Now that Nurse Irene mentioned I would feel discomfort from the broken mating bond, I began to notice random bursts of slight pain in my chest. They were made worse when I thought of Asher. I had discredited them earlier as a simple burst of heartbreak. Now I wondered if there was more to it. I
To keep from this pain, to bury it, I had to try to find someone else. Whoever that may be. “I suppose if you hung out just as friends, there wouldn’t be any harm,” Aimee said, after some thought. “If you are sure…” I nodded, and together we opened our textbooks again. Pain or no pain, the t
During halftime, Lamar and I walked around the concourse. We stopped where previous teams’ photos were displayed, and spent some time making fun of the wild haircuts of the past. “Cynthia!” Lamar called from the next photo down. “Check out this guy’s mustache.” It was a full handle-bar mustache,
I knew there wouldn’t be, but I’d hoped. Disappointment filled me and for a while, I sat on my bed in the quiet, replaying our breakup. Maybe we shouldn’t even be friends. It hurt as much now as it had that first time. No, I couldn’t waste my time reliving that pain. I had plans and dreams to
If he’s on the soccer team, wouldn’t that make him friends with Joseph? Aimee’s words made me pause. I hadn’t considered that Lamar would have a connection with Joseph. They were such different people, Lamar so kind and Joseph so deceitful. But then, what did I really know about Lamar? Yet, what
It might be easier to judge him when we were in our home element. Lamar didn’t seem to mind at all. In fact, as soon as he met us in the lobby, he said, “This is great! I haven’t been to an arcade since I was a kid.” He introduced himself to Aimee and Nicole with a wide, open smile. As he shook
“Does this mean you will go on a date with me?” Lamar asked me. The rest of the world faded away, and only this question existed. Did I want to go on a romantic date with him? No, not really. For better or worse, the person I wanted was Asher. When I closed my eyes, I could see his frosty blue
I’d pass the transfer exam. I’d date whoever I wanted. And I’d learn how to project again. I changed into my pajamas, to be comfortable. If I could relax my body, maybe this would be easier. But who should I make an apparition of? Asher was out. I loved Nicole and Aimee, but I could never get th
“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