by Toni Aleo
I dissolve in laughter. “You think really highly of your abilities, friend.”
“Hey, I know what I can do,” he says, all rough and dangerous. “All this costs commitment.”
I’m dying. Like completely dying.
“Slow your roll, pump-and-dump,” I tease, and he guffaws. “So, whatcha thinking?”
“I don’t know. Aiden really doesn’t want me doing anything with her. She’s hot and smart, but I don’t see anything there. No sparks.”
“Well, got to have the sparks,” I say softly because, for me, it’s like fireworks going off around his head and mine. I feel like a character in the Sims. My heart is coming out of my chest, and I want to take him to bed for whoopee. It’s pretty damn insane in my head, but that’s what he does to me.
“Right? You know what’s crazy?” he asks, checking his watch.
“What?”
He meets my gaze once more, and I swear, if I weren’t harboring the secret that I’m in love with him, I would swoon once more. “Everyone is saying we should hook up.”
My stomach drops, and I choke on my word. “Huh?”
His eyes are intent on mine, searching them. “Yeah. First, your mom.” Oh, I’m going to murder her. “And then my sister told me that I’ll never find a single woman who will be cool with our relationship.”
I bring in my brows, though I’m sure my heart stopped like ten seconds ago. “What does that even mean?”
He’s so aloof, like it’s no big deal. “Apparently we’re too close? But I don’t care. You’re my best friend. There is nothing romantic between us. We’re just best friends—that’s it.”
Please, beat me over the head with a bat, why don’t ya?
“Yeah,” I agree reluctantly as my heart shatters in my chest. “That’s crazy.”
“Right? And then Aiden is all for us hooking up, and I’m like, what the hell? Have we ever acted like we want to hook up?”
I mean, I may have, but we all know you haven’t, big boy. “Not to my knowledge. I don’t get it.”
“Me either,” he says, shaking his head, and my heart sinks. If I needed any more proof of the fact that he doesn’t feel shit outside of friendship for me, here it is. I am officially and unfortunately friend-zoned.
“I gotta get to this interview.”
“Yeah, good luck.”
“Thanks.” He hugs me again and then starts to back away. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Party on campus.”
He pauses. “Really? I thought that wasn’t your scene.”
I shrug. “The whole team is going. Figured, free booze, why not?”
“Cool, I’ll see you there.” I quirk my lips, but then he says, “Angie asked me to go.”
Fuck my life.
“Awesome,” I say with a grin, but when he goes toward the side door that leads to the office with a wave, I bang my head with the ball. He’s basically screaming in my face that he doesn’t want anything outside of friendship with me, and still, I want him. I want to ruin it all just for the chance to kiss him. To be in his arms and know he is looking and thinking of only me. To be on the receiving end of him uttering those three beautiful words to me. I slam my fist into the ball, and it clears the court. But it doesn’t matter how hard I hit the ball.
It won’t ease the pain in my heart.
Chapter Ten
Asher
“I got the job.”
My mom squeals on the other end. “Oh, Asher, I’m so proud of you!”
“Yeah, I walked in, and he’s like ‘You’re hired,’” I say with a laugh. “It was crazy. He said my supervisors from my internships raved about my attention to detail and commitment. It was awesome.”
I’m beyond excited. I felt like I would get the job with the Bullies for the simple fact that they needed someone and their jumbotrons look like ass. I am qualified, but I was worried about my experience. I did some awesome internships in California, but there are more people out there with more experience, but apparently Tony didn’t care. Guess working my ass off in college paid off. I finally feel as if I’m getting my life started. A little of the apprehension I’ve felt at not having it together fell away when Tony said I had the job.
“That’s incredible, Asher. Look at you making big-boy moves.”
I beam as I climb into her car that she let me borrow. “I know. I feel like an adult.”
She laughs. “Did you tell him you had an interview with the Assassins too?”
“I did,” I say as I start the car. “He says that’s fine, he assumed I could time manage, and he isn’t wrong. I did it in LA.”
“Absolutely. That’s so amazing. I’m so proud!”
My mom, my cheerleader. “Yeah, I get started tomorrow morning. I’m pretty stoked.”
“That’s fantastic,” she coos, and I grin from ear to ear. “We should probably go get you a car this weekend.”
“I was going to ask if we could. I have money for a down payment.”
“Great. Hopefully we can get it done before the tux fitting.”
“Ugh,” I groan, and she just laughs.
“Hey, this is going to be a big deal. Huge, with lots of people. My boys have to look good.”
“Why does it matter what I look like?”
I’m answered with an annoyed sigh. “Asher, you know damn well why. You’ll be standing up there with Aiden. You gotta look good.”
“I always look good,” I say simply, and she scoffs.
“Jesus, I’m so glad you don’t lack confidence.” She laughs. “Have you talked to Ally?”
I bring in my brows as I drive off campus. “What do you mean? I just saw her.”
“No, I was talking to Harper, and she is pissed.”
“Eh, yeah. Ally is back with Taco, apparently.”
“Why do they call him Taco?” she asks after a pause. “It doesn’t make sense to me. Does he like tacos?”
I roll my eyes. “No clue. His real name is Trey, which doesn’t even rhyme with Taco. So, really, I don’t know.”
She snickers. “He sounds like a winner.”
“Yeah, winning at sucking at life. He tells her he’s changed, but I don’t believe that for a second. She’ll figure it out. She always does.”
“It hurts my heart. She’s such a good girl and has such a great example of love in her family. Why would she settle for someone who doesn’t love her completely? Harper is distraught about it.”
“I don’t know,” I say slowly. “I wish I did, but it is what it is. Ally does what Ally wants, and the world can adjust.”
“I love that girl.”
“Me too,” I agree as I turn onto the highway. I almost expect her to ask if there can be more between Ally and me. Apparently, that’s the theme lately. But she doesn’t mention it. “Hey, I’m moving in to Aiden’s condo.”
“Man, you didn’t even make it a week.”
I laugh. “Sorry. I don’t know how you do it.”
“They’re not that bad.”
“Mom, they’re crazy,” I retort. “I feel you and Dad might be in danger from the cross fire.”
She laughs ruefully. “You’re insane. If they didn’t love each other, then I would worry. But they love each other more than they love any of us.”
Huh. I didn’t think of it that way, but still, I need out. “Whatever you say. So, I’ll be moving out this weekend.”
“At least I got a week. Though, Aiden gave me longer.”
I scoff. “Because he’s a titty baby.”
That makes her snort with laughter. “Will you be home tonight?”
“I don’t know. I might go get my key from Shelli and stay at the condo if it’s late. I’m going to a party.”
“A party?”
“On campus. A date, if you will.”
“Look at you go. Condo, jobs, potential companionship. And you were worried?”
I grin. “Yeah, I sometimes forget I can do anything I put my mind to.”
“Th
is is true. So, who’s the lucky lady?”
“Angie Paxton.”
I’m met with silence. “Oh Jesus, Asher. No. Not Angie.”
“What? Why?”
“She’s a baby!”
“She’s eighteen.”
“A baby! Lucy is going to flip.”
I laugh. “We’re not dating, dating. I haven’t even kissed her yet.”
“Benji might too, and all those Sinclairs will come after you. Lord help you.”
“Stop being so dramatic.”
“This is almost as bad as Aiden getting with Shelli. I saw his death. I saw Shea and the twins coming to murder him. That was only three of them. I feel like there are a hundred Sinclairs.”
I chuckle loudly. “I don’t see it going anywhere, Mom. I’m just having fun.”
“Can’t you have fun with Ally?”
I can’t exactly admit that’s why I am going to the party. It’s not to hang with Angie but to keep an eye on Ally. Taco loves parties, so I know he’ll be there. “I will. She is going too.”
“Don’t call me when people find out about this. I want to be completely oblivious. You know what? This conversation didn’t happen.”
“Now I know where your daughters get their dramatics from.”
“Okay, smartass. My marketing team just showed up. Let me let you go.”
“All right. Love you, Mom.”
“Love you, and I’m very proud of you, minus the Angie thing. I have no clue about that.”
She hangs up on the sound of my laughter. I have a grocery list, and I promised I would pick everything up. I may only be staying a week, but at least I do chores. When I pull up to Aldi, I put the car in park and then grab my phone to text Ally.
Me: Guess what?
Ally T: What?
Me: I got the job at Bellevue.
Ally T: !!!!! WELL, DUH! That’s super awesome! CONGRATULATIONS!
I beam.
Me: Thanks. I’m pretty excited about it.
Ally T: You should be. You’re basically a badass.
Me: This is true.
Ally T: Okay, your head is big enough, and I’m in the middle of class. Leave me alone.
Me: Fine, asshole.
She sends me a kissy face, and I laugh as I click off her name and go to Angie’s.
Me: Hey, if you still want a date for the party, I’m your dude.
Angie: Really? What changed your mind?
I can’t exactly tell her the whole truth, so I go with part of it.
Me: I want to get to know you more, and I don’t want to wait until tomorrow.
Angie: Well, that’s good to hear. Wanna meet at my dorm at nine?
Me: Yeah, I’ll see you in a bit.
Angie: I can’t wait.
Me: Can’t either.
I sort of feel bad. I don’t want to lead her on, but then again, I’ve been totally honest about what I want. Maybe tonight, she’ll decide she wants more. Though, that’ll just put me in more trouble.
’Cause I don’t want anything with her.
Shit. I’m acting like a before-Shelli Aiden.
Not a good look, but he’d be so proud.
I get to Angie and Ally’s dorm right at nine. I’m one of those punctual dudes, which is why my supervisors and professors speak so highly of me. The rest of my family? Always late. It drove me insane growing up. It didn’t matter what time we had to be somewhere; we were always thirty minutes late. It was so bad that Aiden would have to put his hockey gear on in the car just to make it to practice on time. The smell was horrendous. When he started driving, it was a godsend. He actually cared about getting to practice or games on time; everything else, though, he was late. Come to think about it, he’ll probably be late to his wedding.
When I reach Ally and Angie’s room, I admire the picture of them hugging tightly that’s stuck to the door with their names on either side of the photo. It’s cute, plus, they both look really pretty. I never lived in the dorms. I got an apartment right off the bat because sharing a space with a person I’m not sleeping with makes me itch. Ally loves it. Though, she does have an issue with sharing a washing machine—for good reason. College kids are disgusting.
I rap my knuckles on the door three times, and Ally yells, “Come in!”
I push the door open, and the first thing I see is Ally. She’s lying halfway on her bed, her knees on the floor, with a book open in front of her. She’s wearing a very tight leopard-print dress and has on black Jordan sneakers. Her hair is down, wild with curls, and her makeup is done like she is about to walk the runway. I swallow hard at the sight of her.
She looks up at me and grins. “Hey, Jumbotron-job guy.”
I grin, shaking my head out of the haze her beauty has caused. “Hey yourself. Tight dress.”
She scoffs as she nods. “I know. We’re all wearing these dresses we got at Walmart.”
I raise my brows as I shut the door. “Walmart?”
With wide eyes, she says, “Um, Walmart stepped up their game. Plus, can’t beat eleven bucks for a bitchin’ dress.”
I snort. “Bitchin’?”
“What? It’s a fun word.”
“Yeah, in the eighties,” I tease as I sit on her bed. “Where is Angie?”
“Over in Nicolette’s room. She’s doing her makeup. She did mine.”
No wonder. Ally usually doesn’t get done up like this. “What are you doing?”
“This fucking insanely hard math. I don’t know why I need math to help people with mental problems. I promise, I will not quiz anyone.”
I laugh as I fall to my knees beside her, her shoulders pressing into my arm as I lean over to see what she is doing. “Oh, this is easy.”
She narrows her eyes. “Okay, smarty-pants. Just tell me what to do.”
I lean in, grinning as I do exactly what she asks. This isn’t the first time we’ve worked together. I helped her a lot as we were growing up when it came to math. It isn’t her strong suit. She catches on quickly now, though, and just as we finish, Angie comes into the room. I look up, a grin on my face as I take her in. She looks unbelievable in a bright neon-yellow dress that is way shorter than Ally’s and a size too small. Pretty sure she isn’t wearing panties. Her hair is up in a high ponytail, and her makeup is bright and whimsical. She’s fucking hot. But then she makes a face as she looks between us.
Before she can ask or even accuse, I get up and go to her. “Damn, you look incredible.”
Her face relaxes as I lean in, giving her a soft kiss on the cheek. She smells good too, but still, I pull away. “You ready?”
“Yup,” she says, walking away from me to slide her feet into really high pink pumps. I look back to see Ally stacking up her books before fixing the hem of her skirt. “When is Taco getting here?”
“I’m meeting him. He’s already there. He met up with some friends.”
“Oh, why didn’t you head over early?” Angie asks, and Ally glances over at her.
“I had homework.”
“You’re such a nerd. No wonder you two are besties.”
Ally meets my gaze, and we shrug. Could be worse things, I guess. With that, we leave and head to the lacrosse team’s house. Bellevue likes to put their teams together in houses. It’s kind of a cool idea and promotes a strong team bond, I guess. The walk to the house is short, and when Angie grabs my hand, I feel a little bit weird. I smile down at her, and she beams up at me. I find myself looking over at Ally, but she’s engaged in her phone.
I move my attention back to Angie and say, “So, my brother doesn’t want me dating you.”
She scoffs. “Aiden is insane. He texted me and told me to stay clear of you, that I am still a baby.”
I laugh. “Yeah, that’s what he said to me.”
“He’s crazy. I’ll do who I want.”
“Ooh, Aiden would be pissed,” I tease and she laughs.
“I don’t care,” she says, all slow and sultry. She leans into me, and I love the color of her eye
s. They’re such a beautiful color, like moss.
“Changing the subject.”
She snorts. “Scared of me?”
“Very much so,” I admit with a grin. “So, how were classes?”
“Busy. How was your interview?”
“Good, I got the job.”
“That’s cool.” It doesn’t really seem like she cares. “So, I guess you’ll be super busy now.”
“Yeah, but I like it that way.”
“Well, hopefully you’ll make time for me.”
I grin at her. “Don’t worry. I will.”
Problem is, I don’t think either of us believes that.
When we arrive, the party is banging. People are everywhere, but Ally and Angie find their team right off the bat. I’m asked to take a photo of all the girls in their dresses, and I oblige. We make our way inside where more people are, and I realize why I hate parties.
It’s loud, people are drunk and dry-humping, and everyone is so messy. So damn messy.
I glance down at an excited Angie, and I groan. I get the feeling we’ll be here forever. I sense someone looking at me, and when I meet Ally’s gaze, she gives me a look. “Can we leave?”
I scoff. “Exactly.”
“What?” Angie asks, and I shake my head.
“Nothing. Come on, let’s get a drink.”
“I want to dance!”
Before I can answer, she pulls me onto the dance floor, and then we’re dancing. If I thought Angie was wild before, nothing compares to how she moves when she dances. Her ass shakes and bounces in ways I’ve only seen in porn. As she grinds against me, I’m trying to remember why I don’t just sleep with her. It’s obvious she wants it, and damn if she isn’t hot. I hold her hips as she slides against me, but then my gaze is caught by Ally. She’s dancing very intimately with Taco. He holds her face, gazing into her eyes, and she looks as if she’s in a trance.
It pisses me off.
I look away just as Angie turns in my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck and rubbing against me. I slide my hands down her body, holding her hips just as her eyes meet mine. They’re such an intense green and really stunning. Without realizing what she is doing, I’m surprised when her lips meet mine in an openmouthed kiss. My eyes drift shut, but nothing. No sparks. No cock jump. No chills down my spine. Nothing. When she pulls away, I think she knows too. She eyes me, and I look down to her, unsure what to say or even do.