The older brother

CHAPTER ONE

Harper had been my best friend for as long as I could remember. Our mothers were best friends too, and I think that made us automatic friends. Our brothers, though, hated each other. They were polar opposites in every sense of the word, and they butted heads like crazy. Most of the time they couldn't even be in the same room as one another.

When Harper and I were ten, we made a pact not to date each other's brother. It made sense back then when boys were gross and had cooties, but have you seen Asher Creed now?! I couldn't help but look at her stupid hot brother and not wonder what it would be like to kiss him. I know. I know. There was only one rule between us, and I wanted to break it in the most delicious manner ever.

You'd have to be blind not to notice Asher Creed and every girl, including me, had at least one fantasy that involved him. He was the guy no one could have, yet he could have any girl he wanted. He wasn't without faults and had probably screwed over half the school's female population, but that didn't seem to stop me from dreaming about him.

"Layla?"

I was ripped from my thoughts as I stared over at Harper. "Hey, yeah, sorry."

She giggled like always. "Off in la-la-Layla land again?"

She had created a name for my constant state of dreaming. I always seemed to be off in my own little world, but to be fair, that world was so much better than this one.

"Sorry," I replied timidly.

"My mom texted and wanted to know if you were having dinner with us again tonight?" Harper held her phone up and waited for me to respond.

My life sucked at the moment. My parents had been out of town for well over a week and weren't coming back anytime soon. They were always going on these extravagant trips while me and Dillon, my stupid brother, got left behind. The worst part? When we got left behind, it was pizza every night for dinner or having dinner with the Creeds. I usually took the latter.

I nodded. "Definitely. If I have to eat cold pizza one more night because Dillon forgets to tell me he ordered it in the first place, I'm going to kill him."

She giggled again. "I thought you liked cold pizza?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "I did, but let's see you eat it for seven breakfasts in a row."

Harper scrunched her nose in disgust before she shouted, "Watch out!!"

I didn't hesitate as I grabbed the back of my head and ducked down. I was just a bit too late when I felt a hard object smack into the back of my head.

"Ow!" That actually really hurt! I turned to find the culprit and then threw daggers at him.

Asher Creed My best friend's brother and my biggest enemy. Well, that's what Harper thought anyway.

I looked down to find a frisbee at my feet as I picked it up and stood. Harper grabbed my arm to stop me, but I shook free from her.

"Just leave it alone, Layla," she begged.

I glared at her but ignored her statement. Her brother was the biggest jerk and he needed to be put into his place. All the time.

I marched right up to him and didn't care that his stupid buddies all watched. They teased me with their stupid remarks and cat whistles as I shoved the frisbee into Asher's chest.

He grinned down at me with that stupidly sexy grin that I dreamed about when I was alone at night. I loved to hate him and hated to lust him.

"What is your problem, Asher?" I put my hands on my hips so he knew I meant business. "That was so incredibly rude. Why would you do that? Don't you know..."

He cocked a brow and smirked. "Are you done, Stanford?" He looked way too amused and needed to be stopped.

I hated it when he called me by my last name. It always made me feel like I was just 'one of the guys,' and nothing more.

"No, I am not done!" I snapped back.

He rolled his eyes at me and turned to walk away. How dare he?! I just told him that I wasn't done, and he turns to walk away?! I ran back up to him and jumped onto his back. I was a little dramatic at times, but Asher Creed brought my crazy out.

"You need to apologize to me, Asher!" I wrapped my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck as I tried to take him down. Damn... he smelled so good.

Asher started to laugh as he grabbed my arms, and in one swift movement, he had me off of his back in seconds. I landed on the ground on my back with a thud as he laid on top of me.

"I don't have to do anything," he breathed as he stared deeply into my gaze. "Unless you have something else in mind?" He bit his bottom lip as his eyes traveled down to my chest.

My breath hitched in my throat as I froze. We had never been this close before and my heart started to race. Why did he make me feel this way? And why was he looking at me like this?

"Get off! Pig!" I squirmed beneath him, but it only made things worse. I rubbed against his strong, warm body and all my nightly dreams came back into my mind. This felt so much better. My dreams didn't do him any justice.

He grinned as his eyes came back up to mine and I swear he looked at me with hunger. I must be crazy, though. It was probably just my own desires clouding the moment like always.

Then he was off of me just as fast as he landed on me before he held out his hand to help me up. I swatted his hand away and stood up on my own. I didn't need his help. Grass clippings were stuck all over me as I brushed myself off, but my hand accidentally wiped too hard and my blouse fell open. Now I remember why I hated this shirt!

Asher's eyes turned dark, and I swear he groaned. I was too mortified to think about that as I grabbed my shirt and held it closed. He totally saw my black lace bra and I swore I would never wear this shirt ever again. It was going in the trash as soon as I got home.

"Asher!" Harper marched up and smacked her brother. "Be nice to Layla, you jerk!"

He laughed. "She started it."

"Excuse me?" I retorted as I forgot all about my blouse and glared at him once more. The guy could seriously get under my skin in five seconds flat. He was so annoying! And so inconsiderate! And so sexy. Oh my God! Stop!

"Play nice, children," Harper stated as she pushed Asher away. "Go away. Okay, thanks."

And Asher did just that. He ran back toward his buddies with a stupid grin on his face, and I stood there looking like an idiot once again. Damn you, Asher Creed!

"I hate him," I hissed to Harper.

"I know," she laughed. "Come on, we're going to be late back to class." Harper and I left the Commons and headed back inside to History class, and I tried like hell to get him out of my head.