I was just the funny friend. The guy who made the girls laugh.
“Goodbye, Asher.” Mya tried to move around me, but I stepped into her path.
“Not so fast.”
“Asher, come on.” She swatted my chest. “I have shit to do.”
“Yeah, like what shit?” I smirked.
“Homework and shit.”
“Can I come?”
“You want to come and do homework with me? Hmm, how about hell to the no?”
“Come on, Mya, it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve hung out.”
“That was different.” Her brows drew together. “That was with the group.”
“So this could be our group.”
“Two people hanging out is not a group, it’s a pair. It’s… weird.”
“But I’ve never been to your aunt’s house.”
“Because we’re not friends.” Mya darted around me, hurrying out of the building, but I gave chase.
I needed her.
“Mya, wait up.” She was already weaving between the cars in the parking lot. “How are you getting home?” I knew Felicity usually gave her a ride and she was with Jason.
“They’re called legs,” she yelled over her shoulder. “You should try using them someday.” She had the balls to wink at me.
Shit, this girl. She was like no one else I’d ever met. Ever since Mya Hernandez had arrived at Rixon High a couple of months back, she’d slid right into our group. Flick had been tasked with taking the Philly transfer under her wing, but Mya didn’t need a babysitter. She’d proved that more than once.
Mya Hernandez was a fighter. Not scared to wade into a fight to protect those she cared about. But it wasn’t her strength that intrigued me. It was her scars. The ones she thought she kept hidden.
Cussing out the stubborn girl, a new plan hatched when thunder rumbled overhead. I ran to my Jeep and ducked inside just as the first fat drops of rain began to fall. Throwing it into reverse, I backed out of the lot and tailed Mya as she pulled up her hood and hurried down the sidewalk.
Slowing to a crawl, I wound down the passenger window. “Get in,” I yelled.
“What?” She glared at me. “No. No!”
“A ride,” I explained. “That’s all I’m offering.”
“Just a ride? Because if this is a ploy to get an invitation into my aunt’s house, it won’t work.” Rain pelted down on Mya, dripping off the peak of her hood and onto her thick lashes.
“You need me, Hernandez, admit it.” I leaned over and pushed open the door, waiting. “Get in.”
To my surprise and relief, Mya climbed inside, shaking off her hood before pushing it down. Her tight spiral curls seemed wilder, framing her face.
“Thanks.” She belted up and tucked her hands under her thighs.
“Scared you won’t be able to keep your hands to yourself?” I teased, expecting some sassy retort. But Mya was quiet, too fucking quiet.
“Mya?” I asked.
“Just drive, Asher.” She gave a resigned sigh, as if she’d broken her cardinal rule by accepting a ride home from me.
And I didn’t know which cut worse.
That she was disappointed at herself for giving in to me. Or the fact she felt the need to resist me in the first place.
Chapter Three
Mya
“Well, this is me.” Asher’s Jeep slowed to a stop outside my Aunt Ciara’s house. It was an old farmhouse style place on the edge of town. A world away from the likes of Asher’s house with its huge yard, double garage, and lakeside setting. His was one of the biggest houses in town, a constant reminder that me and my new friend—and I used the term loosely—had completely different lives.
I was the girl from the hood, running from her past and trying to hold it together long enough to finish senior year. While Asher was… well, he was the All-American boy next door. Popular, athletic, and drop dead gorgeous—if you liked that kind of thing. Messy blond hair, pantie-melting blue eyes, and a smile so charming he had half the town falling at his feet.
He was also a giant pain in the ass.
Unlucky for me, his chosen ass of the moment was mine.
“Thanks for the ride.” I began to shoulder the door, but he snagged my wrist. My eyes flew to where his fingers curled around my wrist; his sun-kissed skin still three shades lighter than my caramel skin.
Just another reminder of everything that was different about us.
“Invite me in, Hernandez. I bet your aunt would love to meet me.” He had the audacity to wink. I smothered a groan.
“My aunt isn’t exactly a fan.” My brow rose, gaze darting to where he was still holding me. Asher released my wrist and ran a hand through his hair.
“Let me guess, she doesn’t want a Raider sniffing around her niece?”
“Try, white boy,” I murmured beneath my breath.
“What did you just say?” Asher said. “Because I know you didn’t just say what I think you said.”
“Nothing,” I bit out. “I said nothing.”
His eyes narrowed, searching my hardened expression for the truth. “Your aunt got a problem with the color of my skin, Hernandez?” He actually sounded offended. “She doesn’t even know me.”
“Welcome to my world.”
“Nobody cares about that shit, Mya. In case you haven’t noticed, it’s the twenty-first century.”
“And the fact you just said that tells me everything I need to know.” Indignation skittered up my spine. “Thanks again for the ride. I’ll see you at school tomorrow.” I slipped out of the Jeep, my chest tight with frustration.
Of course Asher didn’t get what it was like for me in a place like Rixon. Why would he? He was a guy. A privileged white guy, born and raised here.
He was also a Rixon Raider.
Something I’d quickly learned meant something around here.
I didn’t look back as I hurried toward my aunt’s porch. She wasn’t home, rarely was thanks to her job at the Seven-Eleven in the next town over. But I didn’t want to tell Asher that. He was worse than a dog with a bone and I knew if he realized I was home alone, he’d find a way inside, and then I’d never get rid of him.
Almost home free, I let out a small sigh of relief but then his voice made every muscle in my body lock up.
“What the fuck just happened?”
I swung around to find Asher standing there, his eyes full of apology and confusion. He looked so freakin’ adorable, in an annoyingly cute puppy-dog kind of way.
“Go home, Asher.” I remained guarded. Because if you gave Asher Bennet even half an inch, he wouldn’t hesitate to take a mile.
“Mya, come on. What was all that?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” I whispered, hating the icy fingers of vulnerability wrapping around my throat.
“Try me.” He stepped forward, taking the air with him. Which was ridiculous since we were standing outside, surrounded by nothing but the chilly Pennsylvanian air.
“Asher… please…” I didn’t want to do this. Not here. Not now.
Least of all on my aunt’s porch.