Adorkable(66)

I met his gaze straight on, switching easily to the other language. “Du hast also...”

“...alles verstanden,” he replied. “Jedes einzelne Wort. Honestly, I speak German better than I do English.”

My heart sank. I was good, but Ash didn’t even have to pause. He articulated both with spot-on diction and pronunciation, barely taking a second to change from one to the other. I’d known he understood, but having him say so was like getting blindsided a second time.

“I know that you and Becks were never really going out,” he continued airily. “I know that you guys had some kind of messed-up relationship that was supposed to be fake—but it wasn’t for you. How could it have been? You’re in love with the guy.”

I slowly crossed my arms, using the time to get my voice back. The truth was a bitter pill to swallow.

“And what do you plan to do with the information?” I said.

“That depends.” Ash had a gleam in his eyes.

“On what?”

“On you.” He raised an eyebrow. “Listen, Spitz. Even if Becks didn’t have the balls to ask you out for real, I do. I know you’re not over him yet, but I’m not afraid of a challenge.”

I was totally thrown. What was he talking about? “I don’t understand.”

“Don’t you?” Ash was shaking his head at me, like it was obvious. “I telling you I’m interested. Have been for a while.”

“What?”

“Were you always this dense, or is this a new development?” Ash pushed off the wall, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

I glared at that.

“I’m saying I want to be your boyfriend.” His eyes widened comically.

The words hung there suspended as my jaw hit the floor. I wasn’t sure who looked more surprised, me or Ash.

He cleared his throat. “You’re a little out there, but I like that.”

I shot him a questioning look. He couldn’t possibly mean what I thought he meant.

Ash sighed, shoving a hand though his hair once again. “I like you,” he said baldly. “I know you’re still into Becks, but I’m willing to give it a go if you are. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least we could show Becks what he’s missing. Right?”

“It won’t work,” I said automatically.

“Why not?”

With a heavy sigh, I dropped my arms. Ash Stryker asking me out was unbelievable, but even more mind-boggling was his offer to help me with Becks. Unfortunately, even if he did, it wouldn’t do any good.

“Becks doesn’t like me that way.” I shrugged. “I guess you missed that part. He’s always just seen me as Sal, not a guy but not really a girl either. He doesn’t want me.”

“Are you serious?” I looked up at his incredulous tone. “Spitz, he wants you. Trust me. What guy in his right mind wouldn’t?”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “But you’re wrong.”

He crossed the space between us and took my hands, forcing me to look at him. “You don’t get it. You don’t understand how guys like Becks operate. Spitz, you’ve got to show him that you’re desirable, that you won’t wait around forever.”

Ash made it sound so easy. Like all I’d have to do is parade some guy in front of Becks, and Poof! Ta-dah, he’d realize he loves me and we’d live happily ever after.

“Who knows? You might even like me better.”

I smiled. That sounded more like the Ash I knew.

“Come on, Spitz,” Ash said. “Say yes. You know you want to; I can see it in your eyes. Go out with me. What have you got to lose?”

Nothing, I thought. Becks wasn’t any closer to being my boyfriend now then he was before the F.B.F. disaster. Why not give Ash a shot? There was just one thing I didn’t get.

Brow furrowed, I asked, “Why me? If you know I’m still hung up on Becks, why would you want to date me?”

“You mean, besides morbid curiosity?”

I waited.

“Well, apart from the fact that I’d really like to get to know you better—” He wore a shit-eating grin. “—you’ve starred in basically every erotic dream I’ve had since freshman year.”

“Ew.” My nose scrunched. Definitely too much information. “And I thought you were such a nice guy,” I muttered. Could I really do this? Why was I even considering it?

“I am a nice guy,” Ash said, stepping closer. “The nicest.”

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him back.

“Alright,” I said suddenly, thinking what’s the worst that could happen? Why not go out with a guy who’s interested in me? In my heart, the answer to that question was simple—I was in love with someone else—but I didn’t want to hurt Ash’s feelings. He’d really put himself out there, which I still hadn’t managed to do after all these years.