Chapter Seven

It has been two months since I moved in with Lily, into our newplace. It's a great apartment. With two bedrooms and a spacious lounge, it's big enough for both of us plus more. The floor plan is open, so the kitchen is adjacent to the lounge room, which is something I've always loved about apartments. It even has an amazing view as it's on the 12th floor. I don't know how Lily managed to get us an apartment on the 12th floor of a building with our income, but we got it, and I'm loving her for it. I honestly couldn't have asked for a better roommate, let alone a better home. I mean, I thought it would be tough living with Lily since she likes to bring home guys and whatnot, but I've noticed that she doesn't do that as often as she used to. I feel like I kind of play a role in that because I don't feel comfortable with strange men in the house, but either way, I'm glad there's mutual respect.

Since we moved in a couple months ago, it's been going well. I've barely heard from Tony, but he's made sure that he keeps in contact. At first, he contacted me every day for a whole week, but I told him he needed to back off or I'd block his number. I know that that's useless against him, because he'll just easily get another number and try again, but he listened, and so we only talk once a week now, well, for now that is. I know he wants to talk more. I'm starting to feel like he feels mad at himself because he left me as a child, and that he feels as if he needs to make up for that, and I get it, but I just don't want him being too clingy.

I'm minding my own business at work when suddenly, Bradley pops up out of nowhere, situating himself in front of me on a chair, grabbing the salt and pepper shakers to play with. "Okay, so like, do you actually even do anything here? Or do you just stand there looking pretty for all the customers to glare at?" He asks with a straight expression.

"Well, I mean, there's not much to do except making coffee for the customers and cleaning the tables," I reply with a roll of my eyes, grabbing a cloth and start to wipe down the counter.

Ever since I got back from New York, I started looking for a job. I didn't want to sit at home doing nothing, and as I expected, I landed this job as a waiter in a cute little café not far from my new home. However, with the job came Bradley. He works for the mechanic that's just across the street from the café. I wasn't too keen on him in the first place as he seemed a bit on the weird side and I just didn't want any of that, but he grew on me. Eventually. He even grew on Lily which is a shocker, considering all guys she meets, she usually takes straight to bed, but she hasn't touched Bradley yet. Yet. Whether it was his attitude or good looks that repulsed her, we'll never know.

"Ah, yes. The maid's job," he says with a chuckle, but winces as I hit him over the head with the cloth.

"I'm not a maid. I make coffees and serve cookies as well," I roll my eyes again, going back to wiping down the counter.

"And yet you could be living the dream life. Oh what women do to feel independent," he shakes his head with a chuckle. You see, apart from Lily, Bradley is the only one who knows who my father is. I mean, I sure as hell am NOT going to go scream it at the top of my lungs on California's tallest building. That's just not me, and besides, with Tony comes paparazzi, and I'd rather avoid that.

"Dude, if you don't shut it, I'll get Macy to throw you out and never allow you back in," I sigh, walking over to the sink and rinsing the cloth before hanging it up to dry.

"Not my fault," he says innocently.

Bradley and I haven't been friends for that long, maybe a few weeks or so, but our friendship seems like it's been there all along. I don't know how he did it, but he warmed to me quickly, even though I would've rather run in the opposite direction.

It started on my second week of work, when I left for home and he came up to me.

"Hey, hi, your name is Ashlee, right?" A tall, dark haired guy asks as he approaches me as I exit the café, having just finished my shift for the day.

Uh, wait, what? Why does he want to know who I am? And what kind of a guy just approaches a random girl on the streets?

With a frown, I keep my distance from him, "Who's asking?"

"Name's Bradley. I work at the mechanic across the street," he replies with a smile, holding out his hand to shake.

"Do I know you?" I raise an eyebrow, but shake his hand, not wanting to seem completely rude. Even though a tiny voice in my head is telling me to run. Either that or Tony must've sent him to keep an eye on me. I mean, that would explain how he knows my name, wouldn't it?

"No, you don't. Sorry," he chuckles, flashing a breathtakingly white smile. Wow. I don't think I've ever seen such a pristine set of teeth on a guy before who wasn't starring in the latest Hollywood blockbuster. "It's just that I've seen you around the café. You've even served me once." Okay, Tony must be behind this.

"Oh, right, yeah um, I don't remember most of the people I serve, sorry," I say with a shrug, but not really meaning it.

"Yeah, I gathered that. I'm sorry… it's just…" he goes quiet, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Just what..?" I press, wanting to know what this guys deal is.

"I… er… wanted to see if maybe you'd like to… um… go out on a date with me," he finishes, trying to hold my gaze.

I couldn't hold it in. The laugh just escaped from my lips. I don't even know the guy! Was he seriously asking me out on a date?

"Dude, no way! I've never even seen you before and having been served once doesn't count. No way!" I say to him, trying to take control of my laughter, quietening down a little bit. Though I could tell by the look on his face that I have most likely just hurt his feelings. "Look, I'm not currently looking for a boyfriend, but I guess it won't hurt if we go someplace to eat or something."

His smile returns to his face as his says, "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Okay, good. We'll see how things go from there," I smile back at him, wondering how I can subtly ask this guy if he's working for Tony or not.

"Hey, Earth to Ashlee!" A voice pulls me from my daydreaming and I nearly knock a cup off the counter.

"Huh, what?" I look up, pushing the cup back to where it was. "Sorry, I was just thinking," I sigh softly then lean against the counter, looking around the customers that are going about their daily lives.

"I can tell. Everything okay?" He asks with a raised eyebrow and I nod my head, not really wanting to talk about what was really on my mind, and that would be Tony.

"Table three, Ash," my colleague, Josie, walks up to me with a tray of drinks, handing it over.

"Got it," I nod my head again, taking the tray and walk out from behind the counter, not looking at Bradley as he watches at me with concern. I should be happy. I've got a roof over my head, I've got a job and I've got money, but yet something feels like it's still missing.

"Cappuccino and latte macchiato," I say as I approach table three with a smile, setting the drinks down on the table.

"Thanks, Ash," Sasha, one of our regulars says as I nod my head and make my way back to the counter. Sasha was here nearly every day. She'll most likely pop in at around lunch time with one of her colleagues, always ordering the same drink for herself and whatever her colleague would want that day.

"Okay, something is wrong. What is it"? Bradley asks as I take up my spot behind the counter again.

"Nothing's wrong. I'm just tired and ready to go home," I smile at him, trying to put on my best everything's-okay-face.

"Hmm, alright, well, I gotta get back to work. I'll see you after my shift," he smiles and reaches over to ruffle my head before getting up.

"Okay, see you tonight," I sigh softly, watching as he gives me one last, thoughtful look before turning and making his way out of the shop.

"Honestly, I don't see how you can be 'just friends' with him. He really is something," Josie says as she sidles up beside me with a grin on her face, watching Bradley walk out the door.

"Josie, we're just friends," I say with a laugh, nudging her gently. "There's nothing more to it."

"Of cooourse there isn't," she laughs, hitting me with her cloth. "He's practically perfect for you, Ash. Twenty-five, good-looking, financially stable- "

"Wait, how do you know he's financially stable?" I look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh, he comes in sometimes when you're not working, and we talk," Josie smirks at me, winking.

"Okay, don't you have work to do?" I frown, pushing her towards the till with the awaiting customer. "I'm going to take the trash out," I say as I walk over to the bins, glad for some distraction.

I've never thought of Bradley any more than just a friend. That's all he was to me anyway, well, maybe even a brother sometimes. I didn't want more from Bradley. Besides, I feel that sometimes he might just be a little too much for me.

A few hours later, Bradley meets me outside the café with his truck idling in the parking lot, "hey Sunshine, lets go."

"I am not your sunshine," I roll my eyes, climbing into the passenger side of the truck and throwing my handbag onto the floor of the truck.

"Oh I dunno about that. I think you are," he chuckles before reversing out of the parking lot. "You're a ray of sunshine!"

"Okay, stop, or I'm jumping out of this truck," I laugh, putting on my sunglasses and looking out the window and he puts the truck into gear and drives off down the road.