"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.
