Ashes to Ashes

Past is Past

"What's she doing here?"

Ashley Grayson rolled her eyes as she heard the annoying nasal voice coming from the loft's couch. 

Great! w***e number 5 is here! She thought as she picked up the mail from the corner table by the door.

"She lives here." 

Ashley ignored the two figures entwined on the couch. She has been used to Ashton Rivers' weekly parade of one night hook ups. Although, she was sorely tempted to spray both of them with Lysol at the moment. Who knows what microbes they have unleashed into the leather sofa!

She took a deep breath and proceeded to the open kitchen. She placed her bag on the counter top along with the letters and opened the fridge. She tried her best not to roll her eyes as she heard another giggle emit from the living room.

She was looking forward to a quiet evening at home, maybe a movie but, knowing skank #5 had been on the couch with her annoying roommate, she wouldn't be able to sit on that surface for a couple of days and a couple of hundred Lysol sprays after.

"Let's go to your room!" The woman clad in a skimpy outfit purred.

Ashley tried her best not to laugh as she opened up a can of Asahi beer and sipped. The beer was just what she needed after dealing with office crap. She eyed the girl and shook her head. 

Really, where does Ashton pick up these women? 

You would think that being the son of a famous business tycoon, he would have more elegant taste.

Ah, but men were men and boys were boys! She thought, thinking that at 25 years of age, Ashton should be more selective with his hook-ups. Ashley guessed she was wrong on that account.

She watched as Ashton stared at the woman beside him. She almost could not stop a snort coming from her mouth when she noticed Ashton had straightened up, his back suddenly rigid.

 Oops, sorry #5...

Ashley knew it was going to happen before the girl did. Ashton stood up and pulled the woman with him. She giggled thinking that they were headed to his room but she gasped when Ashton took her coat, placed it in her arms with her purse before showing her to the door leading out of their loft.

"What-?" 

Ashley turned back to the fridge and grabbed another beer. 

The poor woman sputtered in confusion as Ashton told him to have a safe ride home. Ashley heard the door close and she opened the can of beer, stretching her arm in time just as Ashton appeared in the kitchen.

He sighed and immediately grabbed the beer and drank as if to wash the taste of #5 from his mouth. He leaned with Ashley against the sink, not saying anything.

Ashley drank her beer, relaxing and waited for Ashton to say something. It was a routine they have perfected over years of friendship and mishaps. 

"She was boring." Ashton finally confessed, after drinking the beer. 

Ashley shrugged and grinned. "Well, you sure can pick them, Ash."

He bumped her with his elbow and Ashley straightened up to leave. She placed the can on the recycle bin and grabbed her mail and bag.

"It would be easier if we were together, Ash!" Ashton muttered, gazing at Ashley's well-defined hips and buttocks as it was shaped by her pencil skirt. He smirked and licked his lips.

Ashley didn't stop to look at him. She had always been good at ignoring and brushing aside Ashton Rivers ever since high school. Well, at least, she tried her hardest!

"Ship has sailed, Ashton. Let's not jump into shark infested waters chasing after that." She called out as she disappeared in the corner while going to her bedroom.

Ashton smiled and finished the beer. It was weird and totally dysfunctional to be living in the same apartment with the woman who was almost technically your ex-girlfriend.

But it worked for them. 

It wasn't also difficult since their parents have all but signed a contract to make sure they ended up marrying each other. 

Ashton threw the can on the right bin and headed to his bedroom, shutting the door.

Ashley showered and changed into one of Ashton's old shirt, it was big, falling down above her knee. It was uncanny to be keeping something that was part of her past but it was a very comfortable shirt!

She smiled as she ran a comb through her wet jet black hair. It was such a weird contrast to her light blue eyes. It made her look like a witch. Alabaster white skin, light blue eyes and raven black hair;  it was like an eerie combination. Yup, she could be a shoo-in for the Corpse Bride.

She checked her phone, no emergency emails so she turned it off. She always made a point to be unreachable during her time off work. 

She left her bedroom and got another Asahi from the fridge. She eyed the couch but could not bring herself to actually sit on it so, she chose the single recliner. She comforted herself with the thought that Ashton and his conquest would never fit in the smaller chair.

She pulled the Afghan blanket draped behind it and wrapped it around herself while snuggling on the chair, remote control in her other hand.

She turned on Netflix and scanned for the new episode of her chosen series. She let out a dreamy sigh. She probably should thank Ashton for sending #5 home early.

As if on cue, Ashton came out of his room clad only in his sweat pants. She watched and smiled as his toned, lean upper body looked really good. He grabbed a beer from the fridge before he sat himself on the couch.

"Snuggle with me, Ash!" He whined at her after opening the can of beer and taking a huge gulp.

"No thank you! You still have #5's virus!" She retorted, looking back to the TV.

"I just showered!" He informed her, opening his arms as if she would jump into them.

Ashley groaned but looked at him. 

"You are such a baby tonight! What is up?"

Ashton pouted at her. "I don't have someone to cuddle because I sent her away."

Ashley sighed. "Ash, really, you're too needy sometimes."

Ashton blinked at her while pouting. 

"Pleaseeeeeee... I swear, I will not j******f while thinking of you tonight!"

"You're still as gross as you were in high school, Ash."

He didn't reply but still kept his pouty face. 

Ashley sighed and unfolded herself from her seat. Ashton gave her a wonderful smile after seeing that she was wearing his shirt.

She sat on the end of the couch and opened the blanket so he could scootch over to her. Ashton slid closer to her, hauled Ashley to his side while wrapping his arms around her. Ashley snuggled under his chin, her back resting against his chest and let him hold her.

"Ah, if our Moms and Dads could see us now!" He murmured against her ear. 

Ashley shivered but automatically locked away the feelings in the Aston Vault in her head.

"They would probably book the Plaza for a wedding huh?" She murmured with a small grin. 

"This was a good idea, Ash. Living together, pretending to be with each other but actually, we're not." He grinned against her hair. 

Ashley grinned and tried to concentrate on the TV show playing in front of her. 

"Just don't fall in love with me, Ashton." She muttered, snuggling deeper into his arms.

Ashton chuckled, breathing in her scent and warmth.

 "Sure, Ash. No problem, at all."