She needed to remember him as a teen when they were friends and only friends, when she could literally sleep in his bed next to him and not have one thought about kissing him.

Ash looked up as if hearing her thoughts and caught sight of her. He smiled that half smile of his, the one that said he was in on some long-running joke the rest of the world hadn’t caught onto yet, and lifted a hand in greeting. His gaze skimmed down over the casual blue dress she’d thrown on and then down to her cowboy boots. His eyes met hers again, something sharp there. A hard kick of desire hit her, making her cheeks instantly hot.

She could hear Whoopi Goldberg’s voice from Ghost in her head. You in danger, girl.

Ash pushed off the wall to walk toward her, but she held up a finger. “One sec. I need to make a quick call. A private one.”

His brows lowered in confusion, and he stepped back. “Yeah, sure.”

She slipped into the narrow alley between the stores, her heart beating too fast, and hit a name on her phone screen. Liv answered on the first ring, the hum of a car engine in the background. “Hey,” she said. “You on your way? We’re heading out now.”

“Liv,” Kincaid said, keeping her voice low but urgent. “I need a favor.”

“Sure, what’s up?”

She cupped her hand over the mouthpiece. “I’m bringing Ashton Isaacs with me tonight. Do you remember him?”

“Ashton.” There was a pause. “Ash Isaacs from high school? The coach’s son?”

“That’s the one. I’m not sure if you know, but we used to be best friends.”

“Okay. Used to be,” Liv said carefully.

“He’s back in town for a little while and it’s complicated—like, really complicated—but…”

“What is it?” Liv asked, concern slipping into her voice.

“I just need you to make sure that I don’t drink too much or get too overly friendly, you know, too me with him. Keep me…corralled.”

Liv snorted. “Like a horse? I think you just insulted yourself.”

“You’ll see why I’m asking when we get there. Just promise me,” Kincaid pleaded, feeling a little ridiculous. She was a grown woman who should be able to control her impulses, but she also knew how she could get with a few drinks in her and a lot of people around. All that energy dialed her personality up to eleven. Usually, that was fun. Making friends with strangers in the bar and harmlessly flirting. But with Ash, it could be disastrous.

“Yeah sure, chica. I’ve got you,” Liv said.

“Everything okay?” a voice asked in the background—Finn, Liv’s husband.

“Yeah,” Liv said, amusement in her voice. “We have to keep Kincaid from being herself tonight apparently.”

Kincaid could hear Finn scoff. “Good luck with that.”

“I heard that, Dorsey,” Kincaid said.

Liv laughed. “He’s just teasing. Everything will be fine. It’s not like Taryn and Bec will be drinking anyway. You can join the pregnant ladies for the sober squad.”