“We should join them. I don’t want your cousins to think I’m rude.”
“Fuck my cousins. Did they even come back here with us?”
“You don’t remember?”
“I’m not going to lie; everything is a little hazy. Not the limo though. I remember that.” His eyes flared again, and I knew he was thinking about what we did in there.
“Vaughn dragged some guy back with her. Riley was flying solo though.”
“Huh.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Guess I drank more than I thought.”
“At least you didn’t puke this time.” The corner of my mouth tipped as I teased him.
“I didn’t say anything last night, did I?”
My heart stopped. Blood pounding between my ears.
“What do you remember?” It came out strained.
“I remember some fucker putting his hands on you… the limo… shots. But I definitely have a few black spots.”
Disappointment and dread sat in the pit of my stomach.
He didn’t remember.
Asher didn’t remember our confession to one another.
“Mya, what is it?” He leaned up, brushing my face.
“N- nothing. I should get cleaned up.” I began climbing off the bed but before I got a foot on the floor, my body had been yanked back and Asher was looming down over me.
“I love you,” he said, apology shining in his eyes.
“You remember?” Confusion swirled in my chest, making it hard to breathe.
“Of course I remember. I was joking. It was supposed to be a joke to see if you’d own up to it.”
“A test.” My brow went up. “You mean it was a test?” I batted his chest. Hard.
“No...” The blood drained from his face. “Shit. I screwed up, babe. Forgive me?” His eyes went soft, his bottom lip sticking out.
“Don’t do that to me, Asher. Don’t make a game out of how we feel about each other.” My hands glided up his collarbone, looping around his neck. “I might be strong, but it doesn’t mean you can’t break me.”
“I’m sorry.” He covered my face in closed-mouthed kisses. “I’m a dumbass who doesn’t think. I remember everything about last night. Well, the important bits.” Asher leaned down, running his nose along my cheek, his mouth lingering at my ear. “I remember how it felt being inside you in the limo.”
His teeth grazed my lobe and I felt him grow hard at my stomach. “Ash...” I licked my lips. “Maybe we have time to—”
“Rise and shine, lovers. If you’re not out here in five, I’m coming in,” Jason yelled. “Consider yourselves warned.”
“Ugh.” Asher rolled off me and flopped down on the bed. I giggled into his arm.
“We should get dressed.”
“He’s such a fucking cockblock.”
“We have time,” I said, stroking my finger up the cut lines of his torso.
“Time, you think we have time?” His eyes simmered with possessiveness. “I don’t want time, Mya. I want forever.”
I gulped hard. The weight of his words pressing down on me.
On us.
But yet again, I was saved by another knock at the door. “Guys.” It was Hailee this time. “I’m not sure I can keep Jason out any longer.
“Coming,” I called. “We’ll be right there.”
Before Asher could grab me again, I slipped off the bed and grabbed some clothes before disappearing into the adjoining bathroom. The door clicked shut, the sound ricocheting through me. It was one thing to declare our feelings for each other... but to want forever... that was something else entirely.
Part of me wanted to believe Asher was joking; making some flippant spur of the moment comment. But the other part knew better.
Asher Bennet didn’t let people in. He guarded his heart—his truths—with wit and humor. Even his best friends in the whole world didn’t know about his dad.
But I did.
Asher had trusted me with his deepest darkest secrets. So when he looked me in the eye and told me he wanted forever, I believed him.
Even if it was crazy.
“Fee, baby, this looks really good, but I’m not sure I can stomach it.” Asher groaned, pushing away the plate of food and dropping his head on the counter.
“It’s not like I cooked it.” She chuckled. “All I did was serve it.”
“Still, it looks great,” I said, digging into my plate of bacon and pancakes. A glass of water and a couple of Advil had worked wonders on my hangover.
“Ash, man, I know you’re hurting right now, but please stop calling my girl ‘Fee, baby’.”
“Don’t be such a caveman,” Flick rolled her eyes at him.
“Yeah, Jase,” Asher mumbled from his arm. “Don’t be such a caveman.”
“Okay, then, let’s see how the fuck you like it.” Jason set his sights on me and I frowned across the counter at him. “Hey, Mya, baby,” he said huskily, “how are your pancakes?”
“Hmm, good, thanks.” I slid my eyes to Asher who had gone tense.
Jason smirked. “You’ve got a little syrup right there.” He stood up and leaned over the counter, his arm coming toward me. “Here, let me get—”
“Don’t even think about it.” Asher wrapped his hand around Jason’s wrist, his eyes narrowed to deadly slits.
“Now you know how it feels.”
“Not the same thing at all, and you know it.”
“Yeah.” Jason grinned. “It was just too tempting to fuck with you. Now eat something, it’ll make you feel better.”
“He this bossy with you?” Asher glanced at Felicity who blushed a deep shade of red.
“Oh, you have no idea.”
“You love it,” Jason said around a mouthful of bacon.
“Maybe.” My friend was beet red now. “Just a little.”
“I can’t believe it’s January first,” Hailee said. “Graduation will be here before we know it.”
“Bring it on if you ask me. I can’t wait to get the fuck out of Rixon.”
“Jason!” Felicity scolded.
They started bickering but Asher had my full attention. He was still curled in on himself, face hidden in the crook of his arm. I rested my hand on his thigh, squeezing gently. It was a show of support; a way to let him know I was here for him.
I didn’t expect him to straighten, clear his throat, and say, “So I have something to say and I need you to let me get it out, okay?” His eyes flicked to mine and I silently asked him if he was sure.
“It’s time,” he breathed.
Anticipation rippled around us, the air thick and heavy.
“Whatever it is, we’ve got your back,” Cam broke the awkward silence while Asher tried to find the words.
“Yeah, we’re here, man,” Jase added. “One hundred percent.”
“I know and I appreciate it. More than you know.” Asher pushed off his stool and stood up, raking a hand through his tousled bed hair. “Fuck, I don’t even know how to say this.”
“Ash...” I started but his eyes cut to mine, the pain behind them making the words dry on my tongue.