Chapter 2 (Breslin)
My heart is beating so rapidly I can feel it in my rib cage. I force myself to take a deep breath and try and steady my breathing as the lights around me spin and slow music fills the air.
Right when I think I have it under control...I look up.
Smoldering blue eyes meet mine—and just like that—I'm right back where I started.
His full, sensual lips turn up and he gives me that cocky, panty-melting grin of his. Like he knows exactly what kind of effect he has on my body.
After three years together...Asher Holden can still manage to make my heart beat faster and slower at the same time. And I only want him more with every day that passes.
He twirls me around on the dance floor one last time as the song comes to an end. His eyes hold mine and his thumb softly brushes my cheek. "You look so damn beautiful tonight, Breslin," he whispers as the sound of clapping fills the air.
"Alright, let's hear it one more time for Truesdale High's very own, Prom King and Queen!" the announcer shouts.
The words echo throughout my head and I want to laugh at how odd it all sounds. I never in my life thought I'd be that girl. I never thought I would have this perfect life.
I was a nobody—a loser—before Asher came to town.
I was just a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, living in a trailer with an almost-always drunk father and a mother who took off shortly after I was born.
Asher changed all that. He made me someone special. He made me feel loved.
And then the bastard ruined me.
The second he collided right into me, knocking both me and my books
down on the first day of 10th grade was the day my life changed.
I remember glaring up at him and sucking in a breath at the sight of his gorgeous face and huge, muscular frame.
He had to be a senior, I thought. What was he doing down the sophomore hallway?
Before I had a chance to ponder that further—the snickers started.
Kyle Sinclair had been the bane of my existence ever since I could remember. He always found a way to make fun of me and he never seemed to let up. Of course, he would be there witnessing me fall right on my butt, books scattered all over.
"You better pick those up, Bre," Kyle taunted. "Might as well get used to what your dirt poor, trailer trash ass will be doing for the rest of your life."
Shame crawled its way up my spine and I looked down at the floor. Fighting back tears, I prepared to collect my books off the ground...until the sound of something hard hitting the lockers caused my head to snap up.
My mouth dropped open at the sight of what I would later come to know to be Asher pinning Kyle against a locker. "Apologize to her, now," he gritted through his teeth.
I tried to ignore how deep and deadly his voice was...judging by his jersey, he was an angry jock.
I tried to ignore his appearance…because I knew that sometimes the most beautiful faces hid the ugliest of souls.
I tried to ignore his overwhelming presence...because I knew that even the biggest people sometimes had the smallest of hearts.
I tried to ignore everything about Asher...but my sweaty palms and racing heart wouldn't let me.
Whatever underlying awful trait I tried to convince myself he might have...I didn't care. Because I wanted him.
Even though I knew all too well that I was the type of girl who could only admire someone like him from afar, it didn't matter to me.
I finally understood at that moment why people called it a crush.
Because it's that glimmer of hope that crushes you in the end.
Hope that when someone like him does something nice for someone like me...maybe it wouldn't be the last time.
Hope that maybe you're worth more than you were ever made to feel.
Hope that maybe he wouldn't turn out to be like all the others.
Kyle tried to get out of his grasp and run, but Asher slammed him against the locker for a second time.
"Sorry," Kyle murmured in my direction.
But that half-hearted apology wasn't good enough for Asher.
His eyes narrowed and the vein in his neck began to bulge. For a moment, I felt like I should protect Kyle, but then I remembered what a monumental asshole he'd always been to me.
Kyle must have realized how serious Asher was at that moment too, because less than a second later he looked at me and said, "I really am sorry, Bre."
And this time he actually sounded sincere.
Asher finally released him, but not before looking at me for approval to let him go.
When I gave him a nod he looked at Kyle again. “Pick her books up. Now."
I watched in shock as Kyle begrudgingly proceeded to pick up both my books and my purse and hand them to me, right before he hightailed it down the hallway.
I didn't know who this guy was, but somehow in the span of two seconds, he'd managed to help me out more than most people in my lifetime.
People didn't collect trash...they discarded it. It was something I'd grown accustomed to.
My heart pounded in my ears when he knelt down beside me. "I'm Asher...and I'm also sorry about knocking you down.” His eyes landed on mine and my stomach fluttered. “I should have been paying better attention to where I was walking."
I licked my suddenly dry lips. Heat crept up my cheeks when his gaze stopped and lingered on my mouth.
"So, what's your name, beautiful?" Asher then asked and I swear my eyes practically popped out of my head.
No one ever called me beautiful.
Smart? Sure. Shy? Usually. Weird? Occasionally. Artsy? Always.
But never beautiful.
Girls who lived in trailer parks and wore hand me downs from thrift stores didn't get called beautiful.
Girls like me were hardly noticed at all.
This was an absolute first for me.
That glimmer of hope sparked again inside my stupid teenage heart.
I sat there, too stunned to move. Too afraid I would wake up and this would all just be a dream.
A minute later, Asher reached for my hand and hauled me to my feet.
His eyebrow slanted up, like he was waiting for an answer to something.
Oh, right. My name.
"Breslin,” I all but squeaked out. “But, um. Well, usually, everyone just calls me Bre," I sputtered, like the world's biggest idiot.
His face broke out into a grin, showcasing his deep dimples.
Good lord, I wanted to live in those dimples of his. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Breslin."
I nodded my head, too afraid to stutter and make a fool out of myself again and he began walking down the hallway.
That is until exactly five steps later when he stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. "I'll be seeing you around."
Thump, thump, thump...went my stupid teenage heart and I went right along with it.
I soon found out that Asher was not only the new kid at school, but he came from an extremely wealthy family. And even though we were only in 10th grade, he almost overnight became a football God—thanks in part to his father owning a huge NFL team.
He had everything that people in my small town ate up like candy.
Money, glory, and a reputation for greatness.
Asher was going places. He was already a someone in a world full of no ones.
We were from completely separate worlds. I never thought I'd speak to him again...until he showed up on my doorstep a few nights later.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened the front door and saw him standing there...with flowers. "Told you I'd be seeing you around, Breslin," he said, his dimples proudly on display.
And that was it. I was hooked...line, and sinker.
I just didn't realize the sinker would turn around and eventually drown me.
From that moment on...we were inseparable.
Asher Holden took my entire heart and never gave it back.
My thoughts are soon interrupted and the clapping becomes louder when Asher grabs my hand and plants a soft kiss along my knuckles.
I hear a few whistles from our friends on the football team and I can't help but blush when he pulls me into an embrace and his lips collide with mine.
Frantic need far too potent for an 18-year-old tears through my body when his tongue strokes mine. My arms automatically find their way to his neck, pulling him closer to me.
The kiss becomes more intense and I'm running out of air again, but I don't care. There's nothing in the world I want more than to be right here with him, touching him, kissing him.
Well, except for...
Yeah, tonight is the night. Or at least, it damn well better be.
He groans against my mouth before pulling away and sliding his hand down my lower back. Since my prom dress is backless, his touch causes goosebumps to erupt over my skin.
I bring him down for another kiss but he presses his lips against my temple instead. I feel dissed, until his warm breath flutters against my ear and he whispers, "You really need to stop, baby. You're making me want to take you in front of the entire student body right here, right now."
To prove his point, he tilts his hips and I feel his hard-on against my lower stomach. I moan and purposely arch into him. "So do it then, Asher," I prompt. "I can't wait anymore. I want you.”
I drop my voice to a whisper when I notice a few people eavesdropping on our conversation. “I love you, please don't make me wait any longer.”
I'm two seconds away from full on begging at this point. I've been ready since the middle of 11th grade...but Asher wanted to wait. Seeing as his parents are not only influential in our town, but religious, I completely understood and agreed to wait until marriage.
But by the beginning of this year, it was becoming excruciating. Of course, we routinely fooled around and did other stuff—well, everything besides oral and actual sex.
And while that helped to ease the ache initially, and Asher surprisingly knew how to get me off with his fingers, it only made this insatiable want I have for him that much stronger.
I grind myself against him again and he groans. His lips brush my neck before I feel his tongue along the shell of my ear. "Okay, let's get out of here."
I can't help but do a double take. Was this really happening? Finally?
Before I have time to confirm, he grabs my hand and we begin making our way toward the exit.
"Yoooo. Where are you two lovebirds running off to? Prom isn't over yet.”
I roll my eyes at the sound of Kyle Sinclair's voice. Even though we're technically friends now...and even though he'd never uttered a bad word about me since that day...the last thing I want to hear is him right now.
Asher releases a sigh and turns us around to face him. "We're heading out."
His tone is clipped, angry even.
I make a mental note to ask him later what happened.
I make another mental note to ask him sooner rather than later when I see Kyle's nostrils flare. "What about the after party?"
Asher squeezes my hand tighter—a gesture he does when he's nervous about something. "Not going. We're going to a hotel for the weekend."
I ignore the hint of defiance in his tone now because I can't help but concentrate on his statement.
A hotel? For the weekend? That must mean he had this planned all along. He wanted it to be special for us.
My heart soars and I'm elated...until Kyle takes a step forward and lifts his chin. "Yeah? It's like that?"
Asher's grip on my hand is now becoming painful. He leans down and plants another kiss on my temple. "Yeah," he says. "Yeah, man...it is.” There's another squeeze of my hand.
Kyle takes a step back and his jaw ticks. "Whatever. Have fun," he says gruffly before walking away.
I look up at Asher because I honestly can't make any sense out of the last three minutes. "What was that about?"
He takes a deep breath as we walk out the exit doors and then to the parking lot. "Nothing, Breslin. Everything's fine. Don't let him ruin our night."
“Okay,” I whisper and he holds the door to his pickup truck open for me.
A slow country song is playing in the background and his hand slides up my thigh—part comforting, part reassuring as he shifts the truck into drive.
After driving through a few towns, we finally end up at the hotel.
My heart begins its rapid flutter when we enter the room and I take in the rose petals on the bed and the candles flickering in the dark. "Asher, this is incredible," I breathe, beside myself.
His thumb strokes my cheek. "I wanted you to know how much you mean to me.” His expression turns serious. “I love you, Breslin. I need you to know that."
I close my eyes and lean into his touch. I've never felt loved in my whole entire life...never knew I was worthy of it.
Until him. Until these last few years. The best years of my life.
And I know, it's probably unhealthy to rely on one person for all your emotional needs. But he's the only one who ever cared enough to fulfill them.
I know I'm probably—correction—I am borderline codependent on Asher...but it's only because I love him so much.
It took me years to get to this place with him...to trust him and give him every part of me.
But now that I'm finally here...there's no way I'll ever go back.
In my world— Asher is a supernova. He's the one who burns bright.
I'm merely the catastrophic explosion that dissolves into nothing.
I tear him down...but he builds me up. Far beyond my wildest dreams.
He's the sun...and I orbit around him.
It's impossible not to. Because no matter where you are...you can't help but feel his pull.
You can't help but watch him because he illuminates an entire room.
He sits down on the bed and begins undoing his bow tie. I reach for the zipper on my dress. "I love you, Asher," I finally say back to him. “I love you big.”
There's a light in his eyes and I know he's recalling the very first time I ever told him I loved him in my sputtering, clumsy, mess of a declaration.
I meant to just tell him I had feelings for him. That he meant more to me than anything or anyone.
But in typical Breslin fashion, everything came out all jumbled and I couldn't find the right words to express myself.
The more I tried to explain my feelings for him, the worse it got. The only words that made any sense were when I told him that I loved him big.
The whole entire world stopped when he grinned and said he loved me bigger.
Swallowing hard, I unzip my dress and let it fall to the floor. I let any and all insecurities fall along with it.
Because the way Asher's looking at me now? Tells me I'm the most beautiful thing he's ever seen.
Something tells me he'll always look at me this way. Because he always has.
He smiles and sucks in a breath as his eyes scan over my body.
I silently thank my lucky stars that I saved half my pay check on a Victoria's Secret trip.
He reaches for me and gently pulls me down on the bed beside him.
I'm expecting a gentle kiss, but as soon as my head hits the pillow—he ravages me. Planting a line of sensual kisses from my throat all the way down to my stomach. I inhale sharply when he undoes my bra and pulls the straps down, putting me on display for him.
"Gorgeous," he murmurs before his tongue lands on my nipple.
I reach up and begin undoing the buttons on his crisp white dress shirt. Not wanting to slow down, I hastily toss it to the floor and all but lunge for his belt buckle and undo his pants.
Asher's body is akin to that of a Greek God.
Actually, that’s wrong, I'm pretty sure no Greek God had ever looked half as good without clothes on as he does.
He loves working out, loves pushing his body to the limits...and it shows. Every single rippling muscle is crafted to perfection. He's beautifully built, his muscles are well-defined and tight and toned, but not oddly so or excessive like some guys.
I look down and remind myself to breathe. There's only a thin scrap of material between the both of us now. I notice his erection peeking out through his dark boxer shorts and my mouth waters.
I slide my hand below the elastic waistband and pull him out.
Both my heart and hormones are blasting into overdrive.
I swear, his cock is just as perfect and impressive as the rest of him. I begin slowly stroking his thick length the way I know he likes.
He closes his eyes and moans. "That feels good, baby. Real good." I maneuver myself until I'm hovering over his lap. "I can't wait to taste you."
I get off the bed and prepare to kneel in front of him but he hauls me back up on the bed. "No."
Is he freaking kidding me?
"Come on, Asher. Let me do it."
I purposely pout my lips out and crawl across the bed. "Let me suck that big, fat, cock of yours." His eyes open wide and he looks taken back. I have no idea where all these dirty thoughts are coming from, but I'll be damned if I'm going to stop now.
I dip my head and kiss the tip of him. "I know you've never had this done and I've never done it, but I'll make it good for you. Just tell me what feels good and I'll keep doing it. Tell me what you like and I won't stop until you come."
His mouth parts and he exhales. "Jesus."
In one fell swoop he pins both my hands above my head with one of his.
His other hand reaches inside my underwear.
"Why won't you let me do it to you?" I pant out through shaky breaths. Something flashes in his eyes but it's gone a moment later. "Because if you do, this will be over a lot quicker than either of us want it to."
He lets go of my wrists and moves down my body until his lips skim my navel. "But." His tongue traces the edge of my panties. "If you want." He plants a kiss over the now wet lace of the crotch. "I'll taste you," he whispers as he hooks his fingers onto the sides and slips them down.
Need like I've never experienced before shoots through me like a cannon. "No. I want you now, Asher."
"Are you sure, Breslin?" His eyebrows crash together. "Are you sure this is really what you want because once we do this, there's no going back."
I open my mouth to protest, but he continues, "It's just with us going away to different schools. I don't want you to regret this."
"I've never been more certain about anything in my entire life. I could never regret this.” I run my hand along his jaw and his dark blond stubble that I love so much. "I could never regret you, Asher. No matter what the future holds."
He nods softly and digs his wallet out of his pants.
He puts on the condom and I lie back and part my thighs for him. "I love you." He leans his forehead against mine. "I love you bigger, Breslin." He kisses my lips. "You're my best friend."
Tears prickle my eyes. "You're mine."
He reaches down, entwines our fingers together and pulls them up over my head.
“I don't ever want to lose you.” His expression is so pained it pulls on my heart.
I cradle his face in my hands. I kiss the scar above his eyebrow—the one he doesn't remember how he got. The only feature on his perfect face that isn't perfect, and his eyes squeeze shut.
“You won't. I'm yours forever. As long as you want me.”
When his eyes open, they're determined and full of love. “I'll always want you.” The tip of him starts to enter me and he entwines our fingers again. “I'll always love you.”
Slowly, he begins pushing his way inside me, never breaking eye contact or our connection.
I want to put this moment in a treasure chest and keep it forever. When he's a little more than half-way in I feel some pressure but I take a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" He stills himself. "Want me to stop?"
I shake my head. "Never."
He pushes forward again and I wince.
I know it would probably be better to tell him to thrust hard and get it over with, kind of like pulling off a band aid—but that's not how I want this moment to be, despite the pain. “Just go slow...for now. Until I get used to it.”
His hand leaves mine and I feel the loss immediately.
And then I gasp when the pad of his thumb begins circling my clit, touching me the way he knows I like to be touched. "Fuck, Asher."
I feel his cock twitch and I expect him to push the rest of the way in and start, but he doesn't.
Instead, he keeps slowly bringing me to the edge, giving me pleasure. "I want you to feel good, Breslin. I want to make this good for you."
My body begins to shake as the first stirrings of my orgasm break through. "I swear, I never want to hurt you, Breslin," he whispers as he pushes himself the rest of the way inside me. On some level, I register a bit of pain, but a big portion of it is shadowed by the fact that I'm in the middle of a mind-blowing orgasm.
He slowly begins thrusting inside me and his eyelids fall shut.
His expression is one I can't read and I hate that he's no longer looking at me.
“The pain is gone,” I say, hoping my stupid body didn't ruin this moment for us. “You didn't hurt me."
I expect him to open his eyes then, but instead, he leans down and buries his nose in my neck. His breathing is staggered and his thrusting begins to pick up. It hurts, but I don't care. I want Asher to enjoy this moment instead of looking like he's in turmoil.
His entire body tenses over me and I know he's close. "I love you," I whisper.
His entire body shudders with his climax and I feel wetness drip down my neck and onto my shoulder.
Then I hear a muffled sob from deep in his throat. "I'm so sorry," he whispers, his voice strained. "So fucking sorry, Breslin."
His entire body begins shaking again...but this time, I know it's not from anything good.
My stomach sinks and I immediately bolt up, alarmed. "What's wrong? What is it?"
I grab his face in my hands. "What happened?"
I don't know much about sex...but maybe I hurt him somehow? Did something I wasn’t supposed to?
He wipes away the few tears that are falling down his face. The fact that not only is he not answering me, but I've never in all our years together seen him even close to tears sends me into a tailspin.
I know I'm responsible for his state somehow. I just don't know what I did to cause it.
My heart leaps to my throat. "Did I hurt you, Asher? Did I do something wrong?" He kisses my cheek. "No. God, no. You were perfect, Breslin."
"I don't understand—"
"I have to tell you something."
He looks down at the floor but I force him to look at me. "You can tell me anything."
Another tear falls down his face and it's like a punch right to the gut.
I swear I feel his pain in my own soul. Whatever he's going through must be excruciating.
He runs one hand through his hair and the other clenches mine for dear life.
His gaze ping pongs around the room, like he wants to look anywhere but at me. "Breslin...there's no easy way to say this...but I think...I'm not sure. But I think I might...have feelings that I'm not supposed to."
I have absolutely no idea what to make of that statement.
“Can you be a little bit more specific? What kinds of feelings?”
“The kind I can't tell anyone about. The kind I don't know how to deal with, because I don't know what they mean.” His face falls. “The kind that might make me lose you.”
I shake my head, still baffled. “Unless you're about to tell me you're a serial killer I'm pretty sure we can deal with whatever it is you're going through together. So please, before I have a heart attack, tell me what's going on.”
“I think I might—” He looks away. “I sort of think I might be gay.”
I laugh. I laugh so hard I swear I almost fall off the bed. Asher's always trying to get me to laugh during serious moments and he's always pulling pranks to ease the tension in a room.
I roll my eyes and push him playfully. "Yeah, right. Nice one, especially given we just had sex for the first time. Now quit playing and tell me what's actually wrong."
He looks me right in the eyes. "I just did."
All the air gets sucked out of the room. My chest constricts and I place my hand over it because I swear the damn organ in it is shattering into a million tiny fragments in one single fucking moment.
How could this be? He has to be lying. Oh god...was I that horrible in bed that he'll say anything in order not to have sex with me again?
He'll say anything just to get rid of me?
I don't realize I've said these things out loud—not until Asher reaches for my hand again.
I snatch it away from him...I don't want someone who's trying to rip my heart out to touch me.
"No,” he says quickly. “That's not it. I swear, that's not it at all. You are amazing and sexy. You're perfect, Breslin."
I pull the sheet around me, feeling vulnerable and exposed.
I thought I knew everything about Asher. How did something like this slip past my radar? How didn't I know?
Our connection has always been so strong...so potent. How is this happening right now?
I don't even realize there are tears streaming down my face until he's wiping them.
I turn away. I don't want him trying to fix what he just broke because I'm almost positive he can't. "Don't touch me, Asher."
I clutch the sheet tighter to myself.
"I never wanted to hurt you,” he says and I tell my stupid heart not to believe him. “You're my best friend and I love you. I love you so much. Hell, I'm still in love with you. You're the only person I've ever loved."
I stand up and shake my head. His words don't make sense. None of this makes any sense.
Not unless...
"How long have you known you were gay?" I ask. "How long did you use me? How long was I your cover up?"
His jaw tics and he looks shocked. "You were never my cover up. Every single thing I felt for you was real."
I jab my finger into his chest. "Bullshit. You just told me you were gay."
He drags a hand over his face. "I said...I think I'm gay."
I start getting dressed. Because thanks to him, I no longer have the heart to continue hearing him talk around in circles. "Obviously this didn't just occur to you all of a sudden. How long have you had these feelings? How long have you been stringing me along?"
"I've had these feelings for a few months,” he whispers, looking disgusted. “But I didn't know. I mean, I never knew for sure because I was so into you, Breslin. I never even thought I could be gay until—"
I clutch my stomach. "Until you had sex with me," I finish for him.
He opens his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "But you—" I swallow my pride and try again. “You finished."
I may not know all the ins and outs when it comes to sex yet, but I'm pretty sure you have to be attracted to the person in order to orgasm.
He closes his eyes and I feel sick...because I realize maybe that's not exactly true after all. "You kept your eyes closed for most of it. You weren't thinking about me, were you?”
“Of course—"
I don't give him a chance to finish whatever statement he was about to make because anger explodes into my broken heart. "You brought me here as some sort of experiment, didn't you? All while knowing you've had these feelings for months and you kept it from me. All while knowing how much I love you.”
I glare at him. I didn't think it was possible for love to turn to hate so quickly, but this moment right here is living proof it can. “I can't believe you took my virginity as some kind of sexuality test."
The smoke screen clears and the rose-colored glasses come off.
And finally, I see the real Asher Holden for what he is.
An asshole.
An asshole who everyone thinks walks on water just because of his looks and status.
But the real Asher? The real Asher is poison.
"No.” He blows out a breath. “I brought you here because I wanted you to be my first. I wanted to have this moment with you. I wanted to tell you the truth about these feelings I've been having. I wanted—"
What about what I wanted?
I grab my purse off the nightstand and dig around for my cell phone so I can call a cab. "You wanted what, Asher? Did you honestly think that this wouldn't destroy me? I'm in love with you.”
I'm in love with someone who can never love me back. Someone who used me and hurt me.
I gave my heart to someone who jumped on it like it was his personal trampoline.
I shrug my shoulders, a razor’s edge from breaking into sobs. “Were you hoping I would turn into your little sidekick and we could eat ice cream and gossip about cute boys...like you didn't just wreck my heart?"
The poor girl from the trailer park who put him up on a pedestal for all these years was all just a ruse. Because that's what people like him do. That's what they've always done. People like him...use people like me. It's the way it's always been.
My stupid heart should have known better.
"No, I didn't want you to be my sidekick. I wanted..." His words drift off.
"What?" I snort. "What did the great Asher Holden, star quarterback, prom king, and popular rich boy want? What else does he want from me after I already gave him every single fucking piece of me and he stomped on it!"
He stalks toward me and gets in my face. "I wanted you, Breslin! I wanted you to be there while I sort my head out." His voice drops to a whisper. "I want you to wait for me while I figure out what the fuck is going on with me. It's scary and confusing...and I know it's hard for you to hear, but I need you. I don't think I can do this alone."
For a second, I almost give into him. I almost tell him that I'll wait for him...that I'll hold his hand every step of the way. Because my heart is an idiot...and it's so easy to fall for Asher. It's so easy to get sucked in by him.
But then I realize...
If I'm one of the choices...it means someone else will be as well.
And unfortunately, I still love him so much I'm certain I can't bring myself to share him with another.
A sickening feeling snakes up my spine. What if there's already someone else?
I practically choke trying to get the words out. "Did you cheat on me?"
When he doesn't answer, I swear I don't know whether to punch him or go ballistic. “You owe me the truth, Asher. You already broke my heart...at least do the decent thing and give me the courtesy of letting me know you broke my trust too. Don't lie to me again.”
He visibly swallows and I feel like I'm going to vomit cheap spiked prom punch all over the expensive hotel carpet. "How many times?” I hold up my hand because I don't want to know all the details after all. Just one.
“With who?
He takes a deep breath. “It's not what you think. I never, ever wanted to hurt you. I swear to God, I never meant to hurt you."
It's a little too late for that.
I shake my head in disgust and head for the door.
I take one final look back at him. "Who?"
He opens his mouth to answer but intuition fires through me and I feel it in my damn bones.
I already know the answer...everything from earlier makes sense now. "Kyle Sinclair."
The guy who bullied me, made me cry myself to sleep so many times I lost count, said horrible things about me and my family...and generally treated me like I was worse than trash for most of my life.
And Asher knew all of this.
It's not a question anymore, but he gives me a small nod.
"I never want to see you again."
I slam the door and take every single shred of my bludgeoned, tattered heart with me.