Alright, first let me apologize. Cause to say it's been a while has been an understatement. I finished my bachelors and I'm about to finish my masters in about 3 weeks. THEN I'm supposed to be starting a new job. So I can't promise that these stories will be coming out quickly but I can promise that they will come. "After the Fact" is a bit more complicated but we'll see. Nonetheless, enjoy this new chapter of Hungry for Love!
ASH: I screwed up. Call me?
Dammit.
What the hell did Ash want?
What did he possibly have to say to her?
Did she have anything to say to him?
Carmen thought back to the day he broke her heart.
**6 Months Earlier**
Carmen had pulled up to her boyfriend's restaurant with a champagne bottle in hand to surprise him before the big opening day.
She knew he was no stranger to grand openings and Stoney's was a sure to be a success but that didn't stop her from wanting to help him celebrate.
She walked up to the giant glass double doors and used her key to unlock them.
She did her best to be quiet which wasn't too difficult considering the well-oiled doors had only just been installed.
Carmen stepped in onto freshly tiled floor and took a gaze around the room; pressed white linens, contrasted with deep navy napkins wrapped around hammered gold dining ware, gorgeous white irises draped over the center of tables and stood in flawless crystal jars. Gold paint splashed against giant slabs of rugged black granite that was hung up on the walls combining nature with just a touch of glamour.
It was perfect. Exactly the aesthetic Ash described to her. She imagined a ballet of servers as they brought out edible works of art to diners and Ash back in the kitchen with his steady hands at work, focused on creating his life's passion.
She was so proud of him.
He loved his first restaurant and it would always be his baby but it had been a practice run at best, something he could walk away from if it failed and feel good that he had at least tried. But once Paco's took off, so did his confidence and he felt he could open a restaurant that really reflected who he was as a chef and after all the help he'd given Carmen in opening her first restaurant, she wanted to be there for him for his big day.
Carmen stood there a bit longer before walking towards the back of the house and straight towards the office.
The door was shut which wasn't surprising, just the hum of the refrigerator was enough to distract him from his work, so he liked complete silence when he was in his office.
What was surprising was the fact that it was locked. Ash never locked doors, he didn't believe in it. He wanted to focus but he liked to remain accessible to his staff.
Carmen heard a quiet shuffle and knew he had to be in there.
She knocked on the door and called for him.
"Ash!", she spoke. "You in there Babe? I brought you something!"
A silent moment passed before the door swung open and Ash quickly stepped out trying clumsily to shut the door behind him.
He wasn't fast enough. Carmen caught a glimpse of long blonde hair before the door and coupled with Ash's disheveled look she could put the pieces together.
"Hey Babe," Ash said smiling. "I wasn't expecting you, I was just getting in some last-minute menu changes before the opening."
Carmen didn't speak, and she showed no expression as Ash feebly tried to cover up his dirty deeds.
There was an awkward silence before he guessed she had seen someone his office.
"I was actually doing an interview too, think I might have underestimated how many servers we might need."
Carmen still said nothing, and Ash became more nervous.
"Babe. Say something."
Carmen's eyebrows furrowed together.
Ash gave up trying to hide what he'd done.
"Carmen, I'm so sorry. It was one time. It'll never happen again."
"You're damned right it won't." Carmen said finally, and she threw the bottle of champagne at his feet causing him to jump.
With that, Carmen turned on her heel and walked out of the restaurant.
Ash had tried repeatedly to apologize; he called and texted nonstop, sent flowers and gifts, even coming by her restaurant and food trucks only to be turned away by a protective staff ready to come to her defense.
Eventually he gave up.
She had heard his grand opening had gone well and critics had given the place raving reviews.
She never doubted it would do well, but it did make her feel better knowing he couldn't have properly enjoyed his first night of business as he was constantly texting and calling her throughout the evening.
Soon after, Carmen decided she need a change of scenery. Something more familiar. As much as she loved the work she'd done in L.A. it was all a bit tainted now.
So what better way than to start from scratch?
Open a restaurant that was 100% her and do it in the place that she knew inside and out.
Her own home.
Carmen looked at the message once more.
ASH: I screwed up. Call me?
Yea. You did.
Carmen deleted the message before putting her phone down and turning back over into the pillow.
She'd get another hour of sleep before it was time to head to the mall with everyone.
Nothing was going to ruin Christmas with her favorite people.
Not even Ash.
"No No!" Henry screamed from the kitchen.
Carmen walked in to find Christina and her son sitting in a highchair, covered in oatmeal as she was actively trying to feed him another spoonful.
"Henry," Christina said in a surprisingly calm voice. "If you don't eat then you are not going with us to the mall."
He responded by crossing his arms and huffing stubbornly.
"Fine," she continued, "I guess Issy is going to the candy store all by herself then."
Henry's face scrunched even worse as he debated eating oatmeal and getting sugared up later. A few seconds passed before he slammed his arms to his side and opened his mouth wide.
Christina quickly scraped up the last of the oatmeal and shoveled it in before he could change his mind.
Henry grimaced as he swallowed the mouthful.
"You'd think we were torturing him." Stephen's voice came from around the corner and Carmen realized he had been standing in the other doorway then entire time playing on his phone.
"Look who's talking." Christina responded. "You H-A-T-E oatmeal too."
"Cause it's G-R-O-S-S." He chimed back not bothering to look up from his phone.
"You're G-R-O-S-S."
"But you L-O-V-E me."
"Do I?" asked as she looked back him over her shoulder.
"You do." Stephen said as he smiled proudly. He walked up and leaned around to kiss his wife and immediately regretted it after she returned his kiss with a face full of sticky cold oatmeal.
"Ugh!" He yelled.
Christina and Henry laughed, and Carmen found she couldn't hold back either.
