Adorkable(67)
“Great.” Ash smiled. “This should be fun.”
I smiled back.
Ash held the door and followed me out. There were lots of people in the hall now, lockers slamming, people talking as they walked to class. Zero period was canceled for today, which was a good thing since this “meeting” had taken longer than I’d thought. Ash and I stood side by side, watching everyone hurry past.
“You sure you want to do this?”
Turning to face me, he said, “Absolutely. You?”
“Sure,” I said, trying not to blush. “Thanks, Ash.”
“Anything for you, Spitz.” His eyes widened, one corner of his lips turned up as he looked over my head. “And so it begins.”
Before I could wonder what he meant, a familiar voice called, “Sal.”
Becks sounded annoyed, and when he reached us his expression matched his tone.
“Becks,” Ash said easily, looping an arm around my shoulders. I nearly gasped in surprise but managed to hold it in. “How’s it going man? You ready to take on Myers Park today?”
“I’m always ready.” His voice was icy, but his eyes burned, tracking the movements of that arm with a scowl on his face. “Sal, what’s going on?”
“Nothing,” I said.
“Oh don’t lie to him, Spitz.” I did gasp this time as Ash nuzzled my hair. What was he doing? “He’s a big boy. He can take it.”
“Take what?” Becks said, looking right at me.
“Well, we…I mean, we’re…” I’d never been too good at lying to Becks, and now with him looking so intense, staring right through me, it was next to impossible. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want to admit that Ash and I were going out.
Luckily, Ash didn’t have that problem.
“Spitz just agreed to go out with me,” he said.
I stared at him slack-jawed. Ash had put it right out there.
If Becks’s eyes could shoot fire, Ash would’ve been dust. Without looking at me, he gritted out, “Sal, can I see you for a sec?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, simply tugged me a few feet away and started his tirade.
“What was that?” he said, head lowered, voice angry. “I asked you before what was going on with you and Ass Striker, and you said nothing. You aren’t seriously interested in that jerk?”
“Well, I—”
“He’s just playing you, Sal.” Becks shook his head, looking at me with pity. “And you’re letting him do it. I thought you were smarter than this.”
I set my chin, remembering how Ash had just admitted his feelings. No fear, no hesitation. I had to admire that.
“I like him,” I said.
“And you honestly think he likes you?” Becks laughed, but it wasn’t a funny sound. “How could he, Sal? He barely knows you.”
“Yeah, but he wants to,” I retorted.
“Yeah, he wants something,” Becks muttered.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Why are you getting so upset?” I asked, eyeing the hard planes of his face. “It’s not like you haven’t gone out with a ton of girls.”
“That’s different.” His tone was pleading. “You don’t know Ash. I do. We’ve played on the same team for years. He’s a complete ass.”
I took a step back. “Well, what if I want to get to know him better? He’s always been nice to me, Becks.”
Becks searched my face. “It’s him, isn’t it? I was right.”
“Right about what?”
“God, why didn’t I see it before,” he said, throwing up his hands. “Your crush, athletic, smart, good-looking. Sal, you’re kidding me, right? Ass Striker? You really think he’s attractive?”
Looking over, Ash winked, nodding, encouraging me. Our relationship was already off and running, and I’d barely had time to blink, let alone get used to the idea.
Wanting to see how Becks would react, I tested the waters.
“Sure,” I said, checking Ash out with a grin. “He’s funny, nice and has a great body. Not as good as yours, of course, Becks, but he is a year younger.”
Becks stepped back as if I’d struck him. “Sal…”
“Hmm?” I tried hard not to notice the look of hurt that flashed across his face.
“He doesn’t want you. Not really.”
The fact that Becks didn’t think any guy could want me wasn’t a surprise. The words still cut to the bone.
“Why not, Becks?” I refused to cry. “Because you don’t?”
“That’s not—”
“Enough talk,” Ash said, arm sliding around me once again. “Want me to walk you to class?”