by Toni Aleo
He nods. “I agree. Really, I’m more than impressed with you, Allison.”
I smile. “Anytime, Coach. My parents are waiting, excuse me.”
He pats my back. “Great game.”
I send him a wide grin that instantly falls when I see Angie and Asher exchanging numbers. My mom watches with disdain swirling in her blue depths, while my dad grins like a proud father.
Damn it.
When Angie turns, a little pep in her step, I notice as Asher watches her walk away. His lips slowly curl into a sensual grin, and I want to trip Angie. Again, I realize that makes me petty, but I don’t care. As she passes me, she looks so damn proud of herself. “Told ya.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I snarl at her, but then I flash her a grin so she doesn’t know I want to trip her. I go to my dad first, hugging him tightly as he kisses my temple. “I feel since you guys won, the Assassins will do the same.”
I beam. “Well, with you and Posey on the power play, I think it’s a done deal.”
He kisses my temple again. “Great game, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Dad,” I say as my mom hugs me tightly.
“So good! You were everywhere!”
“Gotta keep the captain game strong,” I say, shaking the C part of my jersey at her. She chuckles at my silliness as I look Asher over. “Dude, that shirt doesn’t fit.”
He laughs as he high-fives me. “I know. I told Mama Harp I need her to make me a new one.”
“A bigger one to fit all those muscles in,” Mom teases. “He claims he didn’t eat little Asher and he’s not on steroids.”
I laugh as Dad slaps Asher hard on the back. “He isn’t on steroids. Lucas would kill him.”
Asher nods. “Dead. And then after he killed me, he’d kill me again.”
I snicker as Mom grins. “So, what’s y’all’s plan? Wanna get some dinner?”
“Sure,” I say with a shrug, and then I glance at Asher. “Make them pay for us.”
Asher grins. “Yeah, I want to, but I just made plans with Angie. She’s cute. You didn’t tell me that.”
Because I hate her. That’s not true; I love her. But, ugh. Why Asher? I think I would be less upset if she hit on my dad. At least then, my mom could flick her away like a bug, and that would be that. Nope. Instead, I have to grin. “Yeah, she’s great.”
“But I’ll come for a drink, some apps. We can go to Brooks House, make my sister serve us.”
Mom and Dad nod, and then everyone looks at me. I can refuse, go back to my room and sulk, or I can keep this game of hiding my feelings strong.
I love games.
“Yeah, totally. Let me go shower and change. I’ll meet you guys there.” I turn, but then I stop, turning back. “Can you give him a ride? He Ubered here.”
“I can wait for you,” he says. And then he sits to decide it. “So you don’t have to drive alone.”
“Great!” I say a little too over the top, but then I remember he doesn’t have a car yet. “What are you going to do, Uber to Angie?”
“No, she’s meeting us at Brooks House.”
Fan-fucking-tastic. I so don’t want to see them together. I try to keep my face neutral, but it doesn’t work. “So, we’re going to Brooks House for your date?”
He shrugs. “I’ll buy you wine and apps.”
I scrunch up my face. “No, you’ll get your mom to give it to me for free.”
“Same thing.”
“It isn’t, but whatever. We’ll be there soon, guys.”
I don’t even wait for them to say bye to me, I just head back to the locker room. When I enter, the room is full of winning chatter, but all I hear is Angie. “He’s so dreamy. So big. Yeah, his brother is Aiden Brooks. The star of the Assassins? Yeah, girl, he is so beautiful. I don’t know how Ally doesn’t bang him from sunup to sundown.”
Because I’m terrified of rejection, you dumbass!
I fight back the tears and go to my locker, fishing out my phone. I open my contacts and go to Taco’s name. I hesitate, knowing it’s a really bad idea, but that doesn’t stop me.
When he answers with his low timbre of a voice, I say, “Hey, meet me at Brooks House in about an hour and a half. I’m having dinner with my parents, and then I’ll have drinks with you.”
“Maybe some more? I miss you, Allison.”
I feel like I’m choking on my answer, but I say, “Maybe, if things have changed.”
“They have.”
They haven’t, and when I hang up, I immediately drop my head.
Jesus, I’m pathetic.
Dinner with my parents and Asher is just like I remember it. Full of laughs and happiness. My parents have always loved Asher like he was theirs. Because my dad is clueless to my feelings for Asher, he doesn’t realize how hard it is for me to sit here, joking and having fun, when I know, at any moment, Angie will show up, and then Asher will be with her. My mom does know, and the sympathy-filled gazes she keeps flashing me are way worse than what I feel. I hate that I am so pathetically in love with someone who has not even an inkling of feelings for me. I almost wish I could make my own feelings stop, but I really don’t. I could. I could actually find someone else. I could fall in love with them and be happy; it would be easy. Give them the parts of myself I hold back for Asher, for a dream that won’t ever come true. Not only am I terrified by the idea of his rejection, I am scared of losing him as my person.
My ride or die.
I couldn’t imagine things being awkward or weird between us. We’re both stubborn, and I know we’d make our friendship work, but all that would do is make it blow up in our faces in the end. Problem is, we couldn’t give up on each other, which really should be enough to force me to admit what I am feeling. But the fear of him laughing in my face is entirely too much to bear. I know he wouldn’t do it maliciously—Asher isn’t that person—but he’d think I’m joking. When he discovers I’m not, the weirdness would start. No, I can’t let him know. It would ruin the friendship of a lifetime. As much as it hurts to watch him with other women, I’d rather have his friendship than nothing.
No matter how much it hurts.
I really hate that I’m this way too. I hate that I hide so fiercely. When Posey was going through this—in love with Maxim, her friend—I urged her to be honest. I urged her to go to him with an open heart and tell him what she was feeling. I felt like a phony because I wouldn’t do the same. I’m glad I haven’t since that all blew up in her face, but on the flip side, she found this amazing guy. A guy who thinks she is perfection. Maybe I need to be honest to move on?
But I won’t.
Dad leaves the table when Asher does. Of course, Angie came fully prepared to get her man. She’s insanely gorgeous in a bodycon green dress that makes her eyes shine. Her hair is down in wide curls, framing her beautiful face. I hate how Asher’s eyes lit up and how he rushed over once she entered. Not even really a goodbye to me. When he asked me to wish him luck, I told him he didn’t need it. But in my head, I didn’t want to give it to him, and so I didn’t.
Because I’m petty like that.
“I’m aware this makes me petty.”
Things are never good when my mom says that. I tear my gaze away from where Asher and Angie have sat down to meet my mom’s heated gaze. “But I think if we call Lucy and tell her Angie is with Asher, she’ll stop it quickly. We all know Lucas’s past as a whore, and Aiden was no different. While Asher is nothing like them, I still think we can spin it in your favor.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Mom—”
“I’m just saying,” she informs me so matter-of-factly.
“That is petty, and I’m not like that.” At least, I’m not in public. In this mind of mine, I’m Petty Patricia. She’s a nasty bitch, but I feel her on many levels. She’s probably my mom’s cousin. “It is what it is.”
“It could be more. I think he’s head over heels for you.”
I scoff. “In your head, yes. But here in reality, he doesn’t see me as
more than just a big sister.”
I glance over to where Asher is laughing at whatever Angie has said. She’s so beautiful, and I know his type. He loves dark-haired women and super-skinny girls. Jasmine was model-thin, and Angie is on the thinner side. That’s why she is a great hitter. There is no weight holding her down. Also, she’s got a great personality. He’s gonna fall for her, and I’ll have to watch and hear it go down.
As I exhale deeply, I see Taco entering the room. He’s cut his hair; it’s shaved up the sides and wild on top. He looks like a J.Crew bad-boy model. He comes from money, but unlike the men in his family who work for everything they have, he likes to have everything handed to him. It’s annoying. Don’t get me wrong, my parents spoiled me, but I know what sacrifices were made to give me what I had. The weeks we’d go without my dad, the long hours my mom put in at the studio when my dad was blowing their money on pills, and the interminable six months without my dad while he got clean. He did that for us, for my mom, and my mom worked her ass off to make sure we had everything. Journey and I have already said that, no matter what, we’ll care for our parents when they’re old and gray. One of the many things I love about Asher is he always has said he would help care for my parents too.
He’s a good dude, and Taco is nothing like him.
I text him quickly to meet me at the bar. I don’t want my parents to see him, but of course, that’s not my luck.
“What the fuck is that Chalupa asshole doing here?”
My dad sits beside me, his brows drawn in as my mom whips her head around and then back to me, her brows matching my dad’s and her lips in a snarl.
They don’t like Taco. Like, at all.
“Guys—”
“Is he here for you?” Mom asks, directly and with such revulsion.
“Of course he is. Look how he is staring over here. Fucking hell, Allison. What are you doing?”
“You promised me,” Mom says, and I hold up my hands to calm them down, but it would take a tranquilizer to do that. “I am very disappointed.”
I groan loudly. “I get it, and no apology will help, but I need some closure.”
And to feel something other than jealousy over Asher.
My mom knows the reason and purses her lips. My dad, though, he is pissed. He throws some twenties on the table and glares over at me. “I will never forgive that asshole for what he wanted you to do. You deserve better, Allison, and I refuse to sit here and watch you get closure.” His words are like jabs in my heart. He turns his attention to my mom. “Either you’re with me, or you’re getting an Uber.”
She gives him a dry look. “Like you’d let me get an Uber.”
He shrugs. “I wanted to sound like a badass.”
“Eh, more like a dick,” she says, draining her wine.
He pulls her to his side, still very much pissed, but even more in love with my mom. “Forgive me?”
“Yeah, we’ll both just be pissed at her.”
They look at me, and I feel like I’m four again when I ate a whole basket of cinnamon rolls. “Good plan,” he agrees, and I roll my eyes.
“I’m twenty—”
“Allison,” my dad says, stopping my words. “You can be a hundred and four, and I will still tell you that you deserve the world. That asshole is not it.”
He starts to walk away, but my mom’s gaze stays on me. “That is not going to heal the pain in your heart. Honesty will, though.”
And then she walks away.
I exhale loudly and almost follow them out, but then I see Asher looking at me, perplexed. I push my shoulders back and send him a grin before standing up. As I gather my things, I know I am making a mistake, but the other option scares the shit out of me. I head toward Taco, and his brown eyes light up. I love how they make me feel. But then my gaze falls to where Asher is watching me. His gray eyes narrow, and it’s like I’m being drowned by a wave.
And like always, I wish I were walking toward Asher instead of Taco.
Chapter Seven
Asher
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
I’m sure my date is confused, but my attention is on Ally as she walks right toward that excited asshat, Taco. He’s all for it, grinning from ear to ear as he holds his arms open to her. I know Ally’s body language, and she’s uncomfortable as she goes in for the hug. He tries to kiss her, but she turns her cheek with almost a cringe on her face. What the hell is she doing? If she doesn’t want to be with the dude, why is she? My first instinct is to go save her, but she made this choice. She didn’t have to meet up with him, and she sure as hell didn’t have to speak to him, but she is. For what reason, I have no fucking clue, but it pisses me the hell off.
“Sorry?”
I tear my gaze from Ally and TacoFuck and back to the gorgeous Angie. When she came up to me after the game, I was stunned by her beauty. I remember her growing up, and she’s always been cute, but now, she’s pretty fucking stunning. Her eyes are this amazing green that reminds me of emeralds. Her dark hair is down, framing her glowing face. She has an awesome Cupid’s bow top lip, and her lips appear super kissable. She looks incredible in a tight green dress that makes it real hard to concentrate on anything but getting her out of it, but the fact that Ally is here with Taco has my mind reeling.
It’s unfair, but it comes with the territory of being a best friend.
I reach over, squeezing Angie’s hand. “My bad, Ally’s ex is here and she’s talking to him, and I don’t know why.”
Angie looks past me and shrugs. “She’s been talking to him for a while. I think they’re getting back together.”
Over my dead fucking body.
“Yeah, no.”
Her brows come in. “Why does it matter? Do you like her or something?”
I shake my head. “She’s basically my sister, and that dude isn’t good for her. He makes her stupid.”
“It’s her choice, though,” she says simply.
“You’re right.” I take out my phone to send Ally a text. “But when it comes to dudes, she forgets she should be treated like a queen.”
Me: Seriously? What the fuck, Ally?
I set down my phone as Angie raises a brow. “A queen?”
I nod. “All women should be treated like queens. Life is hard, and it’s our job as men to care for, provide for, and love a woman good and hard so she knows she is invincible. That nothing can tear her down. And that jackass does not treat her like that. He brings her down, and I refuse to allow someone I love and care about to be treated like that.”
“Wow.”
Suddenly, Stella is beside me, her gaze on Ally and Taco. “Shut up.”
“I know,” I say as we both stare at Ally. She is ignoring her phone, which is fine.
“I can’t believe she’s with him. Harper and Jakob were pissed,” she says, and then she looks over at Angie. Stella’s face lights up, and she hugs Angie hard. They went to school together. “Oh! Hey, Angie—” She pauses, looking between us. “Wait, are you two on a date?”
“We were until Ally’s ex showed up. Now it seems your brother is more concerned about her.”
I look back at Angie. “There is no reason for jealousy,” I say, and she glares as Stella laughs.
“Letting you know now, Ally is Asher’s bestie. Get used to it now, or there is no point in dating him,” Stella says, leaning on me. “I can promise you, there is nothing romantic between them. They really are just best friends.”
I nod, but I don’t care. Angie is hot and I wouldn’t mind starting something up with her, but Ally is my number one. Angie’s going to have to accept that, or there is no point in doing this. I dig into my pocket, pulling out a twenty. “I’ll give you this if you spill a drink in his lap.”
Stella laughs. I knew she’d be down. She always has my back. She takes my twenty, kisses my cheek, and then says, “No way. Mom will kill me.”
And then she walks away. Asshole.
When my phone sounds, I look down
to see a message from Ally.
Ally T: Let it be.
Me: No, you shouldn’t be with him. He’s a jackass.
Ally T: Seriously. Enjoy your date, and let me enjoy mine.
I glare as I look across the bar at her. She isn’t even smiling. She doesn’t want to be there!
Me: I can tell you don’t want to be there. Come with us.
Ally T: Ha. No thanks. I’m fine, and I do want to be here. He’s a great time.
Me: Whatever. You’re just horny. Make sure not to scream out Nacho when you’re fucking him. Might hurt his feelings.
Ally T: OMG, come up with a new joke.
I hate that it bothers me so much that she’s with him. It bothers me even more that I know she’s only with him to get some. She doesn’t love him, she never has, it’s only about sex. She deserves so much better. I stuff my phone in my pocket and look across the table where a very annoyed Angie sits.
“Sorry, she’s being dumb.”
She shrugs. “I think it’s her choice.”
I nod. “You’re not wrong, but it’s my choice to let her know she’s making a mistake.”
She doesn’t agree, and that’s cool. I can ignore Ally and her dumb mistakes. I’m on a date with a super-hot and smart chick. Ally can do her own thing, and I’ll do mine. “So, you’re going to school for sports psychology, right?”
Angie grins, and soon she excitedly tells me about her major. She’s really beautiful, and I want to say I listen. I want to say I hear every word she says and I care, but I don’t. Because I’m too caught up in the fact that Ally is here with TacoFuck. I hate how that makes me feel. I don’t understand how she doesn’t see how amazing she is and how she deserves the world. It drives me crazy.
“You already graduated?”
I nod, surprised I’m on cue. Maybe I am listening. I’m disgusted in myself; I usually don’t act like this, but it’s one thing to hear Ally tell me she’s made a mistake, rather than watch her do it. This is the part that was easier when I was living in California. “Yeah, I’m actually looking for a job working with jumbotrons.”