“I’m not losing. But what do you want?”
That’s the third time he’s said he won’t lose. His confidence makes me want to scoff in his face and curl my toes, all at the same time. The eager smile on his lips is convincing, but part of me is full of hesitation. Hunter’s the epitome of the dating pattern I’m trying to break. I’ve seen him in action; knowingly signing up for that isn’t a smart move.
But the part of me that made that confession at Christmas wants to see if he really can resist his playboy ways for more than a couple weeks, even if it’s just a game. We’ve crossed friendship boundaries before and have always bounced back after. One more step over the line, even with an unserious bet, likely won’t matter.What’s the worst that could happen?
“If I win, you have to buy me tickets to the summer music festival of my choosing, with accommodations,” I say.
“Easy. Done. But I’m not?—”
“Losing? Yeah, I got that. And just so we’re clear, I don’t need your permission to date Trevor…” I purse my lips.
“I know that. My point is, do what makes you happy. As for me, I just want to date you…if that’s okay?”
“Sonowyou’re asking if it’s okay to date me?”
“Yes, Ashlie.” He sighs. “I’m asking if it’s okay for me to date you.”
“Usually, you would ask someone out on a date, not asktodate them…”
“Oh my God, woman!” He groans, tipping his head against the seat. “Okay. If I ask youona date, will you say yes?”
“Ask me and find out.” Now I’m messing with him. A flustered Hunter is one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. He holds everything so close to his chest all the time, watching him flounder a little is adorable.
“You’re really making this so painfully frustrating.”
“Three more minutes, Hunt.”
“Ashlie, would you like to come to my place for dinner? Tonight? At seven? For a date?”
“Oof! Alone in your apartment on a first date? That’s risky… What if you’re some kind of creeper?”
“Ash…” He sighs again, scratching his forehead with his thumbnail. Watching him squirm feels like adequate payback for the chaos he laid at my doorstep over the weekend. But I think he’s suffered enough.
“Okay, okay. Yes, but I should warn you…” I say, leaning in close to peer into his eyes. He leans in, too, as if my movement triggers an automatic response in him. Lifting his brow, he waits for me to finish, his breath catching as I hold his gaze. His eyes dip when I lick my lips, completely taking the bait as he follows the motion. Just to lay it on thick, I trap my lower lip between my teeth, and he leans in closer. With a smirk, I whisper, “I don’t kiss on the first date.”
“What about before the first date?” He wiggles his eyebrows, making my laugh come out as a snort.
“Nope. Times up.” I reach for the door. “And I have one more condition. No one finds out about this. I don’t want to look stupid when you lose the bet.”
He shakes his head with a gleam in his eye. “I’m not losing this one.”
“We’ll see…” I say, pulling on the handle.
“Wait!” He stops me with a hand on my arm, his touch scattering goosebumps across my skin. Handing me the bag of food, he smiles. “Your lunch.”
“Thanks,” I mumble, taking the bag and stepping onto the sidewalk.
Right before I get inside, he rolls down the window and calls out, “See you tonight,honey bear.”
My face heats from the surge of butterflies at the sound ofmypet name. Once inside, I tear into the food bag. My cheeks ache from the grin on my face as I spot two of my favorite things: a small coastal sunflower and a turkey wrap from Lunch-a-Bunch. I tuck the flower into my hair, smiling like a fool. The lid on that box of feelings I buried a few weeks ago just cracked—wide open.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
HUNTER
“So, how’d it go?” Aiden asks as soon as I step into our windowless office at EdTechU. I had the idea of taking lunch to Ashlie, but he suggested offering an out if she wasn’t ready to see me. “Did you get to see her?”
“Yep. And she agreed to a dinner date tonight.” Like I’m walking on fluffy little clouds instead of carpet-covered concrete, I bounce over to his workstation. I’m not sure what this feeling is, but it’s light and vibrant. I wish I could fast-forward through the rest of my day just to see Ashlie again.
