspicious of us, do I need to go down that path because am horny.
"You are overthinking Allison" Ash spoke again.
I raised my head to stare at him, "You were joking with that friends-with-benefits stuff" I asked hoping he was.
Ash frowns, his eyes cold. "What made you think am joking, am just laying the cards down on the table, all you have to do is agree to play, how hard can it be"
It is the audacity for me, how hard can it be, it is hard because, it is a dangerous game, friends with benefits with no feelings attached, can I even trust myself and just stick to it professionally?
"I should go, and so should you," I told him to unlock the door but Ash grabbed hold of my hand.
"You haven't given me an answer cupcake," he said, his grip firm.
I stared at him for a minute, trying to understand why he was so desperate. "I have nothing else to say, Ash," I responded, Ash let go of my hand, and he said nothing as I unlocked the door of the store room and stepped out.
Stepping back into the restaurant, I could feel all eyes on me, Vivian and Gabby smiled like they were expecting something exciting.
Caroline gave me a dead stare, her brow frowned as she stared at me with disgust. But I ignored her, walking past her as I headed to the counter.
"What's wrong with everyone" I murmured feeling embarrassed.
"Are you okay" Klein came behind me, making me jumpy again, i rolled my eyes, annoyed as I grabbed tightly to the napkins in my hands.
"Seriously Klein, you should stop doing that," I said, now turning to face him.
"Am sorry" he said, touching my elbow, Ash finally came out from the storage room, his eyes fixed on Klein's hand on my elbow.
I shrugged Klein's touch off, feeling uncomfortable as I stared at Ash, my hand rubbing the back of my neck as I held his gaze.
Ash said nothing, he beamed Caroline a warm smile, before heading to the exit door. Trying to understand why he smiled at her, Caroline's gaze fixated on Ash till he was out of sight.
My stomach churned, and Anger filled me, Trying to hide my emotion, I tried to focus my attention on something else, who cares who Ash Hoover smiles with?
Why was I suddenly getting jealous, come on Allison, you just refused his crazy deal to sleep with him, obviously you are braver than this fleeting feeling that is too complicated for you to comprehend.
I sighed, knowing I was trying to tell myself that I was cool with everything but I wasn't, I wanted to say yes, I wanted him to do the things he had promised to do.
"So what are you doing after closing today" Klein's words interrupted my thoughts.
"I don't know, probably head home," I answered.
"Come on, let all hang out, it will be fun" Vivian who has been eavesdropping chimed in.
Klein and I turn to face her, "I was thinking of spending time with just..." Gabby suddenly interjected cutting Klein off before he could finish.
"Let's go clubbing" Gabby added finally.
"Clubbing?" I questioned, arching a brow.
"Yeah, let's all go clubbing, it will be fun," Vivian said, the excitement in her voice.
I hesitated, but I also didn't want to return home on time, I just didn't want to bump into Ash or hear him bring up that ridiculous idea of his.
"Am in" I said
Klein stared at me stunned, he gave me a questioning look, but I just shrugged. "Come on Klein, Vivian said it will be fun," I told him.
"You know we have to be here tomorrow" Caroline the non-optimist chimed in, ruining the mood.
"You could go home Caroline, clubbing might be too much for you" Vivan teased, as we all laughed.
Caroline's eyes burned with rage as she looked at Vivian, her hand clenched in a fist, her jawline tightened.
"Fine, am in, let get ready to end today's shift and go clubbing" she trailed in.
"Isn't that Klein's call," I said, Caroline gave me a cold stare, but I ignored her non-harming dead stare, Klein was in charge, he might be too reserved but he was still in charge.
"Klein" Vivian called as we all turned to face him, waiting for his response.
"Ehm.. Sure, why not, Let go clubbing" He agreed.
We closed late, and Klein agreed to drive us there to the club in his car, we arrived, witnessing the extremely long line.
"Are you sure we might even get in tonight" Caroline finally spoke up.
"Not to be the spoiler here, I agree with Caroline on this, are you sure we might get in tonight" I asked also.
"Don't worry guys, I have my way," Gabby assured us. "Look for a spot to park Klein," he said.
Klein parked and we all got out, hoping Gabby had a good plan for getting us in. We followed behind, skipping the lines, and we got hateful stares and offensive insults from almost everyone on the line.
Vivian giggled at their reactions and I couldn't help to laugh too. We watch as Gabby hands a piece of paper to the two huge dudes blocking the entrance.
One of the guys stared at the paper, his eyes scanning each one of us before he nodded to the other guy, Gabby turned to face us, giving us a wide smile as we all allowed to step on him.
"That was so fucking cool Gabby, from today you gain my respect" Vivian teased him.
"I told you guys I had my ways" Gabby responded, I could tell he felt proud of himself.
"What did you give to them" Klein questioned.
"Is that important, we are inside, so let's party and get freaking drunk" Gabby said as he dragged Vivian by the hand pulling her into the crowded, dimmed lightroom.
The air of the club is filled with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and the scent of fragrant perfume as the crowds mingle and dance to the rhythm of the music.
"Wanna dance" I leaned closer whispering in Klein's ear.
Klein stared at me, confused and surprised but he nodded in response as I pulled him to the dance floor.
At first, he felt too shy to dance, his eyes staring back and forth at the dancing couples around us, "Hey" I called, steadying his face so that he could only stare at me.
"Just watch me okay, keep your eyes on me" I snake my arm around his neck Whispering in his ear.
He smiled, relaxing as we both danced and felt to the beat of the rhythm as the DJ took control of the decks, seamlessly transitioning between genre and tracks that resonated with the crowd's mood keeping them on their feet and moving to the beat
"Can I say something" Klein whispered in my ear.
I nodded, urging him to go on. "I like you a lot Allison," he said.
"I like you too Klein" I responded back
But he stopped dancing, staring at me, he leaned closer again and whispered in my ear once last time.
"That's not the type of like am talking about, Allison, I think am in love with you"
I paused, not moving as I stared at him confused as to what to say.
Shit.