Page 3 of Echoes of Us
Her breath hitched just slightly.He always managed to undo her, even in moments like these.
Later, as they sat together at the small kitchen table, Cole reached across the space between them to swipe a stray dab of syrup from the corner of her mouth.The touch was brief, almost absent-minded, but it sent an ache through her all the same.
“Do you ever think about the past?”she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop herself.
His fork paused mid-air, and for a moment, she wondered if she’d pushed too far.Then his features softened, his hand setting the fork down with quiet deliberation.“Not really,” he said finally.“I have everything I need right here.”
Ashley smiled, but her gaze lingered on his face, studying the way his eyes seemed to flicker–just for a moment–before he looked down at his plate.
* * *
The bellabove the door jingled as Ashley pushed it open, the warmth of the little shop wrapping around her like a hug.She stepped aside to let Sarah in behind her.Sarah’s messy strawberry-blonde hair was tucked loosely into a ponytail, but a few wayward strands framed her freckled face, catching the soft glow of the overhead lights.
“I can’t believe this place still exists,” Sarah said, her deep green eyes scanning the room as she unwound her scarf.She leaned against the counter with the casual grace that came from her height, her long frame somehow looking effortlessly poised despite her slightly disheveled appearance.
“Same overpriced scoops,” Ashley added, though her lips curved into a small smile.
“Don’t act like you’re not excited,” Sarah teased.“You dragged me across town for this.”
Ashley rolled her eyes, but the faint blush in her cheeks betrayed her.“Blame the baby,” she said lightly, resting a hand on her small but growing bump.“Apparently, strawberry ice cream is non-negotiable.”
Sarah laughed, her gaze flicking to Ashley’s belly.“Right, the baby.Sure.No chance this is just you rediscovering your childhood obsession?”
Ashley smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.“Fine, it’s both.Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” Sarah said with a grin, following Ashley toward the counter.
The sweet, sugary smell of waffle cones hung heavy in the air, and Ashley found herself breathing it in, her cravings kicking in harder than before.Not that she needed the extra push–she’d been coming to this shop since she was a kid, and her order had never changed.
Sarah nudged her playfully as they waited.“I still can’t believe you dragged me out here.This place is practically in another zip code.”
“Worth it,” Ashley replied, resting a hand on the curve of her stomach.
When their orders were ready, they carried their cones to a booth by the window.Ashley slid into her seat, smoothing her dress over her thighs.It wasn’t tight yet–her bump wasn’t quite there–but it clung in ways that reminded her how much her body was changing.
Sarah tilted her head, eyeing her.“How are you pulling this off?I swear, you look like a pregnancy ad.If I were pregnant, I’d look like I was smuggling a soccer ball under my shirt.”
“Stop,” Ashley said, laughing.“I feel more like a breadstick with a slight curve.”She took a bite of her ice cream, savoring the cool sweetness.“I’ll take the compliment, though.Who knows how much longer I’ll be able to button my jeans.”
“Breadstick?”Sarah reached for her cup, her long fingers wrapping around it with an elegance Ashley had always envied.Even with her slightly wrinkled sweater and fraying scarf, Sarah exuded an effortless charm that made her look like she’d stepped out of a magazine–albeit one that specialized in chaos.“Maybe if that breadstick had an ass.”
Ashley rolled her eyes.“You’re impossible.I needed this, though.”
Sarah nodded, softening.“Yeah.Me too.”
For a moment, they sat in companionable silence, the hum of the shop filling the space between them.
“So,” Sarah began, leaning back in her seat.“How’s Wonder Husband?Still making the rest of us look bad?”
Ashley smiled faintly, brushing a thumb across the condensation on her cup.“He’s good.Busy.There’s a new semester coming up, so he’s been buried in lecture notes and grading.But he’s still… Cole.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow.“You’re deflecting.”
“I’m not,” Ashley protested, though her tone lacked conviction.
“You are,” Sarah said firmly, pointing her spoon at her.“I’ve known you for twenty years, Ash.Spill.”
Ashley hesitated, her fingers tightening around the edge of her napkin.“It’s about the baby’s name.”
