"Ash, you okay?" Mira asked, squinting at him as she wiped down the counter. Her brows furrowed slightly, lips pursing as her eyes lingered on the dark circles under his eyes.
"You don't look like a living person right now. Have you been sleeping at all?"
Ash flashed his usual goofy grin, the kind that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just been having these headaches lately. Trouble sleeping, that's all. Nothing major."
Mira gave him one of those long, silent looks the kind that said I don't buy it, but whatever. She exhaled through her nose, then went back to her job.
A little while later, while Ash was trimming a client's hair, Mira came up beside him, arms folded and tone casual.
"Hey, so… my cousin works at this luxury spa. Like, one of those fancy ones for rich folks massages, facials, all that kind of stuff. Anyway, she said she might be able to get me a spot there. And if you're still strapped for cash, I can give you my spot. I heard the tips are crazy good…"
Ash's hands paused mid-snip. His eyes flicked up from the scissors, widening a little."You don't have to do that. Really. I know you've been saving up to move out, so you should keep that money for yourself…"
Mira shrugged, leaning one hip against the chair, resting the broom against her shoulder."Eh, it's fine. I'm still living with my folks, remember? I pay 'rent,' but it's barely nothing of what they'd actually charge out there. They're basically letting me slide."
She waved it off with a flick of her hand. "I also eat at home, so... I'm not exactly in a tight spot like you are."
Before Ash could even open his mouth to protest, she started walking away, ponytail swaying."Too late anyway," she called over her shoulder. "I already gave her your number. She's gonna text you. Go check it out for yourself it's supposed to be super fancy. Like, top-of-the-line products, matching uniforms. Oh! And apparently, when those rich clients open one of those luxury creams and don't finish it, they can't reuse it on anyone else hygiene rules and all that. So you can take the leftovers home. Free skincare, baby. Total win-win just bring me some and we will be even."
Ash pressed his lips together, the grin fading. He felt Gratitude and guilt tangled in his chest like a knot. He hated owing people favors especially good people like Mira.
He'd sold everything the TV, the rug, the thrifted decor, even the little cactus on the windowsill. The apartment was a memory now. Everything he owned fit into a single backpack.
That was his life now.
It wasn't new, though. At fifteen, he'd already learned what homelessness felt like. So this… this wasn't unfamiliar. Just another round in a game he already knew how to play.
Mira was mopping the floor when his phone buzzed in his pocket.
A text. Unknown number.
But the message gave it away definitely Mira's cousin.
[Hi! This is Cami. Mira told me about you! Come by The Azure Haven Spa tomorrow at 9 a.m. We'll talk.]
Ash's heart practically filled with mixed emotions and rushed to Mira, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
"Thank you, Mira! You're an actual angel! Like, sent-from-heaven kind of angel!" he said, half-laughing, half-sobbing into her shoulder.
Mira squealed, squirming in his grip. "You're crushing me!"
But Ash didn't let go, He buried his face into the crook of her neck, rubbing his head side to side like an overexcited puppy.
She froze. "Wait... hold on. Did you...did you wiping your nose on my neck right now?"
Ash snorted, pulling back slightly. "No? I'm just expressing gratitude..."
"Express it in a less disgusting way, thank you very much!"
He laughed, cheeks flushed red, and for the first time in weeks, the smile on his face actually felt real.
-----------
Ashton met Mira's cousin the next day and she was exactly as described. A little too cheerful, but nice.
Twenty, blonde, blue-eyed, perfect posture, all sunshine and pep. The kind of person who looked like she'd been born holding pom-poms.
She showed him around the spa, explaining every little thing where the towels went, how to greet clients, when to speak and when to shut up. She never stopped smiling.
And somehow, Ashton couldn't even be annoyed. It was… refreshing.
After a week, he started getting the hang of it. The job wouldn't fix everything, but it was a solid start. Four months of saving, and maybe he could afford a small apartment again. A year or two, maybe community college. For once, life had a direction.
The customers were mostly polite. Mostly.
The spa wasn't like Sam's barbershop there was no warmth, no jokes, too much rules. The pay was better, yes, also some of the clients treated the staff like slaves barking orders, complaining about the smallest things, snapping their fingers for towels.
Not that Ashton cared. They could scream, curse, or call him a slave as long as he get paid, they could yell all they wanted.
Every once in a blue moon, though, someone came in who was really respectful, who smiled, said thank you, tipped well. Those days made the job worth it.
But today… wasn't one of those days.
Today, it was one of those groups three rich women, they were disrespectful and turned the spa into their personal gossip arena.
They talked for hours, husbands cheating, mistresses found out, secret kids, scandals all while their skin was exfoliated and their nails dried.
And they didn't whisper. Oh no. They spoke like the staff didn't even exist, as if the people washing their hair were just part of the furniture.
Ashton was halfway through rinsing one woman's hair when the door opened and suddenly, silence took over the room.
He looked up and froze.
The man who stepped inside wasn't tall, maybe five-five just an inch shorter than Ashton. But that didn't matter. Height didn't matter when someone looked like that.
Ashton didn't need to be straight to appreciate beauty of woman's, and this guy? He was the definition of beauty. Not in that sharp, masculine way he was more feminine then all of the woman's in the spa more like ethereal, soft, almost too pretty for this world.
Even though that guy wasn't his type Ashton couldn't move his eyes from him.
How a men could be this pretty?
His hair was a deep, natural red. And his eyes not just green. They were peridot, that kind of golden-tinted green gem that looked alive, like it caught light and held it hostage.
His skin looked creamy, almost luminous, and faint freckles brushed across his cheeks like scattered sugar soft, imperfect.
He showed up in blue jeans, a deep green hoodie, and a camel coat worn open over it. The clothes were clean, well-cut, and clearly high quality. Simple pieces, sharp colors, the kind of casual that felt expensive.
He smiled politely at the receptionist, voice low and smooth, and disappeared into the backroom for a massage.
The moment the door shut, the silence shattered.
The three women leaned in like predators who'd just scented blood."Isn't that Rose O'Callahan? That gold digger?" one hissed.
"Oh my God, yes," the second whispered back. "Some people have no shame. Coming here like that showing his face in public?"
"Please," the third scoffed. "He sells his body for a living. What did you expect? Shame isn't exactly in the job description."
The first woman snorted. "He's with a married man right now his sugar daddy's got a wife at home, and he doesn't even care."
"Poor woman," another hummed. "She probably doesn't even know. Typical lowlife. All he's got going for him is that pretty face."
All three laughed, their voices ugle and dripping with venom echoing off the tiled walls.
Ashton kept rinsing, He didn't know who Rose O'Callahan was, but judging by how fast they turned vicious, the guy had to be someone really famous.
The women never stopped talking. They'd moved on from Rose and were now discussing the latest divorce in their little social circle some rich guy who was apparently cheating on his wife with their Pilates instructor.
Hours passed. More gossip. More noise.
And then Rose came back out.
The three gossiping women noticed him immediately. Their whispers stopped, replaced by those smug, knowing smiles .But Rose didn't seems to care. He simply handed his card to the receptionist, voice smooth as ever.
"I'll pay for all the ladies here," he said. "Also bring them coffee or tea from the cafe next door on me."
He turned, smiling kindly at the three women.
"I bet your throats must be so dry from talking this much. Have something to drink… and please, keep talking."
That smile soft, polite, sweet.
Then he walked out, unbothered by them.
A beat of silence followed and then one of the spa girls near Ashton snorted.
Before she could laugh, Cami elbowed her sharply in the ribs.
The three women's faces turned red not pink, boiling red. They fumbled with their purses, pretending to check their phones.
When the shift ended, Ashton caught up with Cami near the lockers.
"Hey, uh… what was that about? Who is that guy?"
Cami's shoulders tensed, her expression softening into something tired.
"That's not our business, Ash," she said, rubbing at the back of her neck. "Those people have their own drama. We just work here. We don't get involved."
Ash frowned, voice low. "But… they all hate him. And he seemed so nice. Why?"
Lily, the same girl from before, leaned against the counter, towel slung over her shoulder, smirking."Because they're jealous," she said simply. "You've seen him that body? I massaged him once, and holy hell, the man's built.."
"Lily."
Cami's voice cut sharp. She smacked the back of Lily's head.
"Ah..!" Lily laughed, rubbing it. "I'm just saying! His lover must be earning every cent he spends on him!"
Cami groaned, pressing her fingers to the bridge of her nose that spot between her brows that pulsed when she got a headache. Her shoulders slumped.
"I am working with idiots," she muttered.
Ashton blinked, confused. "Wait, what did she meant when she said Gold digger?"
Cami looked at him, eyes soft but incredulous. "You don't know what that means?"
Ash tilted his head, brow furrowing. "I mean, I know what gold means, and I know what dig means, but... does he work in mining or something?"
Lily lost it completely.
She doubled over, wheezing between laughs. "Yes! Exactly! He digs gold every day! That's why he's rich!"
Cami turned her head sharply. "Lily. Shut. Up."
Ash blinked again, clueless.
Cami sighed, shaking her head. "A gold digger isn't someone who digs actual gold, Ash. It's someone who dates for money. They act like they're in love, but it's all about the lifestyle the money, the comfort, not the person."
Ash's brows shot up. "So… like a prostitute?"
"Not exactly," Cami said. "It's… less direct. They play house no love, no rights, no future. Just money for company."
Ash's mouth parted slightly, stunned. "So all I'd have to do is… be in a relationship with someone, and they'd give me whatever I need? Food, money, clothes?"
Lily thought he was joking so she smirked and said. "Yeah, sounds like a dream job, huh?"
But before the words even faded, Cami's expression hardened. Her eyes snapped toward him.
"No. Absolutely not," she said. Her hand found his shoulder, grip firm."That's not a life you want, Ash."
She leaned closer "That's not a life you want, Ash. Look at Rose yeah, he's rich, dressed in designer everything, always smiling. But that doesn't mean he's happy. You don't know what happens behind closed doors. You don't know how those men treat him."
Even Lily went quiet for a moment realizing that Ash was serious "Yeah," her teasing grin fading. "For once, I've gotta agree with most sunshine here. Don't go down that road, Ash."
Ashton nodded slowly, but deep down, he still didn't get it.
To him, it didn't sound so bad not when the alternative was sleeping in mall bathrooms and counting pennies for a meal.
He just didn't understand why something that looked so perfect could be so wrong.