Page 67 of Phillip

“Oh,” Mary Beth said with a mischievous laugh. “The names she called you aren’t fit to share.”

Phillip snickered. “I can only imagine.”

“I am ignoring the both of you,” Ashley added.

“That’s good because”—Mary Beth focused on Phillip—“I want to know if you’re still considered an ex.”

“Mary Beth!”

Mary Beth turned, arms out. “What? I’m talking to the man while wearing my emoji pajamas. I can ask him whatever I want to.”

“Sounds fair to me,” he said.

“Sounds like an abuse of the best friend handbook,” Ashley disagreed. “Go find the rules. Thou shall not question—”

“Nope.” Mary Beth grinned and shook her head. “I’m allowed to. The rule book says so right after the section about consequences for failure to notify a roommate about a slumber party.” She tilted her head, adding dramatically, “But I guess I should cut her some slack. This is her first time engaging with an overnight guest.”

Ashley was going to die of mortification.

“Is that so?” Phillip’s crooked grin hung haphazardly on his amused face.

“All right, you two. I’m going to go and hide now. Good work, the both of you.” But despite the hot blush running from her cheeks to her toes and the dangerous lack of caffeine, Ashley floated down the hall. There was something awesome about her best friend and her—whatever he was—getting along.

***

With two mugs of green tea in hand, Phillip nudged the cracked bedroom door open with his foot. He held up the steaming mugs as a peace offering, chuckling when Ashley threw herself over the bed. “Don’t mind me. I’ve suffered death by embarrassment.”

He chuckled. “Nah.” He set the mugs on the nightstand by her bed and sat on the edge. “That could have been a lot worse.”

“Not your call to make. And why is she up?” Ashley threw her arms in the air then flopped back onto the bed. “She’s never up this early.”

“Well, I think it could have gone a lot worse. She could have thrown her bagel or coffee at me. I can only imagine the things that you’ve said.”

She propped herself up against the headboard. Phillip passed her a mug then settled next to her. “I’m like the prodigal son—but the ex-boyfriend—returning again.”

Ashley groaned and rolled her eyes. “I’d elbow you, but I don’t want to spill my tea.” She lifted a foot and hooked it over his legs, which were sprawled in front of him. The oversized T-shirt she wore slid up her thigh, and he laughed. “At least I was dressed.”

He had put on his clothes from the day before. “Maybe you didn’t realize I liked to walk around naked, letting it all hang out. That’s a new fun fact about me.”

Ashley snorted. “Mary Beth would have died.”

Ashley grinned, then carefully sipped from her mug. He took it from her hands and sat it next to his untouched tea.

“Hey,” she complained.

“Taking your morning caffeine is a dangerous move, but I’m going to risk it.”

Her lips quirked. “Only if you know what you’re doing.”

Ha. Not really.He was flying by the seat of his pants, which was ironic since he had formed a plan to win her back. He hadn’t come close to even nailing the first step. Instead, he’d jumped ahead and then fallen back to the start again. There had been no order, yet there they were.

“Mary Beth asked you a question,” he pointed out.Was the ex-boyfriend still the ex?

Ashley’s lips rounded. “Well, um…”

Her answer was his too. How much of their old relationship still needed to be addressed? Maybe none at all. Maybe he should admit how close he’d come to proposing. Hell, maybe not. “Yeah, those are exactly my thoughts too,” he teased.

She laughed. “What’s that mean?”

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