Leon and Justin dive into a conversation about the game's highlights, but I can't help the occasional glance back at Asher, who seems more interested in maintaining eye contact with me in the mirror than joining in. His eyes crinkle in the reflection from the smirk I can see pulling at his lips.
"You going to attend the party tonight, Ivy?" Justin asks and I shake my head.
"No way, I have a book calling my name."
I see Leon shaking his head from the corner of my eye. "What about Charlie, she coming?"
I look towards Leon and shake my head again. "She's working."
"Bummer, she could've made you have a bit of fun." Justin quips from the back and I look in the mirror to see Asher shove an elbow into his side.
The car smells like soap and aftershave from the boys fresh showers, and the scent only makes me want to have my own shower and crawl into bed.
"I'll grab some dinner then skedaddle," I offer, already planning my retreat.
Leon laughs, a deep, hearty sound. "One of these days, you're going to stay for a party, Ivy."
"No thanks," I smile back.
"You sure Charlotte can't come? Maybe she'll drag you out of your room," Leon teases as we unload from the car.
Justin snorts, "why do you want her here so bad?"
"Fuck off, Justin."
Asher's hand brushes mine as we walk up the drive, Leon and Justin too busy talking to notice the brief touch.
Once inside, I head straight for the kitchen to start on dinner while the boys set up for the party. The doorbell rings incessantly as teammates arrive, bringing with them boxes of pizza and . . . yes, beer.
Retreating to my room for some peace, I take a long, hot shower, trying to drown out the noise of the gathering outside my door.
When I step out of the ensuite in my pyjamas, towel drying my hair, I freeze. Asher is lounging on my bed, looking right at home.
"You're making a habit of this," I say, trying to sound annoyed but probably failing.
He shrugs, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I like it better here than my room." He's staring at me intensely, his knees spread wide as he sits on the end of the bed.
I drop my hand with the towel, "they'll notice you missing soon."
"No, they won't, alcohol and everyone's too busy in their own heads to see three feet in front of them? They won't know for ages."
"So, what, you're just going to stay here all night?"
He only smiles and beckons me closer until I'm standing between his spread legs.
His hands land on my hips, pulling me closer. Even with him sitting on my bed and me standing at full height we're almost the same height, his lips only an inch or two lower than mine.
"What are you doing here, Ash?"
"Did you end up talking to that surfer guy at the library?" He doesn't look at me as he says the words.
My brows furrow, wondering why he's bringing this up all of a sudden where that was weeks ago now. "Why?"
He shrugs, "thought you wanted to learn, if you've found a new teacher-"
"I haven't." I cut him off. "I'm not going on a date with him."
Asher's hands settle on my hips and he rubs slightly, fingers spread as he nods back in acknowledgment.
