Her place

Quickly finishing up the coffee and dessert, Ethan calls for the bill, taking the initiative to pay it just in case a sudden bout of stinginess spoils the mood.

The two leave the diner quickly, backtracking the way they came towards Ashley’s apartment.

“My sister isn’t due home for a while,” Ashley checks the time, “But you’ve got to clear out before she’s home.”

“We could just go to my place…” Ethan offers.

Frowning, Ashley gives him a look. “No.”

Rejected, Ethan and Ashley reach where they originally met up, only this time Ethan follows her into the door. After climbing a flight of stairs, Ashley pulls out a set of keys, opening up a second door at the top of the landing. “Don’t let the cats out.” She warns, unlocking and opening the door.

Stepping inside, Ethan takes a look around. At first, Ethan thinks the space large, until he notes the main room of the apartment serves as both a kitchen and living area. It’s furnished simply, a couch, dining room table, and some sad looking house plants, feeling sort of plain. The energy of the room doesn’t quite fit with either Ashley or Charlie, the whole place reeking of compromise. Looking around a little closer, Ethan sees one cat already, a heavyset tabby, but he knows there are two more around.

“That's Bruno, he's kinda iffy around strangers. Other two are hiding. Bathroom over there,” Charlie points to a door near where they entered. “Charlie on the right, I’m on the left. Stay out of Charlie’s room.”

Ethan looks over to the far side of the central area, seeing two more doors. The door on the right is closed, but the left is open.

“Make yourself comfortable.” Ashley moves towards the door ajar door, “Give me a minute to, erm, tidy.” She disappears into the room, closing the door behind her.

Sitting on the couch, Ethan takes a second to consider what she might be doing in there. She didn't expect to bring him home, so she very well could be cleaning up, or…

He lets his imagination fill in the blanks, wondering if she’s going to exit the room shortly wearing something to set the mood. The sound of a vacuum cleaner turning on makes that less than likely. She really is just cleaning up.

Eyes wandering, mostly looking for the other two cats, they eventually fall on the forbidden door to Charlie’s room.