04

“Exactly !” his best friend exclaimed unknowingly rising to the bait. “And that’s why I think you should drop in for dinner tonight.”

That made him even more suspicious. Usually for the past two weeks when Jake or Rachel invited him over for dinner, Rachel’s best friend Kyra Hart had always been ever present.

Everyone in the family knew that Devin Crighton, Jake’s father was a hopeless romantic and he had picked up some clue during the recent family gatherings that he wanted to get him married to Rachel’s best friend. He was damned if they thought he would play along as Jake had. He was smarter and had a dare devil attitude and would never never give in to such obnoxious demands. Ashton would find a way to outsmart them if ever they decided to put him in a tight spot.

“Who else is going to be there ?” he queried treading carefully.

“You could bring someone.”

“Someone ? Who ?” he asked puzzled now at the mystery Jake was trying to set.

“I don’t know. A date.” Jake answered groaning as he stood, stretching his stiff muscles as a pretext to be casual.

He scowled. “I’m not dating anyone.”

“Really ? Surprise me ?” Jake asked grinning mischievously.

“Cut it out, Jake. What’s with you ? I’m not interested. Only curious I must admit.”

“Fair enough but it’s not a big deal. She’s just a friend of Rachel’s and we invited her to diner. And I thought of inviting you too. No big deal, as you see.”

“What’s her name ?” he queried suspiciously.

“Why are you so suspicious, man ?”

“Be-cause my best friend I know you are trying to fix me up with that Kyra and I have already told you that I’m not interested in her. I get quite awkward around her now and I don’t want to repeat such an encounter.”

“Ok,” Jake answered raising his hand in defeat. “Heather Knight I think.”

Ashton stared at him for several seconds as if trying to test the truth of his statement then finally conceded. Fine maybe he was telling the truth after all. But he was still not interested. And suddenly remembered to ask.

“Is Selena going to be present too ?”

Jake sighed heavily.

“Ok, ok. Sorry about being such an old stick in the mud. It’s just that I am tired and don’t want any encounter with Selena, at least not tonight.”

“Why ? Afraid you wouldn’t be able to resist her ?”

Those words froze him to the spot and he sat rigid for a long time before finally being able to face his best friend with a neutral expression. “What ? What do you mean ?”

“You know what I mean. I’ve seen you two for the past two months. Your quarrels are getting redundant and I’m sure you try to get under her skin because she gets under yours.”

“I hate her,” he pronounced solemnly.

“Aw come on, buddy. You’re not kids anymore, you know. Things can change. So why don’t you let go of the past and start afresh with her ?”

“Whoa ! Are you through ? Is this my personal life we are talking about ?” he snapped at his best friend.

“Are you telling me to back out, pal ? After the way you had raped my personal life before I accepted that I was in love ? No way !” Jake replied chuckling delightfully, appearing pleased by the prospect that his friend was in a dilemma.

“How did we even get started on such a conversation ? Just imagine me and Selena. It would make such a wonderful horror movie !”

“I guess it’s a good sign that you didn’t deny the fact that you’re attracted to her.”

“Oh gimme a break, Jake. I’ll come to the damned dinner if it means so much to you,” he finally said throwing down his pen in a fit of temper. “I’m not asking much of you, only to butt out of my life. I know you care and believe me it touches me deeply. But please I can make my own decisions thank you very much.”

“I’ve never taken a decision for you. I’m only suggesting that you and Selena set some sparks when you are together. Since none of you are interested, it would probably never happen. End of story.”

“Exactly ! That is what I have been trying to tell you since the beginning !” he delivered in a loud voice glad that his office was sound-proof. At least nobody could hear the presumptuous suggestions his supposedly best friends was throwing his way.

“Ok,” shrugged Jake care freely, opening a bottle of ice tea from their small office fridge. “Can I ask you something ?”

Ashton sighed heavily making him know that he didn’t appreciate such interference. However, Jake threw him a sheepish grin and looked at him expectantly as he’d done as a kid when he’d wanted Ashton to do his homework.

He sighed again.

“Shoot,” he finally conceded impatiently.

“Have you ever kissed her ?” Jake queried casually ignoring the indrawn breath.

Ashton was simply outraged !

“What the hell ! Do I have to… ?” he exploded and Jake cut him with an upraised hand and looked at him candidly before replying.

“If you don’t want to answer that’s fine. I was only wondering about something.”

Despite himself, he found his curiosity growing. “What thing ?”

“You have to answer me first.”

“Ok. No,” he finally growled in a voice that told Jake clearly how displeased he was.

He slapped his hand as if he had been expecting that same reply. “So, do you want to kiss her when you’re around her ?”

“What are you getting at ?” Ashton asked puzzled.

“So why don’t you try it out ?”

“Jake have you been listening ? I hate her !”

“Ashton !” Jake repeated in the same tone. “Do you have to love her to kiss her ? Don’t you know how it’s done ?” he asked in a mild tone as if talking to a child. “What are you so afraid of, anyway ? It would only be a kiss. No big deal. Let’s see whether it sets a spark ?”

“Set a spark ?” he repeated hotly. “Holy Jesus, why don’t I kiss all the ladies in the town while we are at it just to see whether it would set a spark ?” Ashton yelled.

Jake threw him a look that sent a thousand of messages but he was not one to be scared by the attitude of Ash. He knew him since they were kids and he used sarcasm as an arm of defense whenever something didn’t go as he planned.

Ashton paused and sighed. He never understood how his conversations always got around Selena McKenzie. She, who wasn’t supposed to be involved in his life in any way. And what the hell ? Last he knew, Jake had been trying to set him up with Kyra. Now suddenly, he was so keen on him kissing Selena. What the hell was going on ?

“Cut the crap, buddy. Why do you want me to be with Selena now instead of Kyra ?” he said in a weary tone. Things were getting out of hand now. There was no way in hell he was going to kiss Selena McKenzie and he had several reasons for that. First being, the chick hated even the sight of him and if ever he tried to kiss her, she would slap him and Ashton was too proud to even undertake such a risk.

“Hell, no ! I never wanted to fix you up with Kyra. It was dad and Rachel’s idea,” Jake admitted and looked as if he had made the mistake of his life by revealing such a secret.

“Aha ! So you admit that it was part of the plan ?” Ashton cried out too happy to have discovered their sordid affair.

Jake appeared guilty as hell. “Well, they have thought about…”

“Hell ! I knew there was something fishy going on here. I can still remember the last time they locked us in a room for two whole hours ! I’m so going to throw that in their face now.”

“Ash, listen. Don’t do anything foolish okay ?”