“So, you’re around Ash a lot, yeah?” Trevor asks, cracking open his water bottle.
Ash. I don’t like that. I don’t want to think he knows her well enough to use a nickname. If he only knew how much time I spend with her, and what we do with that time, this would be a completely different conversation. I snort a sarcastic laugh. “You could say that.”
“What can you tell me about this guy she’s seeing? How serious is it?”
Pretty damn serious. Locking eyes with him, I consider being an asshole and laying it all on the table. I’d enjoy seeing his face fall after having to watch them together all morning. But I won’t, because Ashlie specifically asked me not to, and I want what she wants.
“Naw.” I shake my head, taking another swig from my bottle. “No idea. She hasn’t brought him around yet.”
“But she talks about him, yeah?”
“Not to me. You might try her sister, though.”
“Huh…” His eyebrows cinch skeptically. “Damn. Thanks anyway, bro.”
“What’s up?” Chase slides back into his seat, turning toward Trevor.
“Ah, nothing. Just trying to get some dirt on my competition. Ash has been kinda distant the last few weeks…”
“I’m telling you, man, whoever she’s seeing in LA won’t last long. Not with you in the mix. She hasn’t even talked to Kayla about him.”
Well, damn. I know I can’t really be upset about this. I haven’t told Chase anything about mine and Ashlie’s setup. The last time I talked to him about it was after that first dinner date. I lied and said it didn’t go as planned, that I decided to let her go. It was the only way to get him off my case and demolish any possibility of him asking more questions.
“Guess we’ll see at the wedding,” Trevor says.
I whip my head back to Trevor. “What’s happening at the wedding?”
“Ah, yeah. I asked Ashlie to be my date to the wedding a couple months ago, just to lock in my position.”
My mouth drops, and I hide it by grabbing that faithful bottle, drinking the last dregs of my beer. Sweat prickles across my scalp as I painstakingly regain composure.Fucking Idiot!Why didn’t I think of it first?Of course he asked her. He’s been preplanning dates with her for months. Why would the wedding be any different?Why didn’t she tell me?
Flexing the frustration through my fingers, I catch Trevor’s puzzled gaze dipping to my hand and back to my face. I scan the room to avoid him, focusing on the big screen to calm myself. As if she was summoned, Ashlie stomps across the floor, high ponytailed curls bouncing with each determined step. She’s wearing a white crop top and jeans, her waist beads prominently on display. My back goes ramrod straight as I adjust from my slouch.
“You guys ever heard of phones?” Her feisty scowl circles around the table. With a hand on her hip, she settles her eyes on Chase. “I called all three of you.”
“Eh, that was my bad,” Chase says. “We turned them off at my request.”
“You need to come with me. I’ve been trying to reach you for twenty minutes. It’s Kay?—”
Chase is out of his seat before she finishes saying the last syllable in my sister’s name, and I’m up a split second later.
“Is she okay? What happened?” Chase asks.
“I haven’t seen her this bad in a long time. She’s hada lotto drink.” Ashlie starts for the door, with Chase right beside her. I’m a few steps behind, trying to keep up with the details. Kayla doesn’t get drunk. She’ll have a drink here or there, but for her to get plastered is unheard of.
We make it outside, and I’m surprised Ashlie’s keeping stride with how fast we’re walking. “Did something happen?” Chase asks.
“She’s freaking out about the wife thing.”
Chase stops suddenly, brows furrowed. “What wife thing?”
Ashlie swipes her palm across her forehead with a sigh. “She didn’t talk to you?”
“This is the first I’m hearing about a wife thing…”
“Shit. Okay.” Ashlie tugs his arm, coaxing him to continue across the street. “She’s been stressed about becoming a wife, and all the changes it will bring.”
“Wha—nothing’s changing. We’re basically married already.”
