Spiked by Love(14)
If I don’t get out of here soon, I might end up in a straitjacket.
When my phone rings, I bring it out of my pocket to see that it’s Aiden.
Thank God.
“Damn, getting ahold of you is like trying to reach the president.”
Aiden laughs. “I’m a busy dude. Winning hockey games and planning a wedding.”
I sputter with laughter. “Please, Shelli and Elli are doing all that.”
“True,” he laughs again. “So, what’s up? You’ve been harassing me.”
“Wanting to talk to my brother is harassing you?” I ask as I lean on the counter. “What if I needed something important? Would that be harassing?”
He groans in frustration. “Dude, shut up. I know what you want. You want my condo because you can’t handle the girls.”
“Well, aren’t you intuitive?”
He laughs. “I lived there too. I know what it’s like now that their periods have synced.”
I laugh along with him. “Stella stabbed Emery with a fork this morning. It was by accident, apparently.”
Aiden snorts. “No, it wasn’t. I don’t understand those two. They almost always kill each other, yet they love each other more than anything. It’s weird.”
“So weird,” I agree on an exhale. “But seriously, can I get your condo?”
“Yeah, it’s empty. Take it.”
I jerk back in surprise. “When did you guys move?”
“Last week. We moved into a bigger apartment while they’re finishing building our house.”
“A bigger apartment?”
“Yeah, Shelli has a lot of shit.”
“I know,” I say, and he laughs.
“Our new place will be pretty awesome. I don’t know how Shelli can run the team, decorate our house, and plan our wedding, but I think she’s pretty badass.”
“She’s something, for sure.”
“We’ll be having a housewarming once it’s done.”
I grin. “It’s weird. I never saw this coming from you.”
“Eh, for the right woman, you’ll do anything. Shelli is that and more.”
“That’s awesome. I’m really happy for you.”
“Ew, don’t get mushy.”
I laugh. “Shut up. I am, though. I remember when you were just fucking and leaving. I never saw you getting with one woman like this.”
“I didn’t either, especially someone I grew up with. But Shelli, she’s everything for me.”
“Good,” I say happily. My brother was a little bit wild for a long time. He had no desire to settle down; he was scared of love, thanks to our parents and their whirlwind love story. The thing is, Shelli Adler is someone you can’t ignore. He was done for once she decided he was hers. He almost fucked it up with his insecurities and aloof attitude, but in the end, they were predestined. At the end of the summer, they’ll be married in some over-the-top circus of a wedding, and while I’m dreading the theatrics, I’m excited to see them become one.
What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic.
“Though, I am surprised I’ll be married before you.”
“Right?” I agree. “I fucked up wasting years on Jasmine.”
“Yup,” he says. “It’s cool, though, just means you can go sow your wild oats.”
I snort. “No sowing for me. I like to get to know who I’m sleeping with.”
He laughs. “As long as you have a condom, you’re good. Go get you some. Enjoy it.”
I shake my head. “Actually, there is a girl who is totally wanting to get down.”
“Awesome. Get it done, bro.”
“But I told her I wanted to know her better first.”
“Jesus, Lord almighty. Come on, Ash. Don’t be a pussy.”
“Hey, that’s rude,” I scold, and he laughs. “I don’t want to sleep around. It’s not my jam.”
“You remember when you said Mom and Dad fucked me up?”
I groan. “Here we go.”
“You may have been right, but Mom fucked you up, too. You were there when she was preaching to the girls about knowing their worth, and now you’re scared to disrespect that. I promise you, if you ask Mom if she wants you to fuck around or settle down, she’ll tell you to fuck around.”
I laugh hard. “You’re insane. She would not! She doesn’t want to be a grandma.”
“Hello. Condoms, dumbass.”
“Hello. Only a 98.9 percent chance of protection, dumbass.”
He pauses. “Eh, those odds never stopped me. Enjoy being a young, newly single dude. Go fuck around.”
I make a face. “I really don’t want this advice. I just want your condo.”
He laughs. “For what? Peace and quiet? Because we both know you aren’t bringing ladies home.”
“So? I deserve it after spending days with Emery and Stella.”
“You’re not wrong,” he agrees with a chuckle. “Listen, my mortgage is paid up until the end of May, and so you’ll be rent-free until then. If you want to stay, though, you’ll need to buy it off me and have a job since I live that posh life.”
I snort. “You mean, you blow money?” He laughs. “Yeah, sounds good. We’ll see if I like it. And I should have a job soon. I’ve got that interview with Elli, and I actually just got an email from the athletic director at Bellevue. They need someone on the jumbotron. So, I may have two jobs.”
“Overachiever. But for real, I know the one in the rink at Bellevue needs you. It’s shit.”
“Well, then they definitely need me because the one in the volleyball gym is disgusting too.”
“Why were you…? Oh yeah, Ally. Duh. How’s she doing? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
“Good. Though, I think she’s back with that dumbass, Taco.”
“What the fuck? Why? Does Jakob know? He’s gonna kill him, or her, or both.”
“Pretty sure they saw them together last night, and they did not look happy. I don’t know why she does that.”
“Me either. She’s pretty hot, and she’s cool as hell.”
“Exactly. It pisses me off.”
“Why? Yeah, it’s annoying, but it isn’t your problem,” he asks, and I shrug. Why am I being asked this again?
“I want what’s best for her, and he isn’t that.”
“Sure, but why does that piss you off? Be annoyed, but pissed isn’t an emotion I would feel about a friend unless they did something to me. Unless—”
“Don’t. I already heard it from Angie and Stella.”
“Angie? The girl from last night?” I groan inwardly. Aiden used to babysit Angie. “Please don’t tell me you mean Angie Paxton. Do not sleep with her. I will kick your ass. She’s a baby.”
If he heard some of the things she was saying last night, he’d think differently. “I didn’t, and I don’t know her well enough yet to sleep with her.”
“Thank God. I forgot you’re a sensitive dork and not me.”
“Wow, thank you.”
“No offense intended. But really, don’t sleep with her.”
“Five seconds ago, you were telling me to fuck around.”
“Yeah, with other girls except Angie. It’s weird. I watched her, and she’s like a little sister.”
“So, I’m not good enough for her?”
“No, no one is. The same for you and Stella and Emery.”
“Well, that’s nice.”
“I can be sensitive too. Sometimes.”
“Sometimes being the key word there,” I say on an exhale. “She’s a cool chick, but she’s coming on so strong.”
“Ew. Please stop.”
I laugh. “Sorry.”
“My boy Wes, who I play with, is interested in Stella, and she keeps flirting with him. I threw a breadstick in her hair the other day when she winked at him.”
I snort. “Wow, that’s some real protective brother shit.”
“Right? I don’t even know what came over me. It was weird.”
“You’re a sensitive guy.”
“Fuck you.”
We share a laugh. “You know what you should do?”
“What?”
“Not sleep with Angie.”
“Thank you for that reminder.”
“And since you want to know the chick you get it on with, sleep with Ally. You guys really know each other and already like each other.”
I roll my eyes. “As a best friend, yes.”
“Nah, man. More. I think you care so much because you love her, but you’re fighting it.”
“What the hell? What is wrong with everyone? When I wasn’t home, no one said this. Now, though, everyone is saying it. We’re best friends. That’s it.”
“Dude, girls and guys can’t be best friends.”
“Not true according to a study Ally read—”
“It is a complete bullshit study she is using and preaching so she doesn’t hump you. I’m telling you, I’ve hung out with you two. It’s the Ally and Asher Show, and you guys are one sideways glance away from attacking each other like cats in heat.”
I find that I’m forcing laughter. Not sure why. “You’re delusional.”
“I’m telling you, I’m in love, and I may have ignored things like this before. But now, I know all.”