Page 26 of The Ruse

Why had I said it like that?

“He’s not?” Asher arched a dark eyebrow.

“No, um—” I briefly glanced at Nash, worried he might be listening. Then in a lower voice, I said, “We’re just friends right now.”

Big emphasis on theright nowpart since I hoped that status was temporary.

“So that wasn’t a date on Friday night?”

“Well, it was…” I tucked some hair behind my ear, feeling my whole face flush with awkwardness. “It was a first date.”

“Okay, gotcha.” Asher nodded like he understood. He glanced at Nash again briefly before saying, “Though, it looks like my buddy Nash thinks you’re his girlfriend from the way he’s glaring at me.”

“What?” My eyes widened.

Asher nodded toward the circle, and when I turned my head, I saw that Nash was indeed watching us.

Did Nash think I was into Asher? Because if he did, that would definitely not be helpful. He wouldn’t kiss me if he thought I was interested in someone else.

My hands felt sweaty, and I tried to think of something to say, but then Asher said, “Looks like Nash isn’t the only one of you hoping for a second date.”

Was I supposed to respond to that?

Asher leaned close and whispered, “Which, in my opinion, is kind of too bad.”

“Too bad?” I frowned, wondering why he’d think it was bad that Nash and I both wanted a second date with each other.

Nash was great.

The best, in fact.

Asher bent closer, and I detected the slightest hint of that body wash or deodorant wafting off him again.

Dang, he smelled good.

“I was just thinking about how hard it’s going to be for him to watchuson stage if you two are a thing.”

“What?” I asked, not sure if I’d heard him right.

“Well,” he said in the kind of voice that would make any girl feel weak in the knees. “You do understand that if I’m playing Raoul and you’re playing Christine, we’re going to have to act like we’re in love, right?”

“Yes,” I said. “F-for the play.”

He knew whatactingwas, right?

“Yes…” he said it slowly, like there was something I should be reading into.

I frowned.

“Nothing against Nash.” Asher’s brown eyes searched mine. “But he gets a bit jealous when I spend time with the girls he likes.”

“And why’s that?” I crossed my arms.

He leaned even closer, and with his minty breath hot on my cheek, he whispered, “Because they always pick me in the end.”

What?

He lingered for a moment, as if expecting me to swoon right then and there, but when he did step away, all I could wonder was:What the heck is going on?

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