Tip seventeen; If you want it, ask for it.

I fidget in my seat, Asher's hand warm on my thigh, finger brushing the skin right above my knee as he pulls up to the curb outside of my house, his eyes staring at the side of my face as if waiting for me to look at him.

I stare at my house, tracking the windows for any movement.

"You didn't have to drop me home." I turn to look at Asher, finding his eyes dragging slowly from my lips to my eyes, his own lips curved into a devastating smile.

My own eyes drop to his lips, remembering the way he kissed me in the library, the way he told me to be quiet and I blow out a soft breath.

He doesn't reply, switching the car off and leaving the vehicle to walk around my side and open the door for me, his brows raised in silent challenge when I don't immediately move. "You scared to be seen with me Ivy?" He gives me a wink. "I gotta say, I'm not used to a girl not wanting to show me off but I guess I'll just have to work harder."

"It's not-" I pause and release a breath of air before slipping from the car and standing beside him. It feels odd to be walking towards my house with Asher by my side even if we have done it multiple times through the years. If anyone were to look they would find nothing wrong with this scene and yet everything felt wrong about it.

Asher's fingers brush mine for the slightest second before they brush again and then he was taking my hand in his, squeezing my fingers and spinning me until my back was against the brick wall of my house, my chest pressed softly to Asher's.

He bares down on me, a cocky brow raised.

"You know Leon's inside right?" I whisper, forcing myself to stay still and not strain my neck to see if my brother is going to magically walk out the front door and find his best friend trapping me against the wall.

I could just imagine how that conversation would go down and who would leave it with a black eye.

"We'll be quiet," Asher whispers before taking my lips in a soft kiss. "I don't believe I've completed your lesson today."

"Asher." I hush but the action was in vain, my body melting to a puddle at Asher's feet when he lifts his hand to cup my jaw. My resolve crumbles before my eyes like a sand castle in the wind and I look into his eyes, a sudden and direct confidence overtaking me. "I want to know how to tease a guy. Properly."

He murmurs something but I don't catch it, his lips moving to my neck, kissing me softly just below my ear, and I relax against the brick, body languid.

"The things I could teach you-" Asher starts, his lips skimming the shell of my ear. "What I could do to you."

My eyes flutter as I let out a breathless whisper, a moan leaving my lips.

My head swings to the front door when I hear my brother speaking to someone, his voice muffled by the door and I tense.

"Asher-" I tap his shoulder, pushing him back slightly.

"Fine. Break my heart, I'll let you go." His hands drop from where they were caging me and he steps back, his eyes dragging down my figure.

He takes another step back before turning towards his car.

I watch him leave before turning to the house and entering, my heart pounding in my chest.

I walk into the kitchen, expecting to find it empty, but sitting on a stool at the kitchen in Charlie. My breath stops in my throat and I pause.

"Charlie?"

Her head whips to me, surprise evident on her face, her body half turning on the kitchen stool.

I glance around, but she's alone. "Were you speaking to Leon?" I could hear him talking to someone before.

Her eyes widen a little and she slips off the stool. "I was waiting for you, you were right, we need a catch up." She steps closer, looking down. "I thought we could go watch a movie, there's one I've been wanting to see."

I furrow my brows but feel my muscles relax. Charlie has been avoiding me for weeks, but now she wants to hang out.

"I've been really busy lately and haven't been a really good friend."

"Charlie-" I step forward, gabbing her hand. "Don't say that, you have."

"No." She shakes her head, "no I haven't, but I promise to put more effort in."

"A movie sounds great."

Just then, Leon walks into the kitchen. He stops short when he sees me, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before he composes himself. His gaze shifts briefly to Charlie, who looks tense and avoids his eyes.

"Hey, Ivy," Leon said, forcing a casual tone. "Didn't expect you home so soon."

I smiled. "Yeah, well, here I am."

I look between the two of them, confused.

"Leon kept me company while I waited for you to get home so we could go to the movies." Charlie says.

Leon's eyes move to her and he nods. "Yeah, I'm just the resident place holder." He says quickly.

Charlie grabs my hand, her touch almost desperate. "Let's go. The movie starts soon."

Leon watches us with a strange intensity. "Have fun."

I glance over my shoulder as Charlie pulls me towards the door. Leon's eyes are fixed on Charlie before he shifts his gaze to me and smiles. "See you later, might have the boys over."

Outside, my heart nearly stops when I see Asher. He's sitting in his car and at the sight of us, he gets out, beginning to walk up the same path he'd led me up ten minutes earlier.

He nods at us, trying to appear nonchalant but his brow rises a little likes he's saying to me, 'look, she's not avoiding you.' I grin back, only slightly and he nods at the both of us. "Charlie. Ivy."

Charlie eyes him suspiciously. "What are you doing here?"

Asher shrugs, keeping his tone light. "Catching up with Leon. Didn't know you were here?" His eyes narrow slightly at Charlie, and she looks away, tugging me along.

We walk towards Charlie's car, the feel of Asher's eyes on me a feeling I can't shake, and I glance back slightly, my eyes connecting to his briefly before I'm entering the car.

Charlie and I settle into the seats, the tension following us from the house and slipping between us like a third, unwanted friend. She turns the radio on, hitting play on the playlist we made together, and I hum along, stealing glances towards her.

"So, what movie did you have in mind?"

Charlie seems to shake herself out of her thoughts. "Oh, um, there's that new action movie. I know you love those."

I give a small smile. "You hate action movies."

"I don't hate them." She mumbles. "Besides there's a healthy dose of romance included with this one." she gives me a conspirator's grin and my anxiety dissolves, finding my best friend staring back at me.

I laugh, "Which new actor has stolen Charlotte Hudson's heart this time?"

She rolls her eyes but grins wider. "Have you seen Ryan Hastings?" She laughs, "You could cook a five-course meal on that man's abs."

I shake my head with a laugh, "Is he the love interest?"

She shakes her head, "The bad guy."

"Even better." I quip, slipping from the seat when Charlie pulls into the theatre parking.

Minutes later we're taking our seats and digging into handfuls of popcorn while I wait to meet Ryan hastings and see what exactly about him has my best friend swooning.

• • •

"Do you want to come in for a bit, you could stay the night if you like?" I offer, hoping to prolong our time together.

Charlie hesitates. "Maybe, I don't know."

I nod, feeling the sting of rejection. "Okay. Thanks for the movie. I had fun."

Charlotte pulls to a stop outside my house, and I get out, ducking to look back at her with a smile but her face is white, her eyes flicking between Asher's car out the front, my house and my face.

"Charlie," My shoulders drop, "what's wrong?"

"I feel a little sick, I think I'm just going to go home."

"Charlotte?"

"Can you close the door, please." Her voice is quiet, sad and I step back, shutting the door. The sound of it closing like a hit to my gut.

For a second it felt like maybe we were okay. Like maybe I wasn't lying to my best friend.

I watch her drive away, that pit in my stomach opening wide with a ravaging hunger.

Charlie knows about the deal I made with Asher; she has to. Why else would she be acting so strangely?

I turn and make my way into the house, chewing my lip as I think about what I should do.

Who am I kidding, there is only one choice to make.

I have to cut everything off with Asher and come clean to Charlotte and just hope that I haven't completely ruined my friendship in the process.

In the living room, I find Leon and Asher playing a game on the TV. Leon glances up when he hears me, but it's Asher's eyes that make me stop dead in my tracks. His gaze is intense, filled with a mixture of emotions that make my heart race.

Leon breaks the silence. "Hey, Ivy. What happened to Charlie? She didn't want to come in?" He looks behind me like Charlie will walk through the door any second and I shake my head.

"She wasn't feeling well," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "She went home to rest."

Leon frowns, his concern evident. "Is she okay?"

Asher's voice pulls my attention back to him. "I'll message her and check in," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes never leaving mine before he gets up, phone in hand and leaves the room.

My eyes track his movement before I look back at Leon.

"How was the movie?"

"It was good. It was nice to hang out again."

His brows furrow. "What do you mean?"

I shake my head, "I don't know, I feel like Charlottes been avoiding me for weeks. I've hardly seen her and when I do see her, she makes an excuse and leaves."

"You went to the movies today." he replies, sitting up straight, leaning forward on his knees.

"And we had fun, but then she just went quiet when she dropped me off and feigned being sick to get away."

"You think she lied about being sick?"

I shrug. "I think she's upset with me."

Leon looks at me, his eyes serious, brow furrowed. "Why would she be upset with you?"

I purse my lips and shrug again, even as I know the reason. I just can't tell him because I'm lying to everyone I know and now I feel like I'm being suffocated by it. "I don't know."

"You and Charlotte have been friends forever, whatever is happening will sort itself out and you'll be back to annoying the living hell out of me." He smiles softly.

I smile, though it feels forced. "Yeah, we are."

He nods, taking a sip of his beer and lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck. "You and Charlie don't keep anything from each other, do you?"

I blink and shake my head. "No."

He nods and swallows before standing from the couch. "So, she'll tell you when she's ready."

I feel a lump in my throat. "Thanks, Leon."

He reaches out and ruffles my hair, a rare gesture of affection. "Get some sleep, Ivy. You look like the dead."

"Piss off." I mutter but move up the stairs as he moves to the kitchen, where I can hear the low timbre of Asher's voice.