Page 189 of Lose You Twice

The table goes silent in the least subtle way possible.

Ava either doesn’t notice or is too confident to care. She slides into the empty chair beside Asher like she’s done it before, dropping her backpack at her feet.

“Sorry about missing you before your plans. I just need your psych notes before Professor Linton destroys my will to live tomorrow.”

“No problem.” Asher reaches into his bag beside his chair without a word and pulls out a notebook.

“You color-coded these?” Ava asks, flipping it open. “I told you it helps me sort things better, and you said it was excessive.”

“Well, maybe you were right, and it’s more helpful.”

She smiles at him, and the poor fucker’s ears turn red.

Harlow kicks my shin under the table. I cut her a look, and she mouths “sorry” as if she was aiming for Wren.

Ava tucks the notebook into her bag. “I’ll bring it back tomorrow before class. Thank you.” She stands, then leans down and kisses his cheek quickly. “You’re my hero.”

Asher freezes.

Ava is gone before anyone says a word, weaving through the tables and out the door with a little wave over her shoulder.

Asher stares at his water glass, cheeks pink.

Grayson is the first to crack, his shoulders shaking. Harlow covers her mouth. I look at my lap, fighting for my life as Wren hides her face in my neck to hide her laughter.

“Asher, you dirty scoundrel.” Weston’s the first to break the silence, of course. “You’ve been holding out on us!”

Asher rolls his eyes. “She’s in my psych class. She’s a nursing student and gets a little behind sometimes, so I let her borrow my notes.”

“So you color-coded your notes for the first time in your life?” Weston narrows his eyes. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen you smile, either.”

“I’ve smiled.”

Weston looks to Grayson and me for backup.

Grayson avoids the question, leaning over to whisper something into Harlow’s ear, making her grin.

Instead of answering, I move my hand to rest on Wren’s thigh, taking a drink of my beer with the other.

“How does it feel having a built-in DD as your girlfriend?” Wren teases.

I move my hand farther up her thigh before sliding down between them slightly, and she sucks in a breath. I grin. “Feels good, Freckles. Feels real good.”

“Hello? Did everyone seem to forget our conversation?” Weston sighs. “I feel so left out of the romance right now.”

“You are,” Asher deadpans.

“And you deserve someone who will treat you better. Or at least someone who won’t take advantage of you and your nerd-level notes.” Weston stands. “I’m going to get another drink.”

Asher stares after him for a moment. “He does realize that he also uses me for my notes, right?”

We all laugh before Harlow widens her eyes at my girlfriend before tipping her head in the direction of the bathrooms. Wren shifts on my lap before standing. “Harlow and I are going to the bathroom really quick.”

Harlow quickly scoots out of the booth, and the girls link arms, already laughing at something as they make their way through the room.

I reach to take another drink of my beer, but Grayson wastes no time. “So, I take it you haven’t told her yet.”

“I haven’t heard anything more from Dane, so I don’t see the point in shaking things up.”