I rinsed my bowl when I was done and put it in the dishwasher before gathering my items in my clutter of a purse. Grabbing my house keys on the way out, I was ready to start the day. Ashley and I walked out of our rooms simultaneously and turned to lock our doors at the same time. Not once did we look at each other, but we were perfectly in sync. I turned on my heel and called out to her, “Coffee?” I asked and she responded with a simple “Of course.” 

We both walked out of our building and onto the sidewalk, keeping in step with each other. She grabbed my hand automatically, as she did every morning as we walked to the coffee shop a block down the street. We never spoke on the way there, but when we got our first sip of coffee, we were your regular chatter boxes.

We ordered our usual coffee and sat at our regular table next to the window. Right on cue, she took her first sip and began to speak to me. “Oh I almost forgot to tell you. I met this really gorgeous girl last night. She came into work and was totally hitting on me.” She said all too cocky.

I laughed slightly. “Don’t you have Aiden?” I asked her.

“Yeah and…” She said with that gorgeous smile of hers. I would be lying if I said her smile didn’t melt me every time I saw it.

“Ash, just because you’re bisexual or whatever doesn’t mean you can date two people.”

She laughed and raised her cup to where it was barely touching her lips. “Who said anything about dating?” she said suggestively before taking a sip, causing me to erupt in laughter.

I looked at my phone for the time. “Oh, I need to get to work.” I stood up and grabbed my cup and bag. I kissed her on the cheek as I did every morning. “We’re still meeting up at Piedmont Park later right?” She nodded her head with a smile. I said goodbye and left.

I walked swiftly to the corner of Piedmont Park. I got there a few minutes before the gates were open, but I couldn’t be late to work. They always closed the gates at night during the winter and I hated it. Walking across the park was the quickest way for me to get to the store I worked at. I saw a security guard walking towards me. As he got closer and closer I could see his face clearly and I smiled. “Aiden!” I shouted. I hadn’t seen him around the apartment in a few weeks. I had assumed I had just missed him.