I'm the worst friend.
"Ask me why I'm smiling?" Charlie interrupts my carousel of thoughts, almost bouncing in her seat.
"Why are you smiling?" I ask the question, relaxing into my seat, trying to force a calmness I do not feel.
"Because a hot as hell surfer dude just waltzed his way up to me and asked my name."
"He asked you on a date?" I prod, leaning forward.
"No!" She says excitedly.
I blink, leaning back, "Then, why are you so excited?"
"He asked me foryourname andyournumber."
Just then another body slips into the seat beside Charlotte, and I straighten up, widening my eyes at Ashers grin and wink he sends my way before Charlie turns over her shoulder to look at him.
"What the heck are you doing here?"
"Thought I'd peruse the library for a book for an assignment and who do I find gossiping away other than my dear sister and her friend. Hi, Ivy." His eyes settle on me over Charlies shoulder, his eyes pinning me straight to my seat and causing a flutter of nerves to take flight in my stomach.
He grins, like he knows exactly what effect he has on me, his tongue coming out to wet his bottom lip and my eyes zero in on it, a flush taking over my cheeks as I remember exactly where his mouth was last time I saw him. Where my mouth was-
I cut that thought off and clear my throat, "Hi."
"What are we talking about?" He leans forward on the table, elbows bent under him and fingers steepled together like he has all the time in the world to hear every sordid detail Charlotte, and I might ever discuss.
I narrow my eyes at his grin and so does Charlotte before she gets a matching one on her face. "I was just telling Ivy here that there's a guy who asked for her number, wants to take her on a date, isn't that sweet? To have the confidence to ask a complete stranger on a date?"
Ashers grin drops a bit. "Seems a bit weird if you ask me, he doesn't even know her."
"Are you saying that if he did, he wouldn't be asking her out?" Charlie challenges and my heart drops.
Ashers eyes widen. "No, I'm not saying that." He pins his sister with a look before looking at me, "He also approachedyoutoapproach Ivy, he didn't come to her himself. Seems pretty immature."
"Maybe he was intimidated, Ivy is gorgeous. And she's single. No ties-" she says, brow raised at her brother.
Asher rolls his own eyes at his sister.
I'm not seeing anyone. Notreally.
Charlie turns back to me, grinning widely. "He's still here if you want to say yes, which I so think you should."
"Charlie," I whisper, and she widens her eyes.
"Oh, wait, you kind of have a thing-" She cuts off and looks to Asher, "Do you mind? Ivy and I have things to discuss."
"No, continue on." He leans back in his chair, arms crossed loosely in front of him, balancing on the cheap plastic. "Don't have to stop on my account."
I see the challenge light up in Charlotte's eyes. Oh no.
"Well okay then." She turns back to me, ignoring her brother entirely. "So, tell me more about this mystery man you've got all up in yourbusiness." Her smile is smug, and she doesn't turn back to look at Asher and I'm glad because his eyes are on me, eyes twinkling.
I wish a hole would open up below me and swallow me whole.
Charlotte tilts her head, studying me.
"So," she says casually, "are you going to tell me about this guy you've acquired to talk you through it?"
