You’re lucky to have this life. This house, and everything that comes with it.
Don’t be so sensitive, Asher, you’re lucky to have parents who can provide for you.
You’re lucky I’m allowing you to play football at all.
“Did something happen, Asher? Because you’re not making any sense.”
“I drank most of my old man’s liquor cabinet. I don’t even know what day it is right now.”
Lies.
It was all lies. I knew exactly where I was, what day it was, and who was here with me. But I didn’t want Mya to see behind my façade. Behind the guy everyone loved.
Because I knew she might not like what she found.
“Come on, I think the party’s over.” Mya stood up and held out her hand, waiting for me to give her mine.
The second our skin slid together, I felt it. The electricity. The connection. It simmered between us. Hooking my other arm around her waist, I pulled her flush against me and pressed my head to hers. “Tell me you don’t feel that?”
“Asher…” Mya’s eyes shuttered as she sucked in a harsh breath.
“Tell me.”
“I… I feel it.” She sounded so resigned. So sad. “But it doesn’t change anything.”
“Because I’m white? Because you think I give a shit about that?”
“Not just that, no. We come from different worlds, Asher. I have… nothing, and you have everything.”
My eyes closed, swallowing down the bitterness. She didn’t get it. No one did. Because, on the face of it, I had the nice house and rich parents, and the Raiders jersey on my back. I was supposed to be grateful. I couldn’t possibly know hardship.
Easing back to look her in the eyes, I let out a heavy sigh. “I thought you of all people might look past all that stuff. I thought you might see me.”
“You’re talking in riddles, Asher, and your breath smells like something died.” Mya’s hands pressed against my chest, the corner of her mouth tipping in a small smile. But I knew she wasn’t pushing me away because I had puke-breath, she was keeping me at a safe distance.
“I’m not,” I whispered. “You just need to look harder.”
“You think you can stand?” Mya asked me and I grinned.
“I’m not falling at your feet... yet.”
“Even drunk you’re insufferable. Wait here, okay? I’ll be right back.”
Satisfied I was propped up against the counter, Mya yanked the door open and ducked into the hall. Part of me wondered if she was doing a runner, getting as far away from me as possible. But the other part, the part clinging to the idea of there being an us one day, was hardly surprised when she reappeared.
She felt it.
Mya felt this thing growing between us.
I just had to get her to see it was worth taking a chance on.
“Jason and Cameron are going to close the party down. Come on...”
“You trying to get into my room, Hernandez?” I looked at her with a lazy smile. She rolled her eyes not giving me an answer.
I figured it was better than an outright rejection.
Hand wrapped around mine, Mya led us into the already emptying hall. Fortunately for me, we were able to slip up the second, less used set of stairs without anyone noticing.
“Which one is your room?”
“Mya I’m quite capable of getting to my own room.”
She let go of my hand and gave me a pointed look. I took a small step and another but before I knew it, I staggered forward almost crashing into the wall.
Except Mya broke my fall.
“You were saying?” There was a teasing note in her voice, but her eyes held a glint of concern I didn’t want to see there.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, Mr. Football Hotshot. Come on.” She held out her hand again and I took it, relishing the way her skin felt against mine. So warm. So soft and smooth.
So right it left me a little breathless.
“I’m not tucking you in,” Mya threw over her shoulder. “So don’t get any ideas.”
Pouting, I let her pull me along the hall to my room. “You know,” she said, “I don’t think I’ve ever been in a house so big.”
“What’s home like? Your home in Philly?”
“It’s not like this, that’s for sure.” Mya pushed open the door and found the light switch, but I said, “Don’t. I just want to get into bed and forget this ever happened.”
Mya guided me over to the bed and I flipped down onto it face first. Her amused laughter echoed in my skull. “I’ll get you some water and Advil.”
I don’t know how many minutes passed before she returned, the liquor-haze making me heavy, pushing me toward the edge of oblivion.
“Asher?” Her voice pulled me back into consciousness and I rolled over, cracking an eye open.
“Thanks,” I said, eyeing the bottle of water, box of pills, and gum.
“You should get some rest. I’ll—"
“Stay, you should stay.”
“Asher, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You’re right, it’s not. It’s probably the worst idea I’ve ever had.” I pushed up onto my elbows, kicking off my sneakers.
Mya hesitated, her eyes glittering with indecision. She wanted to go, that much was obvious. But something made her stay.
Padding over to the door, she closed it, before moving to the two-seater couch pushed up against the wall.
“You’re not sleeping there,” I said, suddenly feeling very awake.
“Who said anything about sleeping? I’ll sit for a little while and make sure you’re okay.”
“I think the chances of me hurting myself in my sleep are pretty slim.”
“You might choke on your own puke.”
My stomach lurched and I grimaced. “That is...”
“Disgusting?” Mya smirked.
“Can we pretend you didn’t see me half-passed out earlier, hugging the toilet bowl?”
“Too late,” she replied.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” I groaned, tipping my head back and taking in a deep breath. “This was so not how I saw this going.” The words came out small.
The bed dipped beside me and Mya’s hand rested on my arm. “What happened tonight, Asher?”
Our eyes collided.
Time stopped.
It would have been so easy to tell her, to let her see inside the guy with the world at his feet.
“I... My dad called, it was a rough conversation.”
Her brows furrowed. “You threw an impromptu party and then got ass over elbow drunk because of some argument with your dad?”
“Well, when you say it like that...” Strangled laughter spilled out of me, but it quickly died when I felt my stomach churn again. “Fuck.” I clambered off the bed, making a beeline for the bathroom adjoining my room, leaving Mya, and all thoughts of my dad behind.
Chapter Seven
Mya
“How is he?” Felicity asked as I entered the kitchen. Jason and Cameron had cleared the house in less than thirty minutes and were now bagging up all the empties while Hailee and Felicity wiped the counters.