Page 22 of When love and Hate Collide

“If I tell you, promise you won’t scream because I have a headache and I will kick you right off this bed without hesitation.” I forewarn her and she agrees with an enthusiastic nod, her eyes gleaming. “I was with that guy… the one I slept with the other night.” I wince, bracing myself for what’s about to follow my affirmation.

“WHAT?!” Ashlyn exclaims, grinning from ear to ear. I hiss at the shrillness of her voice and kick her straight off the bed with my foot and laugh when she tumbles off the bed in a heap of arms and legs.

“Ow, you cow.” I hear her grumble from the floor and giggle. Her head pops up from the side of the bed and she clambers back on the bed, rubbing her sore behind.

“Hey, I warned you.”

“Are you shitting me? Do you mean the hottie you met in the club? How? What? How the hell did you find him again? I thought you didn’t exchange numbers. Tell me everything, right fucking now,” she demands impatiently and crawls into bed with me, flopping on her side, facing me.

“Believe it or not he showed up at Shane’s party.” I explain shifting to give her room.

Ashlyn squeals and claps her hands together like an overjoyed seal. “Did you guys—”

“No!” I interject, “We did not have sex. We’re just friends who happen to enjoy each other’s company, that’s all.” I bite my bottom lip, recalling the heated kisses we exchanged.

“My left foot, something happened. You’ve got that gleeful after hook-up glow going.” Ashlyn teases poking me again. I slap her hand away, my face contorting into a deep shade of red and my best friend squeals again. “Aha! And you’re going all red like a lobster.” She gushes and reaches over to squeeze my cheek. “Spill it, sister.”

I groan and bat her hand away from my face. “Okay, fine, we kissed a couple of times which may have led to light petting.” I clarify and Ashlyn’s dark brows rise to her hairline.

“Friends my arse,” she chortles, and I grin, hiding my face behind my pillow.

“Oh, zip it, we are friends. According to him we’re friends that kiss occasionally.” Ashlyn shakes her head at me, still grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

“Sweet cheeks, that’s what they all say, but that’s not our issue right now. When are you seeing him again? And more importantly when amImeeting him?” She probes in a flurry while sitting up and crossing her legs again. "Oh! Why don’t you invite him tonight?" Ashlyn suggests, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets with excitement.

“Tonight?” I intone incredulously and chuckle. “To Oz’s birthday party where my brother and sister will be present? Ash, we’ve not even exchanged names yet, I am not bringing a guy I barely know to meet my friends and family.”

“Wait? You haven’t exchangednames?” I shake my head and her face contorts. “Why the hell not?”

“I don’t know,” I huff, reaching over to pick up the stuffed bunny sitting on my bedside table and fumbling with its fluffy ears, “I’m just playing on the cautious side for now. The last thing I want is to get sucked in too deep too soon, you know? Also, a little mystery will keep him interested.”

Ashlyn snorts, regarding me closely, “Jeykins, it’s good that you want to play it safe, but if you keep withholding, that sexy ambiguity will quickly switch to boredom and he’ll lose interest, babe.”

I wince and lift my gaze to look at her, “You think?”

Ashlyn nods and leans back on her elbows, “Yes, keep him on his toes, but don’t drag it out too long.” I nod in understanding and chew on my lower lip contemplatively. I’ll tell him…eventually. “So, seriously, when am I meeting him?”

I roll my eyes, “You’re not!”

“Boo, you whore.” She gives me her signature put-out look and I smirk. “You do know I have to screen and approve him first, right? I mean, as the best friend it’s my sole right.” She claims with a fictitious ‘I’m so insulted’ tone.

“Um, no. It’s only your sole right to meet my potentialboyfriends, not my flings. And seeing as this is not a relationship and completely casual you will not be meeting him anytime soon.” I inform her with my own toothy grin.

A un-lady like snort emits from Ash and I laugh. My lips part to speak when my phone starts to ring on the bedside table interrupting me. Leaning over I pick it up and glance at the screen, my brows pinching when I don’t recognize the number.

“Hello?” I answer. My frown deepens when I hear low music in the background and a moment later a very familiar voice that sends my pulse racing comes from the other end.

“Hi, Angel,” My eyes widen, and I place my free hand over the microphone and mouth, ‘It’s him’ to Ash who in a flash is beside me. I close my eyes, willing my heart to stop thrashing wildly in my chest.

“Hi.” I reply and mentally smack myself when my voice, despite my grandest effort, quivers ever so slightly. I’m hoping not enough that he’ll notice, yet the deep chuckle that filters through the phone verifies my suspicion that he did indeed pick up on it.

Shit.

Way to be play it cool, Jeyla.

“I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“No.” I answer promptly, “No, I was already awake.” I add shimmying further into my comforter. Ashlyn observes me, smiling like a total goof. “I wasn’t expecting you to call so soon.” Ash shifts closer and presses her ear to the phone to hear his voice.

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