Chapter 18
Tip eighteen; men have a g-spot too, it's his prostate. Can be found by pushing on the skin between the balls and anus. Have fun. But also ask consent before you do this.
Ivy
"You're coming to the party."
I look at Charlie in astonishment. "You really want to be seen with me after what happened the other day?" I wave a hand to encompass the air and everything that went on.
"You're my best friend. I'm not going to pick and choose when you can be seen with me." She rolls her eyes.
"Char-"
"You're going to let them win? No." She shakes her head.
"You're going to go to this party and look fucking hot and show them that you don't care.
And maybe you'll even see your secret man candy out and you can finally prove to yourself that the only one that was bad that time was Dain and his fucking ego. "
I'm still not convinced.
"They're going to talk regardless so you might as well give them something worthwhile to yap about."
"Charlie." I try again, "I don't-"
"You're going, and we're going to have fun and maybe you'll even find yourself under some hunk of a guy that will make you forget about that whole day."
"Doubt that."
I don't think anything could make me forget about the clusterfuck of my life right now.
"They're going to talk regardless so show up and show them that it doesn't affect you," Charlie chides, "or are you going to hide forever?"
I hate when she does that, asking a question so it has the opposite effect, pushing me into action.
I hate even more that it works. Every time.
Charlie smiles when she sees my resolve dissipating.
"Now that that is settled, let's get you dressed." She takes my hand and drags me up to her room, my eyes moving towards the door opposite hers, the door to Asher's room.
I'd never entered, only ever looked at it in vague curiosity, curiosity about the boy who is best friends with my brother, a boy who had always been in my life but never actually a part of it, just there. Always there.
It was odd to think we now shared a secret between us that would hurt not only my best friend but my brother as well.
I look to where Charlie grasps my hand in hers. A secret that could ruin the only friendship I really have.
Charlie pulls me into the room, shutting the door behind me before diving for her closet, pulling dress after dress out and piling them on her bed.
"We're going sexy, irresistible, completely mind blowing.
" She says over her shoulder, moving towards her shoes, dark hair swaying with her actions.
"Maybe backless is the move, or a short but not too short dress.
Boots? Heels?" She looks over her shoulder when I don't reply. "What are you feeling?"
The air has a bit of a chill in it so I move towards her collection of boots, looking for a pair that I wouldn't break an ankle in.
I point to a burgundy pair, knee high with a thicker heel and Charlie grins.
"I have just the outfit." Then she moves towards her skirts and starts rummaging.
She pulls a mini black skirt out and flashes it towards me excitedly.
"It's a skort." Before she reaches for a boat neck burgundy top and a black long sleeve top, chewing her lips as she decides between the two before picking the black top and throwing it towards me.
"Get ready, I'm doing your hair and makeup, no matter what, you will be the hottest thing to ever walk the earth tonight. "
I smile at Charlie's enthusiasm and walk towards the hall and the bathroom, the bundle of clothes in my hands. The house is silent and I breathe a sigh of relief that no one is here.
Maybe she's right.
Maybe I need to stop hiding.
· · ·
Charlie checks my makeup, her eyes narrowing before she nods in satisfaction. "I did well." Then she's out the door and beckoning me with her.
My hand is on the door, and my mind is telling me to open it, but my hand isn't listening. I swear it's not me.
"Ivy." Charlie beckons and I scowl before pushing out of the car, my heart beating double time in my chest.
I step up beside her, staring at the house pooling with college students and probably some high schoolers like I'm off to war.
"Let's go." Charlie says, stomping off towards the house while I follow like I'm being led to the gallows.
The party smells like alcohol and sweat and too many bodies in one space.
Charlie looks free.
I try to be.
I even almost manage it.
Until someone notices me.
"Lousy lay!" The boisterous guy yells, thankfully only a few heads turning our way but it's enough to have me cringing away. "How're you doin?"
"Shut up Jakob!" Charlie snaps, her hand finding mine once more and squeezing. "You're only acting a big man cause the only lay you'll ever get is the blow up doll you hide under your bed."
Then she's dragging us through the crowd and towards the drinks, relief coming over me when she hands me a drink and takes one herself. "We'll dance, and then we'll find you a guy to make out with."
I open my mouth to - say what, I'm not sure but shake my head instead and walk towards the makeshift dance floor, forcing myself to get lost in the music and crowd of bodies.
Charlie's face is thrown back in glee, her brown hair falling down her shoulders in waves and I smile at the freedom she's feeling, wishing I could escape my head long enough to feel it too but instead all I can feel is the eyes on me.
I lean forward, tapping Charlie's shoulder briefly before shouting over the music that I'm going to go find a toilet and she points to herself, silently asking if I want her to come but I shake my head and walk off.
Leaving my barely touched drink on a random table for someone else to deal with and make my way up the stairs, searching for the toilet.
I don't find it, instead finding Asher, his attention focused on the girl in front of him who laughs at something he says and lifts a hand to squeeze his bicep. She looks so at ease, like she belongs there. Like nothing about flirting with an attractive man is unknown to her.
She laughs again and something low in my stomach curdles.
I don't know why I suddenly feel jealous. Asher isn't mine.
He never will be.
I didn't even like him like that. Did I?
Shock rushes through me, my mind trying to pinpoint the exact second that my indifference for my best friends brother became a crush. A real crush. Oh no.
One of my brothers team mates moves in front of me, smiling in greeting and I dip my head back at Justin, trying to stare over his shoulder at Asher even as I tell myself to be indifferent again, he's not mine.
"Hey, Ivy!" Justin mutters, "you see your brother around here? He said he was going to go check on you but now you're up here and he's down there." He laughs at the end, but I shake my head.
"Haven't seen him, sorry Justin."
He shrugs, "it's all Gee, I get to speak to the better looking sibling anyway, don't I?
" He moves closer and I smile back uncomfortably, not knowing what to say to his attempt at flirting and he shifts to the side, ducking his head to say something when a hand lands on his shoulder, gaining his attention.
I blink at the hand, leading all the way to Asher's thunderous face. He looks to me and his eyes soften, mouth opening to say something, but I don't give him the chance to voice his thought, turning on my heel and making my way back down the stairs, leaving through the houses back door.
I pull my phone from my pocket, texting Charlie that I'm heading back early, and she sends me a thumbs up before following up with a message to leave her here, that's she'd found someone to occupy her time.
I smile at the message before liking it and shoving my phone back in my pocket. I pull the car keys free and walk towards where we'd parked the car, wanting this day to just end.
· · ·
The smell of pizza wafts from the kitchen and my stomach grumbles. Pausing Bridgerton, I slip from my bed and pad over to the door, listening to any sounds of anyone downstairs. But Leon must still be at the party, hopefully.
But I still open the door and sneak down like the dignified lady I am not.
I peak my head into the kitchen, breathing a sigh of relief when I find it empty and quickly walk to the fridge, grabbing two slices and a drink before rushing back to my room, breathing another sigh of relief when I hear no sound of approach or anyone following.
I slip back into my room, my stolen goods clutched in my hand before coming to a sudden stop, staring at the boy in my bed.
Asher looks up at the sound of my door shutting, his cheeks flushed rosy and a glazed look in his eyes.
He pushes from the bed, the act clumsy and pulling a smile from me that I quickly wipe off.
"Are you drunk?"
He mumbles something before straightening and stumbling forward, "come to bed."
I blink when he grabs my elbow and moves me towards the bed like he owns it.
"Asher." I almost drop the pizza as he manoeuvres me, climbing onto the mattress while I place the food and drink on the bedside. "What are you doing here?"
"I wish to sleep, Ivy."
"Sleep in your own bed." I hiss.
"No," he mumbles, pulling me forward until I'm falling into his chest, my hands fisted and resting against warm skin.
"What has gotten into you?" I mutter, but Asher only curls his arms tighter around me, twisting us until I'm laid on the mattress beside him, though he doesn't give up his boa constrictor hold.
"How did you even get inside?"
"Leon gave me a key."
I roll my eyes. "Just because you have a key doesn't mean you can use it whenever you want."
"I think having a key means precisely that." He retorts. Then tightens his hold. "Sleep." He mumbles against my temple, hot breath skimming my ear and causing a shiver to erupt across my skin.
I stare up at the ceiling as his breathing evens out and stare at the television, paused with Colin Bridgerton's face in the carriage.
And it was just getting to the good part.
I twist in his hold, leaning over his body to reach the remote, flicking the tv off but when I go to move back to my spot, his arms tighten and trap me.
I glare down at the man, finding him still asleep.
"Asher."
Noise erupt outside my bedroom and I quiet my voice, slapping a hand over Asher's mouth when he lets out a groan.
I stare at the face beneath mine, tracing Asher's peaceful features, from the few freckles that flicker along his skin to the faint scar below his right eyebrow and the way his brows wrinkle in at whatever is plaguing him in sleep.
My gaze moves lower, staring at the strong jawline, another scar along the sharp angle, the faint touch of a five o'clock shadow marring his skin.
Then I look lower again, tracing his collarbones with my eyes, the peak of muscle I can see on his pecs and the strength in his arms as he hugs me to him.
I move my hand from his mouth slowly, readying to flip back onto my side even if the whole bed is mine but he shifts under me and I fall forward, almost head butting his chin.
I grind my teeth but stop when he shifts again and my eyes move to the way his lips part, the cupids bow, my attention stuck on the slight pout.
It's unfair, to be so pretty.
He shifts and I blink, pushing up and almost straddling him. But then my eyes widen, feeling what lay beneath me, what part of Asher lay beneath me.
I don't think I've ever moved off someone so fast.
I plop beside him, chest rising and falling with my breaths, ignoring the man beside me and stare up at the ceiling.
The sound of someone walking up the stairs had my eyes moving to my door and I just hope tonight is not the night Leon decides to check in on me.
But then I hear a soft laugh, and my brother voice shushes them with his own laugh following. "You'll wake her."
I roll my eyes at my brother once again bringing a girl home, shaking my head.
Because nothing says Prince Charming like bringing home another girl at two in the morning for two consecutive days.
"I don't want to wake Ivy," he says again.
If only he knew.
I lie there staring at the wall.
My brother thinks he's protecting me.
And I'm curled into his best friend like this is the most natural thing in the world.
The stairs creak.
A bedroom door opens.
Closes.
Silence.
I let myself sink into the mattress.
Asher's breathing evens out.
And despite everything. The party, the girl on his arm, the jealousy twisting in my chest - I don't move away.
But when I wake in the morning, the pillow beside me has an indent and the mattress is warm.
There's a message on my phone. Asher's name causing my heart to jump.
Had to go to class. I'm sorry to leave without a goodbye but I didn't want to wake you.