Chapter 12 (Asher)
Landon peers at me from underneath those dark rimmed glasses of his. “Okay, I think you're gonna be fine.”
“I hope so,” I tell him. “I was up half the night studying.”
After I was threatened by a pink haired head case while Landon was going to chow town on Breslin in the next room.
Irritation punches my gut with that thought and I shove my book into my bag and stand up.
“Where are you going? We still have another 45 minutes left before class starts.”
“Food,” I grumble and he lurches to his feet.
“I can go with you if you want.”
“I don't want,” I say, ignoring the way my heart kicks when he frowns. “Besides, I'm pretty sure you had enough to eat last night.”
With that, I turn and start making my way out of the library.
“Whoa, hold up,” he says behind me. “You just said you weren't gonna give up on us.”
I huff out a sigh and pause. “Just because I'm not giving up on us doesn't mean I'm not angry, Landon.” I tap his temple. “And if you can't understand that, you're not half as smart as your grades suggest you are.”
He shuffles his feet. “I'm just—I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again.” He swallows. “To either of you.”
I shake my head, because whatever endearing wheels are turning in Landon's head—they're not headed for a good destination. But the look in his eyes tells me he's relentless. And I care about him enough to let him sort his shit out...for a little while at least.
He draws in a breath and sticks his hands in his pockets. “Which is why I should probably tell you that I'm telling Breslin the truth about why you're here playing football.”
An angry surge goes through me and I take a step forward. “No, you're not.” I jab a finger in his chest. “Because number one—you promised me you wouldn't tell anyone. And number two—it's not your fucking place to tell her my shit.”
He raises his chin. “I'm not letting you get killed, asshole. Maybe once she hears what's really going on she'll—”
“She'll what? Pity ride my dick and kiss all my boo-boos away?”
Jealousy crosses over his face and I inwardly smile.
“No. But maybe she'll be...I don't know, nicer to you.”
“Breslin's not the same girl she once was,” I whisper. “She no longer takes shit from people and I'm proud of her for that. Therefore, I deserve her hatred.”
“The old you does—the douche bag who lied to her. But I'm not so sure the guy standing before me today does.”
“Look, if you want us to still be—whatever the fuck it is we are—stay out of my past with Breslin.” It's on the tip of my tongue to tell him to stay out of my future with her, too, but I don't. “And keep your mouth shut about Dragoni. I'll tell her when I'm ready.”
“But you'll tell her?”
I blow out a breath. “Yeah. Eventually.”
The relief on his face is more than apparent and it makes my heart jump. If I ever had any doubts that he cares about me, they don't exist anymore.
I take another step closer to him, reach down, and squeeze his hand briefly—the gesture is slight enough I know no one else in the courtyard caught it.
“One day, Asher,” he whispers, looking around.
I nod, even though I'm not so sure that day will ever come. But I know in my heart that I want it to.
I want to hold his hand in public. I want to kiss him in public. I want to love him in public. I don't want to be his dirty little secret and I don't want him to be mine, either. I want to be brave enough for the world to see who I truly am without being ashamed.
He knocks my shoulder with his. “Come on, I'll buy you lunch.”
I give him a grin. “You sure that's not against the school policy?”
He gives me a cocky grin of his own as we open the doors to the cafeteria. “Haven't you heard? I'm breaking all the rules lately.”
I bite my bottom lip and pull out my phone, hoping the text I just got is my brother texting me back.
When I see his name flashing across the screen I pick up.
“Hey, Preston.”
“What's up? I got your text earlier but I was in class. Everything okay?”
I look at Landon whose brows furrow as we stand in line for food and debate my next words carefully.
How exactly do you tell your brother that the girl he's just moved in with is cheating on him with someone else?
A pink-haired madwoman at that. One who's best friends with Breslin.
One thing's for sure, though—this is a conversation that needs to be had in person, not over the phone.
“You have any time in your schedule to hang out this week?”
There's a pause on the other end before he says, “Um. Yeah, sure. I can swing by your campus soon. I'll call you when I'm on my way so we can meet up.”
“Sounds good. See you then,” I say before I hang up and look at Landon who appears even more confused.
“My brother Preston and—” I start to say before I'm pushed forward.
“Do you mind—” My words fall when I turn fully and see the lunatic and cheating Barbie making out wildly behind me.
They break apart and Kit glares at me. “Well, if it isn't the judgmental, cheating, life ruiner, asshole himself.”
Is that what Breslin told her? I shake my head. Of course, it is.
“Well, if it isn't the psycho who accosted me.”
Behind me, I hear Landon praise my use of accost and Kit's stare focuses on him. “I thought you were better than this, Landon.”
Landon looks sheepish and I shoot my gaze at Becca. “You know, those are some pretty heavy words for someone who doesn't even know the person closest to them.” I glance at the ring on her finger and my nostrils flare. This bitch has some nerve and I can't wait to tear her world out from under her.
Becca pales and yanks on Kit's shoulder. “I'm not hungry anymore. Come on, let's go.”
“Well, I'm hungry,” Kit protests until we all look up and see Breslin walking through the cafeteria doors.
I swallow hard, because every time she walks in a room the entire world stands still for me.
I let my gaze roam over her freely. All the way from her gorgeous red hair that's piled high on top of her head in some kind of knot, the jeans that fit her curves in a way that has my own jeans growing snugger, down to the cute purple toes peeking out through her flip flops.
Every single inch of Breslin Rae is just as beautiful as I remember.
I know I told Landon earlier to give her everything I couldn't—but looking at her now makes me want to take those words right back.
It makes me want to start the war of all wars just to have her again.
She worries her plump bottom lip between her teeth, like this is the last place she wants to be right now.
Then before any of us can say a word—she's gone.
Just like a gust of wind on the hottest day of the year.
Funny thing is? I'd bet my life she's heading for the art studio, because that's the place she always goes whenever she's upset. Or happy for that matter.
It's the place she goes to get away from it all. It's also the place she goes to when she's thinking about her mom. It's her place where she lets all her emotions out.
I have to stuff down the instinct telling me to chase after her, because it's bad enough I ruined her Art class this semester simply by being there.
Becca yanks on Kit's arm again and she begrudgingly walks over to one of the tables with her and sits down. But not before raising her middle finger in my direction.
I raise mine right back at her in response, and she pulls Becca on her lap and they proceed to make out.
Beside me, Landon gives his head a shake. “What the hell is going on?”
“Becca and my brother Preston are together,” I inform him and his eyes go wide.
“No. Becca is a lesbian.” He flips a hand in their direction. “A very happily engaged lesbian by the looks of it.”
“Well, then she's leading one hell of a double life. Because she's also a straight girl who just moved into an apartment with her college boyfriend.” I pause. “In addition to being a lackey for her uncle Vincent Dragoni.”
“No fucking way.”
“Way,” I say as I start loading my tray up with various food.
“Becca and Kit have been together even longer than Breslin and I have.”
When I give him a look, he shrugs. “Sorry. Christ, this is insane.” He drops his voice to a whisper. “Despite how she treated you, Kit's a good person. She doesn't deserve to be kept in the dark about this.” He glances her way with pity in his eyes. “She's planning on marrying the girl for crying out loud.”
We pay the cashier and I hold my hands up. “Look, the only person I care about in this scenario is my brother.”
His gaze snaps back to me. “You have to tell her.”
My jaw falls open. “Um...no. No, I don't—”
I'm cut off when the cafeteria doors swing open and in walks my younger brother. I guess when he meant soon, he meant now.
“Oh shit,” Landon says beside me and I swallow hard. This is like watching a car crash happen right before your very eyes but being powerless to stop it.
Kit and Becca are still in a passionate lip-lock. Even after my brother, who looks equal parts confused and pissed stands in front of them and crosses his arms over his chest.
“Maybe we should have gotten popcorn for lunch,” Landon says and I nudge him in the ribs.
“Becca,” Preston grinds out, the bite in his tone severe enough that she gasps and her hands fly to her face.
“Who the hell are you?” Kit questions looking between them.
“I'm her boyfriend,” Preston says and I can't help but wince. “You know, the guy she's living with.”
“Fuck,” Landon whispers. “This is so bad.”
I place my tray to the side and nod in agreement.
Kit's hand goes to her heart and she laughs. “Wow, good one.” She grabs Becca's—who looks so pale she could pass for a vampire—hand and shoves it in his face. “Because last time I checked this is my soon to be wife.”
Preston takes a step back and shakes his head. “Becca what the hell is going on? One threesome a few weeks ago and now you're full on lesbo?”
Kit stands up. “What?” The crack in her voice has my stomach dropping.
Becca seems to find her voice. “I—um.”
“You're what?” Kit questions with tears in her eyes. “A liar and a cheater?”
Everyone's eyes are on them now and I'm torn between shouting at them all to mind their business, or walking over and ushering them to somewhere more private.
“I can't believe you're engaged to someone else,” Preston says, the reality appearing to finally be hitting him.
“This isn't what you think, baby doll,” Becca says, looking up at Preston and Kit braces herself against the table.
“Baby doll?” Kit squeaks, pointing to her chest. “That's me.” The tears fall down her face like rain. “That's supposed to be me.”
Landon slides his phone out of his pocket. “I'm texting Breslin.”
“Good idea.”
Hell, even I'm feeling bad for Kit now and he's my brother.
Preston's gaze locks with mine then and he gives me a nod, a nod that says—I'll talk to you later.
I give him a nod of my own and he holds his hands up in the air, looks at them, and says, “Fuck this. I'm out,” before he turns on his heels.
“Preston, no,” Becca screams, chasing after him, leaving Kit in the dust with tears rolling down her face.
Kit staggers, looking a second away from passing out and both me and Landon rush to her side, steadying her.
“Breathe, Kit. We've got you,” Landon says and she sniffles, nearly collapsing right there on the floor.
She's so upset she doesn't even realize I'm holding up one side of her as we make our way out of the cafeteria and into the courtyard.
Where we find a panicked Breslin running toward us. “What happened?”
Kit cries harder and makes a beeline for Breslin who looks even more alarmed now. “Someone better start talking.” Her eyes ping-pong between the both of us. “Now.”
Landon takes a breath. “Cliff notes version is that Becca's been cheating on Kit.”
Kit mumbles something between sobs and Breslin wraps her arms tighter around her. “That fucking bitch.”
I take a step closer to her. “Tell me about it. I knew she was trouble the first time I saw her at a bar.”
Breslin's eyes shoot daggers at me. “You motherfucker.”
I blink. “What—”
“Jesus,” Landon interjects. “She wasn't cheating on Kit with Asher.” He swallows. “It was Asher's brother.” His gaze slides toward me. “You are literally the worst at explaining things.”
I open my mouth but Kit whispers, “Take me to the dorm, please,” to Breslin before they start walking.
I automatically go to follow them but Landon stops me. “Class starts in 10 minutes.” He pulls out his phone and types out a text. “But I told Breslin to text me if she needs anything.”
Annoyance tightens my guts and I walk off. I used to be the person she went to if she ever needed anything.