She winces. "Okay, yeah. This tracks."
I sag against the counter. "I don't want to mess this up. I can't have a crush-"
"Why not?"
I can't answer that. I sigh.
"Well," Charlie says gently, "take it slow. If you feel yourself getting too attached, pull back. Or- novel concept I know,talk to him."
Before I can reply, footsteps echo.
Charlotte's eyes go wide. "Manager." She hisses the words so low I hardly hear them.
"What?"
She grabs my wrist and yanks. "Under.Now."
I barely have time to process before I'm crouched beneath the counter, knees tucked, trying not to laugh as she smooths her apron and straightens.
"Hey!" her manager says. "Busy earlier?"
"Nonstop," Charlotte replies sweetly. "Handled it. As always."
"Good." Footsteps fade.
Charlotte drops down beside me, giggling.
I press my forehead to my knees, laughing silently. "I cannot believe you just did that."
"Ride or die," she whispers.
Chapter 11
Tip eleven; pleasure yourself and then you'll know how to tell your partner to do it.
Ivy
Ahand winds itself around mine and my heart nearly plummets straight to the ground, wide eyes staring around at the people nearby before I turn to stare at the hand holder.
And relax, eyes sweeping over Charlie's face.
"You okay?" She stops, pulling me to a stop beside her. "You seem out of it."
"Just tired." I say quickly, beginning to walk again while she hums at the answer.
"Are you coming to the game?" Charlie asks me and it takes me a second to blink back into this existence, still reeling from the fact that Asher was in my room yesterday. In my bed. With me. And he had avoided me since. I think.
I wouldn't actually know since I seemed to also be avoiding him so if he wasn't avoiding me, it's not like I gave him the chance to approach.
"Game?"
She looks at me with wide eyes. "Yeah, you know the game your brother is playing? That game?"
"Against Cornwall?"
She nods and I shrug, "I don't know-"
"You're coming," she interrupts, "I will not be there alone and besides you can sit with me while we listen to my mum rave and cheer for Ash." Charlie rolls her eyes with a smile.
