You Had Me, You Lost Me, You'll Never Find Me novel Chapter 78

Luke thought to himself, *I'm out here trying to create a romantic opening for you, and you think I'm trying to steal your girl?*

*Unbelievable.*

Never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, Connor chimed in from the sidelines. "Who caught your eye, Luke? I recall there being exactly four actresses in *The Mist*. Two of them are way older, leaving only two young, gorgeous ones. If you like one of them, you better make your move fast."

Luke couldn't stand Connor. The guy was too scheming. Giving a dry laugh, he muttered, "I was just joking."

Connor chuckled in response and looked at Ashton. "You've been busy lately, Ashton. Haven't checked social media?"

Ashton shot him a cold look. "Don't care to. Why?"

"No big deal. Just fans tearing each other apart. It's a toxic mess. Probably best you stay off it."

Ashton couldn't be bothered to entertain him. If his Aunt Vivienne hadn't insisted he include Connor in his social circle, he wouldn't give the guy the time of day.

Connor had always been unbearable. Growing up, none of the other kids wanted to play with him, not that he ever seemed to mind.

In elementary school, he was constantly bullied for being short, with kids practically shoving his head underwater.

One time, Rebecca Winslet—who was the undisputed beauty queen of the middle school back then—caught them in the act. Furious, she dragged the bullies away and had the teachers call their parents. After that, no one dared mess with Connor again.

Rebecca had saved him, and he should have been grateful. Instead, a young Connor had sneered at her, "I was having fun playing with them. Why the hell are you being so nosy?"

Because of that single comment, Ashton had despised him ever since. Unlike Luke, who was a genuine friend, Ashton's relationship with Connor was entirely superficial.

But for some reason, Connor seemed overly invested in Reina.

While they were talking, Ashton completely missed the fact that Reina had just posted an update. Connor glanced at his phone, read it, and stood up with a lazy stretch. "I'm exhausted. Heading back to catch up on sleep."

With his hands stuffed in his pockets, he casually strolled out of the booth.

Ashton lowered his gaze and lit a cigarette. Instead of smoking it, he rested it on the edge of the ashtray, watching the smoke curl slowly into the air.

Ashton scoffed. "If you don't know how to talk, then shut up. No one's forcing you to speak." With that, he stood up and walked toward the exit.

"Hey," Luke called out. "Where are you going?"

"We're broken up. You think I'm going to spend the rest of my life acting like a monk for her?"

He loosened his collar, stepped onto the dance floor, and casually wrapped his arm around the shoulders of a petite woman. "Want to dance?"

Seeing how handsome he was and thrilled by his bold approach, the woman blushed. "I'd love to."

They danced closely in the chaotic, pulsating nightclub. The stunning woman looked up at him with eager eyes. "Are you taking me home tonight?"

Luke watched in utter disbelief as Ashton walked out the door with the woman and got into a car.

He thought to himself, *My buddy has completely lost his mind.*