Chapter 25
Tip twenty-five; If you want it, ask for it.
Ivy
I fidget in my seat, Asher's hand warm on my thigh, finger brushing the skin right above my knee as he parks the car on the curb outside my house. I can feel his eyes on the side of my face as if waiting for me to look at him.
I stare at the house, tracking the windows for any movement.
"You didn't have to drop me home." I finally turn to look at Asher, finding his attention moving slowly from my eyes to my lips, his own curved into a devastating smile.
My own eyes drop to his lips, remembering the way he kissed me in the library, the way he told me to be quiet. I blow out a soft breath.
He doesn't reply, switching the car off and leaving the vehicle to walk around my side and open the door for me.
His brows raise in silent challenge when I don't immediately move.
"You scared to be seen with me Ivy?" He gives me a wink.
"I got to say, I'm not used to a girl not wanting to show me off, but I guess I'll just have to work harder. "
"It's not-" I pause and release a breath of air before slipping from the car and standing beside him.
It feels odd to be walking towards my house with Asher by my side even if we have done it multiple times through the years.
If anyone were to look they would find nothing wrong with this scene and yet everything felt wrong about it.
His fingers brush mine for the slightest second before they brush again and then he is taking my hand in his, squeezing my fingers and dragging me around the corner, hidden from sight. He pushes my back against the brick, our chests flush.
He bares down on me, a cocky brow raised.
"You know Leon's inside right?" I whisper, forcing myself to stay still and not strain my neck to see if my brother is going to magically walk out the front door, around the corner and find his best friend trapping me against the wall.
I could just imagine how that conversation would go down and who would leave it with a black eye.
"We'll be quiet," Asher whispers before taking my lips in a soft kiss. "I don't believe I've completed your lesson today."
"Asher." I hush but the action is in vain, my body melting to a puddle at Asher's feet when he lifts his hand to cup my jaw.
My resolve crumbles before my eyes like a sand castle in the wind and I look into his eyes, a sudden and direct confidence overtaking me.
"I want to know how to tease a guy. Properly. "
He murmurs something but I don't catch it, his lips moving to my neck, kissing me softly just below my ear, and I relax against the brick, body languid.
"The things I could teach you-" Asher starts, his lips skimming the shell of my ear. "What I could do to you."
My eyes flutter as I let out a breathless whisper, a moan leaving my lips.
My head swings towards the front of the house when I hear the sound of a car pulling in.
"Asher-" I tap his shoulder, pushing him back slightly.
"Fine. Break my heart, I'll let you go." His hands drop from where they were caging me and he steps back, his eyes dragging down my figure.
He takes another step back. I watch him for a second before I turn for the front of the house, walking back into view.
"Charlie?"
Her head whips to me from where she stands halfway between her car and the front door, like she was debating going in.
I glance around, but she's alone. "Did you want to come inside?"
Her eyes widen and she shakes her head. "Oh, no. I . . . umm, was about to text you actually. Did you want to come see a movie with me?"
I furrow my brows but feel my muscles relax.
She continues. "I've been really busy lately." She pauses. "We both have, really. And I just . . . I wanted to spend some time with you."
"A movie sounds great."
Just then, Leon walks out of the house. He stops short when he sees me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he composes himself. His gaze shifts briefly to Charlie, who looks tense and avoids his eyes.
"Hey, Ivy," Leon said, forcing a casual tone. His eyes flick past my shoulder. "Is that Ashers car?"
My head whips to look at the car in question and my own eyes widen before I force myself to take a breath and shrug. "Haven't seen him."
Just then Asher walks from around the side of the house. I don't turn to look at him, keeping my gaze on Charlie as Asher speaks to my brother.
"Sorry, got a phone call. Was about to come in."
Leon starts speaking to him, but I'm stuck on the way Charlie looks from me to Asher to Leon, lingering before she looks down.
I step closer. "Did you still want to go to the movies?" I ask quietly.
Charlies eyes flick to me, confusion muddling her features for a second as she's pulled out of her head before she nods. "Yeah, yeah, let's go."
I turn back to my brother and Asher, avoiding the latter's eyes as I move for the passenger seat in Charlie's car.
"I'll be back later. I'll grab dinner while I'm out so don't worry about me."
Leon's eyes are fixed on Charlie before he shifts his gaze to me and smiles. "See you later, might have the boys over."
For the slightest second, my eyes move to Asher.
He nods, trying to appear nonchalant but his brow rises a little like he's saying to me, 'look, she's not avoiding you.' I grin back, only slightly and he nods at the both of us. "Have fun."
Charlie and I settle into the seats, the tension following us from the house and slipping between us like a third, unwanted friend. She turns the radio on, hitting play on the playlist we made together, and I hum along, stealing glances towards her.
"So, what movie did you have in mind?"
Charlie seems to shake herself out of her thoughts. "Oh, um, there's that new action movie. I know you love those."
I give a small smile. "You hate action movies."
"I don't hate them." She mumbles. "Besides there's a healthy dose of romance included with this one." she gives me a conspirator's grin and my anxiety dissolves, finding my best friend staring back at me.
I laugh, "Which new actor has stolen Charlotte Hudson's heart this time?"
She rolls her eyes but grins wider. "Have you seen Ryan Hastings?" She laughs, "You could cook a five-course meal on that man's abs."
I shake my head with a laugh, "Is he the love interest?"
She shakes her head, "The bad guy."
"Even better." I quip, slipping from the seat when Charlie pulls into the theatre parking.
Minutes later we're taking our seats and digging into handfuls of popcorn while I wait to meet Ryan Hastings and see what exactly about him has my best friend swooning.
· · ·
Charlotte pulls to a stop outside my house, and I get out, ducking to look back at her with a smile but her face is white, her eyes flicking between Leon's car out the front, the house, and my face.
"Charlie?"
She blinks like she's somewhere else. Then she clears her throat. "I should probably head home."
"Do you want to come in?"
Her eyes flick to the house again. She doesn't answer straight away, her hand moving to her ribs like she's soothing an ache.
"Not tonight. I'm not feeling too good."
I almost want to get back in the car and ask her what's wrong, demand answers but Charlie's never been the type to open up when someone demands stuff. She'll shut down harder.
Because something is wrong. There's no denying it anymore.
And whatever it is, I have the sinking feeling I'm part of it.
For a moment it felt like maybe we were okay. Like maybe I wasn't lying to my best friend.
I watch her drive away, that pit of guilt in my stomach opening wide with a ravaging hunger because I am lying to my best-friend.
Charlie knows about the deal I made with Asher; she has to. Why else would she be acting so strangely?
I turn and make my way into the house, chewing my lip as I think about what I should do.
Who am I kidding, there is only one choice to make.
We made a promise to never have a man come between us. And now I can feel it starting to.
I have to cut everything off with Asher.
I have to come clean to Charlotte and just hope that I haven't completely ruined my friendship in the process.
In the living room, I find Leon and Asher playing a game on the TV. Leon glances up when he hears me, but it's Asher's eyes that make me stop dead in my tracks. His gaze is intense, filled with a mixture of emotions that make my heart race.
Leon breaks the silence. "Hey, Ivy. What happened to Charlie? She didn't want to come in?" He looks behind me like Charlie will walk through the door any second and I shake my head.
"She wasn't feeling well," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "She went home to rest."
Leon frowns, his concern evident. "Is she okay?"
Asher's voice pulls my attention back to him. "I'll message her and check in," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes never leaving mine before he gets up, phone in hand and leaves the room.
My eyes track his movement before I look back at Leon.
"How was the movie?"
"It was good. It was nice to hang out again."
His brows furrow. "What do you mean?"
I shake my head, "I don't know, I feel like Charlottes been avoiding me for weeks. I've hardly seen her and when I do see her, it’s like she’s somewhere else.”
"You went to the movies today." he replies, sitting up straight, leaning forward on his knees.
"And we had fun, but then she just went quiet when she dropped me off and I don't know. Somethings not right."
Leon is silent for a moment. "You think she lied about being sick?"
I shrug and then shake my head. "I think she's upset with me."
Leon looks at me, his eyes serious, brow furrowed. "Why would she be upset with you?"
I purse my lips and shrug again, even as I know the reason. I just can't tell him because I'm lying to everyone I know and now I feel like I'm being suffocated by it. "I don't know."
"You and Charlotte have been friends forever, whatever is happening will sort itself out and you'll be back to annoying the living hell out of me." He smiles softly.
I smile, though it feels forced. "Yeah, we are."
He nods, taking a sip of his beer and lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck. "You and Charlie don't keep anything from each other, do you?"
I blink.
My throat aches. "No."
He nods and swallows before standing from the couch. "So, she'll tell you when she's ready."
I feel a lump in my throat. "Thanks, Leon."
He reaches out and ruffles my hair, a rare gesture of affection. "Get some sleep, Ivy. You look like the dead."
"Piss off." I mutter but move up the stairs as he moves to the kitchen, where I can hear the low timbre of Asher's voice.