Ash’s chest rises as he gives me an unimpressed look.
“What?” I blurt. “I’m being serious. If I could get away from all those women, I’d take the out too.”
Christie places a hand on Ash’s arm. “It’s okay,” she murmurs. “She wasn’t being mean.”
Ash’s gruff temperament softens from the positive effect of Christie’s touch.
A server brings over our orders and they’re an array of colorful creamy goodness. LJ drives the conversation forward, no matter if anyone wants to hear or not. I slide my spoon in and around the ice-cream I don’t particularly want. I’ve come here so often after dinner with the girls. The conversations always circle around gossip: who’s dating who, and who committed a social faux-pas and needed to be taught a lesson.
If I were a cynical person, I’d say my influence is the only thing my friends think I’m good for. If someone has a grudge or a crush, I can manipulate things at school to their advantage. It doesn’t matter if it is positive or negative. I do it for them.
Hence my search for karma. I’m giving over my time at St. Mark’s to counteract my social crimes. The universe rewarded me by bringing Dax into my life. And what do I do? Leave him in the pool house and spend my time with LJ.
Seriously, what’s wrong with me?
As LJ drones on about my father’s business like he has any impact on it, Ash’s eyes glaze over. No wonder Mom bargained with him about getting out of business engagements. It’s obvious how much Ash doesn’t want to be involved.
Everything about this night is predictable. We could’ve just stayed home and said this all happened.
I side-eye LJ.
Is this a good time for him? Is he really satisfied with every aspect of his life playing out beat by beat with no surprises?
And here I am, playing into it. I sit here, letting him touch me and call me sweetheart. Why am I allowing him to think he has a shot? All because my mother said she’d help me avoid him. I’m so paranoid about what my mother has up her sleeve, I’m letting LJ believe he has the greenlight.
A throaty laugh hums out of LJ, and he snakes his hand around my lower back. “I’m not boring you, am I?”
His hand anchors on my hip, making me shudder.
“No, I’m used to tuning out work talk,” I reply, keeping my hands in my lap.
LJ nestles his face by mine. “Good, because this will be the rest of our lives.”
Christie giggles, leaning her head on Ash’s shoulder. “Aww, you two are so stinkin’ cute together.”
Is she really buying this?
LJ’s hand plays in my hair. His face gets so close, and his breath tickles my ear. “What can I say? I just can’t get enough of her.”
Okay, I need the abort button.
LJ turns my face toward him, and his eyelids grow heavy. His lips pucker and edge closer to mine.
Oh my gosh! No! Someone help!
“Oh my gosh, look who’s out on a date,” Hope’s voice booms.
LJ backs off, and I snap my neck to the left, seeing Hope and her boyfriend Luke walking our way.
“Oh, hi Hope,” I say, waving.
I’ve never seen Hope more delighted, waving to us with her phone in her hand.
“Where was our invite? This is so cute, a little double date.”
Ash looks at Christie and then back at Hope. “You two can take our places.”
My heart leaps into my throat. I’ll drown with Hope and Luke. Ash is my life raft when I’m stuck with LJ.
