“Oh.” Another mark in the column of why I will never open up about my feelings. “Y’all were cute together.”
“Yeah. She’s hot as hell, and so am I, but I guess looks don’t give sparks.”
“I could have told you that,” I say in exasperation. “Also, you sound like a dick.”
Asher’s eyes widen. “I do not.”
“I thought looks would be enough,” I say, mocking him in his voice. “You’re not like that. Don’t try to lie to me,” I insist and he grins.
“You think you know me, huh?”
“You know I do.” Our eyes meet, and his grin grows, flashing his white teeth at me. I’ve always loved the little tilt of his right canine. He wanted to fix it when he was younger, but I convinced him not to. I don’t know why, but I love it.
“Fine. You’re right.”
Before I can agree, Angie comes up beside me. Her face is pale, and she looks as if she is going to cry. I stand up immediately. “You okay?”
She averts her eyes. “I don’t feel well. I’m going to head back.”
I slide my hand in hers. “What’s wrong?”
“Just sick. I don’t know. I want to go.” I search her eyes, and it feels like something is off. I’ve never seen her sick before, so I have no clue if she is lying.
“Okay, I’ll walk with you.”
“I’ll walk with both of you,” Asher says then, cupping Angie’s shoulder, but she shakes it off. If her action bothers Asher, he doesn’t show it. Concern swims in his gray eyes as he says, “You sure you’re okay?”
She nods, and I can tell she’s fighting back tears. I wrap my arm around her waist and guide her out. On the walk back to the dorm, no one says anything. Angie is breathing hard, but she doesn’t cry. She doesn’t hold me or even lean into me; she just walks, almost in a trance. It freaks me out, but I give her space. I know when I don’t feel well, I don’t even want people to look at me, so I get it.
When we reach our dorm, Angie stops in the doorway. “I’m good. You can go back.”
I narrow my gaze. “I can stay with you.”
She shakes her head. “No, I want to be alone.”
I blink a little, put off by her directness. “Okay. Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “Text me if you need me.”
“I will.”
She shuts the door, and I bring in my brows. I glance up at Asher, whose expression matches mine. “That was weird.”
“Really weird. You think we should leave?”
I shrug. “She wants to be alone. I’ll text her in a bit.”
“Okay. Are you going back?”
“Yeah. I should meet back up with Taco.”
His expression changes to frustration. “Okay. I’ll walk with you.”
He wants to say more, but I don’t want to hear it. We start down the hall and out of the building. The cold air is brutal, my legs are freezing, and I realize I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to sit in the corner as Taco mingles. He is all about the party scene, and at one time, I was too. But now, I’d rather just hang. Alone. With snacks.
“You okay?”
I glance over to find Asher watching me. “I don’t want to go back.”
“Then don’t.”
I shrug. “But Angie wants to be alone, and I really should go back since Taco and I are trying to make things work.”
“You shouldn’t have to try. They should just work,” he says, and I roll my eyes.
“Not now, Ash.”
“Fine,” he says gruffly. “Why don’t we go check out my new condo?”
I look up at him. “I thought you weren’t getting the key until this weekend?”
“I went and got it today from Shelli. I move in this weekend.”
“Cool,” I say, and then I shrug. “Sure. Let’s go.”
He seems pleased, and so am I, if I’m honest. We turn left and head to the parking lot where my car is. Once we’re on the road, Asher asks, “Hey, you got any snacks?”
“I have peanuts in the console.”
He grimaces. “I’ll wait. Maybe Aiden left something behind.”
I snort. “You’re still scared of peanuts?”
He gives me a blank look since I know good and well the answer to that. “They can grow in your gut.”
“Ash, come on. They can’t,” I insist, but he’s convinced. He watched this video on Facebook for a start your own garden thing, and he is convinced that things that start as seeds or have them inside will grow in his gut and come out his asshole. I wish I were kidding, but I’m not. “The acid in your gut kills them.”
“Nope. I’m good.”
I can’t contain my laughter. “You’re insane.”
He doesn’t care, and I love that about him. He doesn’t care what people think; he is who he is. I run through the McDonald’s drive-thru for him, and we’re done with our food before we reach his new condo. Aiden is swanky, so of course, his condo is too. After parking and Asher showing his ID, we ride the elevator up to his new place.
“This place is not you.”
He grins. “I know, but I feel kinda glamorous.”
“They’ll probably kick you out when you set up your collectibles.” I snort.
He nods. “I know. Especially when I put my Star Wars parking zone sign on my door.”
I beam. “Yeah, you might want to resist hanging that.”
Asher grins at me. “But then how am I supposed to meet other Star Wars fans?”
“Asher, you don’t have to advertise for them. The Force brings y’all together.”
He points to me, his grin growing. “You’re right. How dumb of me.”
“And you say the Force is strong within,” I tease, and then the elevator door opens, our laughter spilling out. We head down the hall, and Asher unlocks the door, letting me in first. I am taken aback when I see the place is still full of furniture. “I thought they moved out?”
Asher shuts the door behind himself. “They did. Aiden was going to rent it out to any new guys on the team, so he and Shelli left their stuff and bought new.”
“Oh, well, that’s cool and good for you since you gave Jasmine everything.”
“You’re not going to let me live that down, are you?”
I shake my head as I drop onto the couch. “Nope. It was dumb.”
He shrugs as he moves through the condo, checking things out. “It was,” he calls to me. “But it was quicker and easier.”
“It was. I’ll give you that,” I say as he comes back into the living room. I pull out my phone to see a text from Taco.
Taco: Where you at?
Me: Angie wasn’t feeling well, so I took her home. I couldn’t find you.
Taco: Oh, okay. Where are you now?
I hesitate. If I tell him I’m with Asher, he’ll freak.
Me: I took Asher home.
Taco: Are you coming back?
Me: Probably not.
Taco: OK… Wanna go to dinner Saturday?
“No.”
I look up to see Asher reading over my shoulder. “Rude!”
He laughs as he comes around the couch, falling beside me and reaching for the remote.
Me: I have that fitting for my cousin’s wedding, but I’ll be free after that.
Taco: Cool. Pick me up at seven.
“He’s such a loser. Can’t even pick you up.”
I glance back to him. “Says the guy who is being chauffeured around by me?”
He shrugs. “I’m getting a car this weekend, thank you.”
I roll my eyes as I text Taco back.
Me: Sure. See you then.
I tuck my phone into my purse and lean back on the couch as Asher puts on I Am a Killer. It’s our new obsession on Netflix. Plus, he wants to make sure he stays ahead of Emery. I don’t know why he thinks she’ll be a murderer. She’s tough and crazy, but I think she’s awesome. “I’m worried about Angie.”
He nods. “Yeah, that sucked. Have you texted her?”
“I did when we were in the drive-thru, but no response.”
“When you’re sick, you’re the same way,” he says, and I shrug.
“True,” I agree as I put my feet underneath me. “Sucks you two didn’t work.”
“Eh, I’m okay with it. I’ll find me a lady I have sparks with.”
And I’ll hate her.
I sigh as I lean my head against the couch. I’m exhausted. “Are you staying here tonight?”
He nods. “Yeah, I already took off my shoes.”
I laugh. “You can put them back on.”
“Nope, too lazy.” He sinks deeper into the couch, and I smile. “You gonna stay?”
“Here?”
“No, outside.” I narrow my gaze at him. “Yes, here. Jeez. I figured with Angie not feeling well and wanting to be alone, you’d stay here.”
Duh, not because he wants to bang my brains out. Get it together, Ally. “Yeah, I guess.”
“You guess? What? You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that at all. I just know Taco will have something to say.”
“Who the hell cares?” he says simply. “He knows there is nothing between us but a loving, caring best friendship.”
Yeah, apparently everyone knows that but me. “Yeah.”