Page 57 of Anti Player

At that point I stand quickly and ask Ellie where her bathroom is. I head to the bathroom and lock the door. I look in the mirror and blow out a breath. This attraction is getting hard to control. I want to sleep with Kaleb again.

I use the bathroom, wash my hands, and head back out to the couch. I need to prove I can handle being with Kaleb, while keeping my feelings in check and my hormones under control.

When I sit back down, Kaleb has his arms crossed in front of his chest but his scent lingers in the air, and I am fighting whatever this feeling is.

When the song about Bruno comes on, Syd gets up to dance and Connor and Ellie dance with her. Ellie explains that Crew passed this tradition on to Syd. Then she says that Asher needs to meet Crew because she can see them being best buds. This is what I have always wanted for my son, to have stable people in our lives, friends to laugh with and depend on.

I stand and take Asher’s hand, and then we are dancing and being silly too. Asher is giggling so loud it makes my heart happy.

When we sit back down, he lets out a big yawn. By the end of the movie, he is sitting on the couch curled up in a ball, sleeping.

I thank Ellie and Connor for a wonderful night. Kaleb thanks them too and leaves at the same time. He gives me a small wave before heading to his apartment. Brett carries Asher back to his apartment, places him in bed, and kisses his forehead.

“It’s good for him here,” I say to my brother.

“Yeah,” my brother sighs. “It’s good and we are going to keep making it good for him.”

“Thanks, Brett. For everything.” When Brett straightens out, I give him a hug.

“It’s the least I can do,” he replies.

“You’re being modest, Brett. You’ve saved us. I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“You don’t need too,” he replies and tells me to have a good night.

“I’m going out to the nook in the hallway. I need some quiet time,” I explain.

“You like that nook a little too much,” he notes.

“I have a lot going on in my head. Watching the city and the rush somehow calms what’s going on inside me,” I explain.

“Sure,” he says. He yawns and stretches and heads to his room.

I leave the apartment and walk over to my nook. I need to get my bearings.

CHAPTER

FOURTEEN

Madison

As I sit in my little nook, I think of how my life has taken a one-eighty since I left Jersey. I’ve started a new job, quit said job. Looked into going back to school. I need to find Asher a good school. There is just so much. Then there is Kaleb. Starting a fling with the boy I crushed on as a girl was a big mistake. The stakes feel higher. I know Kaleb. I may not know the man he has become, but I know him at his core. I also notice the way he looks at me.

“I need more than ten minutes.” His voice comes from a few feet away and startles me.

“Shit.” I palm my chest.

“Sorry.” He moves closer. “Come with me.” His hand is extended like a life preserver, only if I go with him I feel like I will drown.

“We can’t,” I reply, but my resolve is so weak.

“You want me. I can read your body language.” He’s so sure of himself and he isn’t wrong.

“This is dangerous,” I warn, even with my body betraying me.

“This is hot,” he corrects. “I can’t stop thinking of having you in my bed.”

“You aren’t helping,” I complain.

---