Heartthrob ✓

eighteen

E I G H T E E N

"WHY IS IT A GOOD THING YOUR BOSS GOT A BONER BECAUSE OF YOU?"

That was Bretton's first response to me telling him the story of what happened yesterday at Ashton's house. It was definitely the response I expected from him, but it wasn't a good one. I really wanted him to tell me how the erection that Ashton had gotten from the porn meant that he was undeniably in love with me, and I asked him because he was a guy so he would be able to confirm my suspicion and give me his blessing to try and stop him from officially taking Emilie Standifer as a lover.

"It's just pornography, Fiona," he said blandly. "Most guys will get turned on by it, no matter if their brain likes it or not. He would probably even get turned on if it were two guys or cartoon animals or something. Guys are just weird like that. Sorry, but I'm sure it was just a coincidence that the actress looked exactly like you."

I sighed, collapsing down on his plush leather sofa. "You're supposed to be helping me, not hurting me."

"I guess I'm doing both," he said with a soft smile. "What about that Luke guy? He seemed like a standup and more practical guy."

I sighed, yet again, making Brett raise a curious eyebrow at me. "He's great," I said, "but he's too out of my league. Or at least he is in my opinion. Besides, I don't know him like I know Ashton."

"So just get over that nutjob and ask Luke out to the event," he said in a matter-of-factly tone. "Or better yet, unlike Ashton who's taking his girlfriend, he just might ask out you."

"You make it sound so easy," I said and rolled my eyes. "I'm supposed to be the one who wards off the gold diggers and saves you from what would be a terrible relationship that would end in you shelling out half of your earnings for a girl who you fell for because of the way she could drink beer and do a pirouette at the same time and took home for a quickie that never made it past the kitchen."

"That was one time," he said, raising his finger at me. "And might you know, I didn't marry her, I only asked you if I should propose. This was years ago anyway, live and let die."

I was just about to tease him about his other failed love conquests since I knew about all of them besides this girl named Marilyn who was getting married a month or two from now, but my phone rang against the marble surface of his kitchen table, making a garish noise.

"Go and grab that," he said, "ugh, I hate that sound so much."

I quickly got up from the leather couch and grasped the phone up from off the table, answering it without bothering to check the caller ID. "Who is this?"

"You don't have my name saved on your phone, do you?" I heard Luke's voice ask through the speaker. "That's low. It's Luke Johnson, from Ashton's house. The tall and hot one."

I chuckled. "I just forgot to check the caller ID. My phone was on top of this table that makes the worst noise when it vibrates. What's up?"

"This us going to sound totally weird, but my friends are part of this gamer club and we're meeting down at an arcade tomorrow. I know it's the day before the event and you have to get ready, but if you want to come, then let me know."

"Of course I'll go with you," I said. Turning around, I saw Bretton looking at me, eager to know who I was talking to.

He mouthed 'Ashton' and I shook my head.

"Great," Luke said, sounding excited. "My friends might be embarrassing, just play it cool okay?"

"What do you mean by embarrassing? I'm sure they can't be that bad. They're your friends and so am I," I said while mentally cursing myself for calling him a friend when I was trying to get him to take me to the event. As a date. "Of course, that must mean I probably suck very bad."