Ashley grinned. “Duh. It’s Sunday. You’re hiding in bed. Jason said you disappeared to the bathroom for like half the night. That screams emotional hangover.”
Ali laughed and shook her head. “I’m not hungover. I had, like, one drink.”
Ashley paused mid-fry. “Wait. So you’re in bed all day, red-faced, jittery, and Netflix-looped without alcohol as an excuse?”
Ali rolled her eyes, cheeks already flushing. “I wasn’t in the bathroom.”
Ashley narrowed her eyes like a cat sniffing out secrets. “You weren’t?”
Ali hesitated. And that was all it took.
Ashley’s jaw dropped, eyes gleaming. “You dirty little hussy!” She swatted Ali’s arm with a pillow and squealed. “I knew it! You got laid, didn’t you? That’s why you disappeared. Who was it? Do I know him? Oh my God! Tell me everything.”
Ali buried her face in her pillow and groaned. “I hate how well you know me.”
“Start talking,” Ashley said, flipping open the food bag and handing over the toast with a Zax sauce as a peace offering.
Ali sat up, cradling the buttery bread like a lifeline. “Okay. Fine. But you can’t freak out.”
“Please. Freaking out is my entire personality. Now spill.”
Ali inhaled. “I went outside for air during the fundraiser. Just needed a break, and… Dylan followed me. He-"
"Wait a second cuz! Dylan!?" exclaimed Ashley.
Ali ignored her and kept going. "He wanted to talk but I kinda jumped him…” Her face went crimson. “We had sex. Outside. Against the building.”
Ashley gaped. “That’s not just sex. That’s cinematic.”
Ali giggled, covering her face. “I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I literally almost had a panic attack in the parking lot afterward.”
Ashley’s smile faded, her tone softening. “Shit. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I mean… I wasn’t. But he found me again, and he talked me down. Sat with me on the pavement. Didn’t push. He was so— him. Just steady and solid and sweet.”
Ashley tilted her head, chewing slowly. “Dylan always was a good guy. Intense, but good. What else?”
Ali fiddled with the hem of her sweatshirt. “He told me he’s in town visiting family for a few days. That he wants to see me. And then… I got home and couldn’t sleep and I texted him.”
Ashley raised a brow. “Risky.”
“I know. I was spiraling immediately after. I was like, ‘Oh no, what if he thinks I’m clingy or weird or—’”
“And?”
“And he called me. Told me to stop spiraling. Called me ‘babe.’ Said he hadn’t stopped thinking about me. Except it was just like college. He was always so explicit”
Ashley squealed into her fist. “He talked dirty to you?!”
Ali nodded, cheeks burning. “Yes. But also somehow still gentle. Like he knew exactly what to say to make me feel sexy and safe at the same time. And I might’ve hinted that I… touched myself when I got home.”
Ashley shrieked. “Ali! You left him with a verbal visual! You minx!”
Ali giggled into her hands. “I did! And then I hung up before he could say anything else. He let out this sharp inhale and I just— panicked and said goodnight.”
Ashley rolled onto her back, laughing. “Okay, I take it back. You’re not a hussy. You’re a goddam legend.”
Ali pressed the toast to her face and groaned. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
