I burst out laughing. "Ash, I am definitely not texting you pickle."
"It's embarrassing but effective," Ash snorted through the phone.
"Yeah, no," I scoffed. "So you were officially covering for me if Dad called, right? Say I was crashing at your place or something."
"Of course," he said. "I've got your back. First time doing a bad thing? I got you." He actually laughed, and it was absurdly comforting. Then his voice softened. "Be careful, Juney. Call me if anything feels weird."
"I will," I promised, and cut the call.
Ian had been watching me the whole time, like he was cataloguing my entire personality or something. He smirked. "He calls you Juney?"
"Shut up," I said, but my chest did that stupid flutter thing and I couldn't fake being annoyed.
He grinned. "It's actually cute," he said. "I like it. I'm gonna call you Juney too."
"Omg, don't," I groaned.
Okay, whatever, that was cute. Don't tell anyone.
My phone buzzed again.
