How do i ask this guy i really!! like out?

well he was my ex boyfriend and i dated him 2 times and now my best friend in the whole wide world dated him 2 times also and i tried to ask him out but i didn't know how to say like "hey ______ do u want to go out"..im like really shy at asking guys out and i think he still likes me but my friend dumped him a while ago and it doest seem he wants to date for a while should i wait? or should i ask him out? and he is like my best guy friend 2 well i was just wandering if u could help me to ask out guys.... tyty and i really like him like A LOT so please help me on how to ask him out