The next morning I’m up bright and early. That’s right. 9 am. I was thinking to myself; Spencer. It would just be rude if you didn’t surprise Ashley with breakfast. So I drive to the nearest Dunkin Donuts and pick up a dozen donuts, and two coffees.

I get to Ashley’s door and knock. She’s definitely just sleeping. I turn around to wait in my apartment, and I hear the door open.

“Wow Carlin, you’re going to eat all of those by yourself?” Ashley asks standing in her doorway fully dressed and looking great. I laugh because I probably could eat all of these in one sitting.

“Well I was hoping you’d share them with me, but it looks like you’re on your way out” I say

“No, no, come in, I just got back actually” she says and motions for me to go inside and when I enter her apartment my mouth drops open.

The place is the same size as mine but looks like something out of Modern Homes Magazine… if there is such a thing.

I place the food on her table, and compliment her on the apartment. She goes on to tell me that she hired someone through a friend to decorate it.

“Chocolate, my favorite. Thanks Spence”

“My pleasure, it’s the least I could do after you saved me from my hungry man meal last night” I say and she laughs. “So where were you coming from…if you don’t mind me asking”

“I had to pick up some work from the office.” she rolled her eyes “the work never ends”

“So you’re busy today?” I ask while before sipping my coffee

“Why? Have something in mind?” she counters

“Well.. I haven’t been to the beach yet”

She grins and gives me a look, and from that moment I know I’m in for trouble.

After finishing breakfast and changing into my bathing suit and shorts, Ashley and I jumped in her car and headed for the beach.

“Ashley, we past the entrance” I tell her and she smiles. “Where are we going” she smiles wider.

“You’ll see” she teases.

Twenty minutes later, I know where we are. The part of the beach we used to go to when we were in high school. Where I told her I liked girls, where we had a lot of memorable times. I think my quietness is worrying her because she looks nervous.

“Spencer are you okay? Is this okay?” she asks concerned

“Yes yes this is fine, its just been so long” I say amazed. It somehow looks exactly the same.

“I come here sometimes, well pretty often, to write and think” she says as we walk down towards the water.

“What do you think about?”

Just then it happens. She slips her hand into mine, and looks me in the eyes. “Stuff” she says and smiles and we just continue walking. We find a spot and lay out our blanket. The rest of the afternoon was spent chatting about work and future plans.

Ashley said she was planning on spending a month or so in Italy, her record label was sending her to oversee the new rising star as she performs in Europe.

“When do you leave?” I ask, not hiding my disappointment. I just got her back. Well not back-back. But I was seeing her for the first time in seven years.

“Friday” she says and waits for my reaction. FRIDAY!

“You’re leaving in four days?” I sit up.

“Yeah.” she says and sits up so we’re eye to eye. “I need you to do something for me”

“What’s that” I said, but really I was thinking I’d do anything she asked.

“Promise me, that when I get back you’ll be here. I don’t want to come back and you’re gone. I want to come back home in a month and see you running with Brady, and eating microwavable meals, I just want to see you.”

I couldn’t help it. I was smiling ear to ear. I laid back down and so did Ashley. I grabbed her hand.

“I’ll be here” I reassured her

“Good, or else” she threatened.