Her grin grows. “While the thought of making you a pirate does arouse me more so than not, I have to admit, I love staring into your perfect gray eyes.”
I kiss the tip of her nose. “It’s still a grayish red.”
She shrugs. “I was thinking that, but I wasn’t sure how to say it without sounding insensitive. So, I’m glad you admit it.”
I snort. “We are the weirdest people ever.”
“We are,” she says, nipping at my bottom lip. “But I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
“Agreed,” I say, and I capture her mouth once more, simultaneously cupping her ass in my palm. When I pull away, she lets out the hottest meep, making me hard everywhere. “So, dinner? And back to my place?”
Her eyes stay closed as she slides her nose along mine. “Yes, and maybe.”
“Maybe?” I ask. “I’m highly offended by that maybe.”
Her face breaks into a grin as she meets my confused gaze.
“Did I snore last time?”
“Asher, you stay snoring,” she reminds me with a shake of her head, and I give her a wide, forgive-me smile, but she ignores it. “It’s not that, I don’t mind it. I have a lot of resumes to send off tonight. It’s my deadline, and I have classes all day, then practice, and now dinner because I like food, and if you’re paying, I’m there—”
“You’re rambling,” I say, and then I notice she’s nervous. Shit, is she still not sure about me? We haven’t brought up our first date at all. It really doesn’t need to be discussed. I get it—feel something for her, or let her go. Not that she came out and said that, but I know she’s worried. I know she said she can be patient, but I also know she wants to know she is getting all that she deserves. I feel I am giving it to her and then some. I know I have my issues, but I do care for her very much. So much, and I hate that she’s being weird. “What’s up?”
She swallows hard. “I just have a lot to do, and I want to blow it all off for you.”
I shake my head. “I know this to be true, but there’s more.”
Her eyes burn into mine for a moment. “Yeah,” she says, looking away. “Maybe we should discuss it at dinner.”
I perk my brow. “Discuss? What is that about?” She looks at her watch, unsettling me. “I’ve never known you to try to get out of a conversation.”
Something flashes in her eyes. Fear, maybe. But she has nothing to fear. It’s me. “I sometimes forget that you know me inside and out.”
“Yeah, that shit you pull with guys who don’t know you won’t fly with me. What’s wrong, Ally T?”
She licks her lips and then kisses right below my bottom lip. Her lips stay there, and I know it’s so she doesn’t have to look in my eyes. “Can we talk tonight?”
I remove my hands from her ass, reluctantly, and grab her jaw. I pull back her head so I can see all of her face. “You have nothing to worry about, Ally. I got you. You know this.”
She swallows hard. “I know.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, but I’ve got to get to class.”
I nod. “Okay.”
She doesn’t move. “You’re annoyed.”
“I am, but you’ve gotta go to class.” I love that I can be honest with her. I always tiptoed around with Jasmine, but with Ally, it’s different. I feel different. That has to mean something. “We can finish this later, but know I’ll be thinking of you all day.”
“Good or bad?”
I pinch her jaw, moving my lips along hers. “In a great way…but also a naughty one,” I say roughly.
I wink with my pirate eye, and she grins. “I missed your winky face.”
“I’ll miss you,” I admit, kissing her softly. She kisses me back, holding me by the back of my neck.
“I’ll miss you,” she says tenderly and then kisses me again. “I gotta go.”
“Okay. Call me when you’re done.”
“I will. You have lunch with your dad, right?”
“Yeah.” I kiss her once more, not letting her out of my arms. “Not sure what he wants to talk to me about, but I’m sure I’ll be uncomfortable.”
She scoffs. “Why?”
“Because! I always feel inadequate around him. I’m not Aiden—”
“No, you’re Asher,” she says simply, holding my jaw. “Pure perfection in your own way.” Man, something shifts in my chest for this girl. “I don’t know what it is about you and Posey and this older sibling thing you’ve both got, but y’all are the most amazing people in my life. He probably just wants to have lunch to spend time with you.”
I kiss her nose. “Thanks, Ally T.”
She beams. “Anytime, Ash B.”
I know she wants to say more. But instead, we kiss again, and then she rushes out since she’s now late. I want to stop her, I don’t want her to leave, but I always have been and always will be supportive of her. Just as she has been for me. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about what she needs to talk to me about. I’m pretty sure I know what it is, especially with the talk of resumes, but I’m not ready to cross that bridge yet.
As much as I didn’t want to come back to Nashville at first, now that I’m here, I’m comfortable. I love my condo, I love being close to my family but far enough away that I’m not in the line of fire between Stella and Emery, and I have two incredible jobs. Add in the fact that I now realize my best friend is more than that, and it’s easy to say, I don’t want to leave.
But if she is planning on leaving, what does that mean for us?
See? This is why I’ve never wanted to invest in a relationship.
With Ally T, though, there is no other choice but to invest.
* * *
When my dad suggested we meet at Dave & Buster’s, I was down. I love this place—games and food? It’s a good time. After finishing everything I needed to at Bellevue, I beat my dad here. So, when he finds me, I’m playing Mario Kart.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I say as he towers over me.
As I look up at him, I realized I’ve missed him. He’s been gone a lot, scouting for the Assassins. It’s weird since he was home nonstop after retiring, but now, it’s like when I was growing up and he was playing for the Assassins. Only I live on my own and pray a lot that my mom doesn’t get murdered by my sisters. So far, so good. But you never know since he isn’t there to referee.
I get up and we embrace. I’ve never been super close with my dad. I love him, very much, and I know he loves me. But growing up, it was always him and Aiden. They always had more in common with their love for hockey and everything else. I think, with me, I was always too smart. I’m not saying my dad isn’t smart, he is, but he struggles to this day with his dyslexia. I think I intimidated him in a way, and for me, I’ve idolized him.
I love who I am, and I’m proud of that, but I’ve always wanted to be what Aiden was to him. I know it won’t happen, though. I’ve had him for all of my twenty years, but Aiden’s only had him for twenty-one of his twenty-eight years. Dad still feels guilty for those seven years he missed with Aiden, so he tries to make up for it, and I understand that. Plus, I know my dad loves me. Completely. I’m not jealous, but I do feel a little inadequate when it comes to our relationship, which is totally my issue. I’m sure if my dad knew how I felt, he would feel horrible, which is why I don’t tell him.
“Hungry?”
“Starved.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and we find a table. A waitress comes to us quickly, and after ordering, my dad looks over at me. “Miss you, bud. Haven’t seen you in a while. How’s work?”
“Great, I think I love working for the Bullies more than the Assassins, though.”
Dad grins. “No shit?”
“Yeah. It’s crazy, but I feel I run things at Bellevue, and I have more to do. With the Assassins, it’s only one massive jumbotron, but with Bellevue, it’s two different ones. I know it’s silly, but it’s the truth.”
“Just like your momma, like to run things your way.”
I shrug. “I guess, but I’m stoked.”
“Good. That’s real good, bud.”
“How’s scouting?”
He exhales heavily as our drinks are set down. “Rough. I didn’t realize how overwhelming it would be. I thought I’d go to games and just watch. No, people attack me.” I laugh. “I’m serious. These parents these days, man. I had someone offer me ten grand to scout their kid.”
My jaw drops. “Did you do it?”
He scoffs. “No way. Not only would Elli kill me, but the kid didn’t even know the difference between a backhand and a slap shot.”
My eyes widen. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, man. Rich people think money controls everything nowadays, but not for me. I’m looking for talent.”
“Which is why Elli chose you.”
He nods. “Add in the fact that she made me retire early, and you’d be right.”
I laugh. “You were going to retire anyway. You cracked, snapped, and popped more than a Rice Krispie.”