Page 36 of Impulsive Saint
“Why?”
“Why, what?”
“Why the sudden change? You were dead set on making me so miserable I begged you to take me back home to the safety and comfort of my luxurious life, remember? Now I’m just supposed to believe if I write out a list that you’ll help me accomplish all my dreams?”
“Ashtyn…” He started but their waitress returned in that moment, brandishing plates of food.
“Okay, folks. We have the Sargent Pepper Platter for you.” The waitress easily slid the big plate of bacon, sausage, hashbrowns and an omelet complete with the namesake peppers in front of Tyler and then turned to Ashtyn with a look of knowing pity and put down her order as well. “And here’s your toast with jelly, hon. I’ll get you a refill on that coffee and a glass of water while I’m at it.”
“Thank you.” Ashtyn gave a grateful, if shy smile and the waitress patted her shoulder as if she knew what a hangover looked like.
“And that drink I ordered?” Tyler prompted before she could walk away.
“You were serious about that?” The waitress raised an eyebrow and looked between them.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She harrumphed but nodded, “Okay, I’ll get that too and be right back. Y’all need anything else right now?”
“No, thank you.” Ashtyn offered quickly and once the waitress was out of earshot she hissed at Tyler, “I’m not drinking that thing you ordered. It sounds godawful.”
“It is.” He simply smirked as he unrolled the napkin around his silverware.
“You admit it but still expect me to drink it.”
“I do, because it might be godawful but trust me, it’s better than spending a day on the back of a motorcycle with a hangover like yours.”
“Trust me, he says.” she muttered as she began to open the little jelly packets and put them on her plain slices of toast. “Like either of those choices is a good one.”
“I’m not the one that decided to get drunk knowing we’d be on the road all day.” He shrugged and lifted a piece of sausage to his mouth, pausing before he took a bite. “You made your choice and now these are the consequences. I’d suggest you choose your next bucket list item more carefully.”
She stuck her tongue out at him like a disgruntled five-year-old and he chuckled as he ate his meal. He let her chew on her bland toast and drink her coffee and they ate in relative silence for a long time. The waitress returned with the special drink, putting it in front of him and giving Ashtyn another pat on the arm as she refilled her coffee cup and put a large glass of water in front of her as well. Once she was gone, he pushed the drink towards Ashtyn who steadfastly refused to even look at the glass.
Finally, as he was finishing his food, he decided he had to break their stalemate. He had a feeling as an only child that Ashtyn could go all day without talking if she wanted to. He couldn’t though. It would eat at him every minute longer the silence went on so he leaned back and looked at her expectantly.
“So, why Vegas?”
“Hmm?” She finally glanced up from her plate.
“Why is Vegas on your bucket list? Why not Miami or New York City or Seattle for that matter?”
Ashtyn delicately wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin, “I’ve just always wanted to go.”
“That’s it?” he asked skeptically.
“Pretty much.” She shrugged. “A big group of my friends went on spring break one year when we were in college. They wanted me to go with them but I couldn’t.”
“Couldn’t?”
“I was dating Aaron and he didn’t want me to go. He was spending that semester interning at the Capitol and he asked me to come see him instead. There were some big political dinners and he needed me there, so…”
When she trailed off, Tyler frowned, “So you spent your spring break playing political girlfriend Barbie instead of enjoying yourself with your friends.”
Ashtyn winced but nodded, “Yeah, I guess. Something like that.”
“That sucks.” He offered her a smile when she looked back up at him again. “Is everything on your list like that?”
“What do you mean?”
