She isn't alone in that. Ash would be a liar if he said he wasn't already crushing on Fred. How could he not? That smile, her enthusiasm, those pretty eyes. He wouldn't say he is a sucker for a pretty girl but a smart and pretty girl? Yes, absolutely.

"Sounds like a date in the making, Fred." He could picture it and it kept that smile on his face. "Maybe a couple of them, if you're up for it." Ash paused and quickly added. "By date I don't mean it has to be anything romantic. For the record." He cleared his throat. Usually he would come on very strong, never correcting or amending something like saying date. Ash doesn't want to scare her off though. Or come off like some kind of creep.

His heart sank a little when her tone changed. Damn. He should have left it alone. Making her talk about something that hurt her wasn't his intention. Ash also wasn't expecting the spike of anger he felt when she explained what had happened. "He still alive?"