Ashley worked in the 911 call center for the city of Chicago and was a volunteer EMT. She also happened to live in the same building that Jay Halstead, a Chicago city cop, lived. When she’d first moved in, they would pass each other in the hall and she heard his voice on the radio. But eventually they became friends and would hang out outside of work, and Ashley slowly developed a crush. Now here it was seven years later, but she hadn’t said anything, afraid he wouldn’t feel the same. She’d seen the way he looked at Erin Lindsay, and she figured she’d never see her as anything other than a friend. So she was content to have him in her life as her best friend rather than say something and lose him forever.
Jay woke up to a long text from Lindsay saying that she was leaving town and that things were over between the two of them. He sat up and frowned as he read over the message a few times. She apologized and said she had to leave Chicago. Jay wasn't thrilled to hear about that but he understood and he'd let her do what she needed to do. He was terrible at good byes so he made it a thing not to say goodbye.
He was distracted most of the week. And it was beginning to be painfully obvious that it was because of Erin leaving and the sudden break up. Jay sat at the bar at Molly's later on that night. He was sipping on his beer and just staring off into space, rudely ignoring his company. "I'm sorry. I've been super distracted all week long. I'm sucky company right now." He sighs.