“Maybe we shouldn’t see each other anymore,” I’d said. Silence followed. The air cooled and grew thick with tension. Then, voice very low, Asher replied, “What?” Suddenly he was standing, and I was too. Everything felt like a dream, distant and hazy. I couldn’t think clearly. Yet even with t
So I said, “And I don’t think you do either.” The girl glared at the cover of her book. “If you can tell me what happened,” I continued. “Then maybe I can help her. I just want to be her friend.” The girl still seemed unsure. “People mock her everywhere she goes. You sure you want to be involv
Over the next few days, Joseph sent so many flowers, they covered every flat surface of my room with the exception of a narrow pathway I’d made across the floor. This morning, the housekeeper grumbled as she tried to clean around all the vases. Her dustpan was full of dried-up flower petals. The
I nodded. She waved both hands up and down. “One lies. One doesn’t. I wonder who you should be believe.” The last sentence dripped with saracasm. “Oh.” Oh. Had I really been so blind? Had I let my own insecurities about myself dig so far under my skin that I was willing to not trust Asher? A
Then let him date, Cynthia. Give Asher the chance to find love. Elena’s words sliced through me. Of course I cared about Asher and wanted him to be happy. But I was selfish. Knowing that he had been turning down other women gave me a deep feeling of satisfaction. Elena’s implication that he’d be
But… Maybe he was just mad at Asher. They really didn’t seem to like each other. Was it possible their feud had nothing to do with me? Could Joseph hate Asher while still being loyal to me? “You look like you have a lot on your mind. I do, too,” he said. He hitched his thumb in the direction of th
I wasn’t ready to answer Joseph yet. “Give some time?” “More time?” he said unhappily. “It’s only one date, not a marriage.” “I know, but…” I couldn’t tell him the root of my hesitation because I didn’t quite understand it myself. He’d only asked me for one date and promised we’d have a great
I ran out of steam and looked down at my hands. That end part hadn’t been a lie. He did deserve everything. I just wished the everything he wanted included me. “I don’t need to date,” he said. Surprised, I looked up at him. “You deserve love, Asher.” “And you think I’ll find it dating random g
“Please.” That all sounded so good. I wanted it. I wanted everything. He stood to kick off the rest of his clothes. I watched, my mouth watering as he exposed his dick. He was so big, so hard just for me. Carefully, he moved me how he wanted me, stretching out my legs farther, and then slipped
Asher guided me back into the bedroom. As I stood near the bed, he walked behind me and slowly tugged down the zipper of my dress. His knuckles traced the newly-revealed skin inch by inch, following down the length of my spine. When the zipper had lowered as much as it could go. He spread his hand
I held my breath as Dylan threw the first punch. Asher dodged back and Dylan’s fist flew through the open air. Asher then stepped forward, ready to retaliate. Dylan backpedaled, placing a few feet between them again. In a flash, Dylan moved close again. His speed was lightning-quick. I barely even
“’Might?’” He squeezed me gently. “It will be fine. Trust me.” I did trust him, with my life and more. But… this was my brother. My brother and the love of my life were about to fight a challenge with yet unknown terms that would undoubtedly involve me and my baby. I couldn’t help but be a b
I opened my mouth to begin to explain, but the truth seemed worse than even Dylan’s worst assumptions. No, Asher isn’t the father of my baby. The father is actually a terrible person who is now in prison. But Dylan wasn’t waiting for me to figure out a softer way to explain, and Asher was no hel
On the evening of the Academy’s winter dance, I slipped into my shining purple gown and checked myself out in the bathroom mirror. Gone were the days when I could pass as not pregnant. Now, my bump was a distinctive round bulge, pressing out the front of my gown – which I had bought in the materni
“I… um…” I had no idea how to answer Dylan. Panic set in, sending my heart into overdrive. Should I admit to Asher being beside me? It was getting late at night. Surely Dylan would have follow-up questions. Like, why was Asher in my room after dark. “Oh, shit, I have to go,” Dylan said suddenly.
Asher’s words stole my breath away. For a long moment, I simply stared at him, desire coiling inside of me. He stared back, his blue eyes deep as the ocean. I swallowed thickly. I couldn’t wait to go home with him and see all of his promises in action. Nancy cleared her throat from the doorway.
The real Asher was safely behind the line of fake wolves. He glanced back at me in concern. I understood his worry. Holding this many projections was a strain. But I was done running. I was done standing back. Joseph would lose. And I would help bring him down. In the circle, Joseph started to