For the Love of Ash by Taylor Lavati Page B

confused since she didn't have my number. Shit.  

    Sunny : Who is this? Luke?
    Sunny : Am I supposed to know what Tksh akdhj aid! means?  

    I actually laughed out loud.  
    "What?" Lilly looked at me strange, like I was growing a second head. I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and shoved the phone in my pocket.

    Apartment hunting round one was an utter failure. The places were all too big for me. I wasn't looking to have a three bedroom mansion, and I was afraid that was my own fault for hiring the family realtor. I thought my mom was screwing with me behind the scenes to keep me in the prison of her house a little longer. Or maybe it was her subtle way of telling me to settle down.
    I sent a text to Lindsay to see who she used to find her place, because it was exactly what I was looking for. Lilly and I both got into my car, and I felt my phone vibrate again. It was killing me in a way I usually didn't get. I wasn't a technology buff, so being attached to my phone was a foreign feeling.
    "Where do you want to eat?" I asked Lilly, since I promised her a meal for her undying and super supportive help.  
    "That burger place." She didn't look up from her phone.
    "What burger place?"
    "You know," she said, finally placing the phone on her lap. "The one that serves breakfast. With the big bar. My friends all go there. Plus, they have burgers. So good, and mom never lets us eat meat at home unless dad's there."
    "Okay, Prime Time, right?"
    "Yep."  
    And that was all I got from her. I was going to make it a priority to get her to talk to me during our dinner. I wanted to connect with her, and I was going to make it work.  
    I pulled into the parking lot, which was surprisingly busy for a Thursday night. I had been to this place before, especially in high school since it was just a few towns over.  
    To be honest, the guy I used to buy weed from made us meet here in the back lot by the dumpsters—classic spot, I know. But I was sixteen so what more could you expect. We were the stupid rich kids from the prep school, so the prices were jacked, and we were always shorted.  
    Jesus. I really hoped Lilly and Liam weren't into that shit. That thought literally made me freeze. Maybe I could ask her during dinner. I doubt she'd tell me. Fuck. I really wished these kids had a functioning parent, because I couldn't handle it.  
    "Lil." I tapped her shoulder to get her attention. She pulled her earbuds out, looked around, and smiled, realizing where we were.  
    "Sorry."
    "It's okay. Let's go eat." I shoved my wallet into my back pocket and walked alongside Lilly into Prime Time. The first thing I saw was her . The main counter took up most of the right side of the one roomed restaurant, and she was behind it, talking to an older man, laughing like they were longtime friends.  
    My stomach actually swirled. I was fucking pathetic. I grabbed Lilly's hand and pulled her in the opposite direction. She glared up at me but let me tug her down the other aisle and into a two-person booth.
    "What is going on?" she asked as she ducked her head, looking around the room like she was paranoid.
    "I know the girl behind the bar."
    "And…" She tilted her head to the side, her eyes wide with conspiracy.
    "I don't want her to see me yet."
    "Shit. You like her?" Lilly started to turn her head to look behind her, but I reached forward and stopped her. "She doesn't know me, moron." This time I let Lilly turn. When she faced me, she didn't say anything.
    "Well?"
    "She's way out of your league."
    "How do you know?"
    "She's an actual woman. And she looks sad. I don't think she's looking for a fun time in the sack."
    "What makes you think I am?" I asked back, crouching down so Maggie wouldn't spot me. Before Lil could answer, the hostess came over and dropped two laminated menus on the white table between us.  
    "Can I get you two anything to drink?" she asked, faking a smile. The woman was older, maybe in her