"I, uh, drank."

"Well, I guess you already know how the thing went." I rubbed my eyes with my palms before running my fingers through my thick hair.

"Yeah, I came over afterward and I couldn't find you and you weren't answering, so I called your mom, and well... She told me." Ashley sat down on the bar stool and leaned over the countertop. Fidgeting with the salt and pepper shakers.

"Ugh, she knows?" I groaned.

"Yeah, apparently they called her." Ashley mumbled wincing in anticipation of my reaction, but I didn't yell or get frustrated. Mom had always considered me a failure. This is no different.

"Well um, afterward I was pretty angry, so I went to a bar and got drunk." I shrugged hoping the lie would work.

"You drank for a whole day?" Ashley looked at me in disbelief.

I scratched my head, "Yeah, I mean I guess." Ashley clearly didn't believe me, but didn't push any further.

She stared at me and then spun the stool around and hopped off. "Ooook. I gotta run a couple errands for the boss lady, but then I'll be back later tonight." She slipped on some sneakers and threw her hair up into a bun. The messy knot on the back of her head seemed to compliment the curls perfectly and only made her hotter. "Are you gonna be okay here for a few hours?"

"Um yeah," I said. "I'll probably just tidy up and hang out for a bit," I said, cleaning up my breakfast. She nodded and walked to the door. "And hey, I was just a little mad about the dissertation. I made some impulse decisions. But I have a clearer head now." I tried to put her at ease. "I'm okay. Seriously."

"Okay." She said looking down. I couldn't tell if she was trying to hide her face or if it was something else, but she collected herself and looked at me. "No booze while I'm gone, promise?"

"Yup. No booze. Promise." I called back. No booze in the first place, I thought. We took a last look at each other that I wished had lasted longer. Then she turned and left. Leaving me alone.