Sign Your Name Across My Heart

Chapter five

All night, instead of this being a get together for all of us, it didn't exactly end up like that. Almost all three hours spent here, Ivy and Bram spoke, and Ash and I spoke. We'd exchange things across the table every once in a while and Bram would continuously fill up everyone's glasses of the wine he bought to make sure everyone knew he had the money to spare and share.

I enjoyed myself. Ash is funny. He made me laugh, he made me smile, he made me blush. It would've been more enjoyable if Bram and Ivy weren't there but nonetheless, I had a good time.

I told Ash during dinner that I work in a library, but he wouldn't tell me what he does. All he said was that he works with Bram, so it wasn't hard to see that he probably does exactly what Bram does for a living. It bothered me when he said that, but how surprised could I really be? He's friends with him, of course he works in the same domain as him.

After dinner, after Ash paid for his and I's meal, Ivy and I stand outside of Bram's car while Ivy smokes a cigarette. Bram has his eyes on me, with an arm snaked around Ivy's waist. I don't make eye contact, as I don't want him to see me looking at him. I feel rather uneasy around him.

I glance at Ash, who's also staring across the small gap between us, right into my eyes. I feel my cheeks go red again. It feels hot. I feel hot.

Ash motions for me to walk with him, to which I follow. He walks around Bram's car, closer to his and he turns and faces me, getting close. Our chests are almost touching. He slowly raises his hand up towards my face and he slides a loose strand of hair behind my ear, tucking it back with the rest of my hair.

I watch him nervously, not knowing what he's doing, my eyes shifting back and forth quickly from his eyes, to his lips, then back to his eyes.

"I'm enjoying your company a little too much to want to bring you home just yet. Do you want to come to my place?" He asks.

My heart skips a beat.

"Okay." I say softly and nod my head. "I'd like that." I don't know what's making me feel so safe around him, but I like talking to him. I want to know more about him.

We walk back around the car just as Ivy finishes her cigarette.

"Libby, are you ready to go?" She asks.

I look at her and mumble, "Actually, I'm going to catch a ride with Ash."

I can see her holding back a big smile and she looks at Ash, then back to me. "Alright." She says, grinning. I can tell she's very amused right now. I know she's going to be expecting details the next time we speak. She will strangle the information out of me if she has to.

"Alright, I'm out of here, see you Ash, Libby." Bram says, before taking Ivy into his arms and kissing her.

I walk back to Ash's car and I slip inside. Ash walks back to get into the driver's seat and I watch his every move, constellations lighting up the sky behind him. He gets inside and I look away, hoping he didn't catch me. I would be embarrassed. He doesn't bother to put on his seatbelt as he drives out of the parking lot, Ivy and Bram still kissing. I roll my eyes.

"What's your favourite song?" He asks me after a couple minutes of silence.

I think about it for a moment, before smiling as I come up with my answer. "Evil Woman by Electric Light Orchestra."

"I know that one." He says, and I can tell he's smiling just by the way he said it. I still haven't looked at him. "There's a hole in my head where rain comes in," He starts to sing, unexpectedly. "You took my body and played to win. Ha ha woman, it's a crying shame but you ain't got nobody else to blame." He sings in the same tune of the song, but his voice cracks a couple times, which leads me to believe he's no singer.

I stare at him in shock, surprised that he knows the song.

"How do you know that song?" I ask, excitement in my voice.

"Hey, I'm pretty sure I'm older than you are, how do you know that song?" He chuckles.

"How old are you?" I ask, my focus shifting. I realize I hardly know anything about him. It's probably a good time to start asking questions.

"I'm twenty-five." He says. "And you?" He glances over at me.

"I'm nineteen." I replied. Ash doesn't answer as he swiftly searches through his phone before playing my favourite song.

When we arrive at his place, we both get out and head inside. His place is gorgeous. It has two floors, an open-concept with a skylight in the kitchen and a big living room just beside it. He shuts the door behind me, leaving it unlocked as I slowly remove my shoes. I look up, seeing where the stairs lead to, which is his bedroom. I see his bed from down here, and my stomach flutters. I feel so nervous being in his home, like I almost shouldn't be here.

Ash takes his shoes off as well, before he walks over to his kitchen, opening up a bottle of scotch. The label says Aberlour. He pours a bit into a glass that's resting beside it and he looks over at me. "Do you want a glass?"

"What does that taste like?" I question him.

"Alcohol," He chuckles. "Here, try some." He holds the glass up and I walk over and take it from him, taking a small sip.

I wince as I swallow, giving the glass right back to him. "That doesn't taste very good at all."

He laughs quietly. "It's not for everyone." He leans against his counter and takes a sip from the same glass.

I look around his place, taking a couple steps back into the living room. "You have a really nice home." I mention.

"Thank you." He replies, sincerity in his voice.

"How long have you lived here?" I ask.

"Uh... Almost three years. I used to live in a shit box before Bram and I started making good money. Then I bought this place." He says.

"Wow." I say, quietly. Imagine owning your own home at twenty-five years old?

I lean against the back of his couch and I look at him.

I see him already staring at me, which makes me blush. Everytime I look at him, he's always already looking. I caught his eyes so many times during dinner tonight too. He drinks the last of what's in his glass before he slowly makes his way closer to me. "Is it bad that I wanna kiss you right now?"

I stare at him, my eyes big, my lips pressed together. I shake my head, unable to form words.

"I've been thinking about kissing you since dinner." He takes another step closer to me.

My heart starts to race. I've never kissed anyone before, not in the way that I think he wants to kiss me. My stomach flips.

"Can I kiss you?" He asks.

I nod my head, (clearly only able to speak through head motions right now), our eyes locked. He takes another step closer, placing his hand on my lower back, pulling me in close to him, our torsos touching firmly.