But wait… He was like that, and he never really loved his past girlfriends? What in the world? That blows my ever-loving mind. How? How did he do that? How did he keep himself so detached? When a guy would smile my way, I looked like a puppy about to get a treat. I’d latch, fall in love, and boom! Brokenhearted within weeks. I want so badly to have it all. My person and my career, just like my mom. But Asher has kept that part of him locked up. That’s unreal to me. I know hiding my feelings for him was rough all these years, but for him, he’s never let himself feel for anyone.
No wonder he resisted me so well.
Not that I’m saying I’m all that, but you can always find me with some Doritos.
Aw, Asher would appreciate that pun.
I grin as I park his car in my space. He makes me all giddy, but I’m still curious about this not loving people thing. It’s hard to believe. He almost married Jasmine. What is his deal? I shake my head as I get out of the car, locking it behind me. Before I can start for the dorm, though, my phone rings. I get it out of my purse and see it’s Fallon.
Why am I scared?
I answer. “Hello?”
“Hey, hun. Are you with my son?”
“No, ma’am. I’m on campus.”
“Crap, I have his phone.”
“I know. He asked me to come get it from you.”
“Okay. Don’t you have a game tonight?”
“Yup,” I say, all pleased she knows. It makes me feel special.
“Awesome. I’ll go pick him up, and we’ll head there. Can you send him a smoke signal?”
I snort. “I’ll send him a message. I left my iPad there.” Shit, I shouldn’t have said that.
Without missing a beat, Fallon says, “You’re the best. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“No problem. See you later,” I say, and just like that, she hangs up.
O…kay…
I fully expected questions, demands, about why my iPad is there. But I guess it’s normal behavior for us. I blink twice at my phone and then hit my messaging app that is set up to message Asher on my iPad.
Me: Your mother called. She’ll pick you up before the game. Six o’clock. Also, I don’t think she suspects anything.
He doesn’t answer back, so I head inside. I say hi to some of my teammates before rushing upstairs to my room. When I get there, the door is open, and Angie is lying on the bed, typing on her computer.
“Hey,” I say happily as I grab my backpack. “I wish I could stay and chat, but I gotta go.”
She sends me a forced grin. The only reason I know that is because I’ve seen her real smile, and that is not it. Unable to handle that since I know I brought Taco around her, I head out. “Quick thing!” she calls to me.
I am already out the door, but I poke my head back in. “Yes?”
“I got into that program in South Carolina. I’m moving after the season is done.”
“Oh.” I lean into the doorway, and while it sucks because I don’t want her to leave, I know it’s for the best. She’s wanted to get into that program; she wants to help athletes with addiction. It’s admirable. Also, it will give her a fresh start. “That’s amazing, Angie. I’m so proud of you.”
“Really? You aren’t upset?”
“I would be if you left me midseason.” I wink. “But no, girl. This is huge. You’ve wanted this. I am over the moon for you.”
Thankfully, she sends me a huge grin. “You haven’t heard anything back about your application?”
I shrug, shaking my head. “Guess they didn’t want me. But how could they when they have your application beside mine? You were made for this program, and let’s be honest, I don’t want to go to school anymore.”
Of course, if the opportunity came up, I would take it. But to save my pride, I figure going with that answer is best. She gives me a small smile. “True. But still, it would have been cool to go together.”
It would be, but what would what mean for Asher and me? I should probably talk to him about that. I’ve put in applications and resumes all over, and I’m not done. I’m about to send out more at the end of the month. Would he go with me? Should I focus on getting a job here in Nashville? Before I can get more into my head, Angie says, “I’m really excited. My parents…not so much.”
I smile. “It’ll be a change, but when you’re out there helping athletes kick addiction, they’ll be proud.”
She exhales hard. “Yeah, it’s gonna be awesome.”
“For sure.”
“Also,” she says, setting me with a look. “Don’t blame yourself for this shit with Taco.”
I swallow hard. “How’d you know?”
“You look at me like you broke me, and you didn’t. This was because of his choices, not yours. You didn’t know he was a sleazebag.”
“I did, and I didn’t. But I definitely wasn’t aware of what he was capable of.”
She shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. He’s nothing to us.”
“No, he’s not,” I say, my heart swelling for her. “I’ll miss you, Ang.”
She beams. “Right back at you. But you and Asher can come visit me.”
She waggles her brows, and I turn. “I gotta go!”
Her laughter chases me out of the room, and I don’t mind it. I could have shared for hours about Asher, but I’m late for class. And knowing my luck, she’ll tell her mom, who will tell my aunt’s daughter, who will then tell my aunt, and she’ll tell my mom. The wicked, tangled web of the Assassins, it’s a blast. For this reason, I don’t say anything because I want to be the one to tell my mom. When, I’m not entirely sure, but I want to tell her.
When I get outside, the cold air hits me in the face as I head toward my next class. I’m almost there when my phone sounds. I pull it out of my coat pocket and see that it’s a message from Asher. His screen name, which he has changed, has me in a giggling fit. It takes a moment to focus on what he said, but when I do, I beam.
YourSexyManMeat: Of course she didn’t. She has nothing to go on until we’re ready for them to know. But, wait. You mean to tell me, I have to watch you, in little shorts, be an awesome badass volleyball star and not get a boner since I’ll be sitting between our moms?
I snort at his question as I shake my head.
Me: No one said you couldn’t get a boner. You’ll just need to contain it.
YourSexyManMeat: Like that’s doable.
Me: Jesus.
YourSexyManMeat: LOL. Fine, I’ll manage. But know this, Allison Titov. After you win and I get you home, I will be tearing those shorts off—with my teeth.
And with that, I trip over a tree root. Next thing I know, I’m facedown in the grass. I hear laughing, I even hear my heart beating, and I also feel pain in my face, but it doesn’t matter because I’m still grinning from ear to ear.
* * *
I sit in my locker, leaning on my knees as I text Posey.
She has me worried. She suffers from a thyroid disease that has the power to knock her on her ass. Worse than when I fell on campus—I mean awful. And every time it happens, I get so scared. I remember horror stories of her mom Elli’s episodes, and Posey’s can be just as bad, if not worse. The doctors have switched her meds, but she still doesn’t feel well. I hate that. I want her to feel as good as I do. Not that I’m telling her that. Again, not sure when I will. I need to make sure Asher and I are solid first. It’s all going so well, but I don’t know if he likes me like how I like him. I know he likes me, but does he love me?
Thankfully, Posey distracts me.
Posey: I’m fine.
Me: I don’t like when you’re sick.
Posey: I promise I’ll make it. I’m just super tired.
Me: Wait, you’re not going to bail on the group dance practice, are you? I hate that you’re sick, but even I won’t tolerate that bail.
Posey: I wanted to, but since it won’t be tolerated by you or Boon, I doubt I can.
Oh, thank God. Me: I’ll bring candy.
Posey: Great.
Posey: Oh, you don’t have to hide us anymore. Shelli and Aiden know.
Me: Really? How’d that go?
Posey: Good, she found him in my pantry.
Me: Why was your boyfriend in the pantry?
Posey: Long story short, I freaked and stuffed him in there because he was at the apartment and she showed up out of nowhere.
Me: Huh? Did she tell your mom?
Posey: No. She’s actually keeping it quiet.
Me: What are you bribing her with?
Before she can answer, Coach comes in, and we gather for a pregame talk. I know it’s silly to assume that Posey would have to bribe Shelli, but I know Shelli very well. She wants all this crazy shit for her wedding. These over-the-top fluffy dresses and more. Posey is the only reason I’m not stuck wearing a Gone with the Wind style dress. God bless her. But because of this, I know Shelli will use knowing about Boon to get Posey to do what she wants. It can go one of two ways—Shea and Elli will find out about Boon, or Shelli will be wheeling herself down the aisle. And the thing is, I don’t know which scenario is more likely to happen.
I’m excited to find out, though.
“All right, girls. Tough match, with Vandy. Their front line is a blocking team, but the left hitter, number eight, that girl is a beast with her hit. She has the highest number of spikes in the state, so block the hell out of her. Keep your heads in the game, talk to one another, and let’s go win the three sets we need!”