Page 12 of Asher

Showing my anger, I slammed my backpack on the table and then took my books out and slammed them down.

“Uh oh. What the fuck happened?” Asher asked once he made it to us.

I sighed, and before I could answer, Stella did.

“The hottest guy at the school asked Chloe out. He dumped his girlfriend. Making sure that she wouldn’t start things with Chloe before he did it. And she told him she had plans. Plans with me. We can cancel them for Brett. I don’t get it.”

I sighed, “It’s not just that, Stella. I’m not interested in him. He does nothing for me. When I say yes to a guy, I need to feel it in my gut. In my heart, he’s the right one for me. I don’t want a lot of men. I just want one.”

Asher mumbled then, “Nothing wrong with waiting for the right one.”

Stella growled, “I know that, Dad. But none of the boys at school pay me a lick of attention. I gotta live vicariously through her. She gets asked out at least three times a week. And she always says no. Either they aren’t her type. Too immature. Or she knows at least three other girls the guy has been with.”

And I swore I freaking swore I heard Asher mutter, “Good.”

But I hadn’t... right?

And then my phone pinged with a text.

Unknown –Hey, so what time should I pick you up?

Unknown –I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while. But I didn’t want Karla’s drama to touch you. That’s gotta count for something. Right?

I narrowed my eyes and then looked at Stella, “You freaking didn’t.”

She looked at me, her eyes wide, “Do what?”

I could feel Asher’s eyes on me, but I ignored him, “You didn’t give my number to Brett. You wouldn’t do that.”

Stella winced, “I didn’t do that. Exactly.”

I could feel my anger mounting, “How, exactly?”

Then she rushed out, “I may have opened my contact book, scrolled to your number, and laid the phone down on the desk in front of him.”

I loved Stella. I did.

But she had crossed a line.

Here I was, keeping my feelings to myself.

Doing everything I could think of to not lose her.

I felt a tear trail down the corner of my eye, and then when she caught sight of it, her face paled, Asher muttered, “Fuck.”

I stood up, put my stuff back in my backpack, and then looked around Asher and to Stoney I asked, “Can you run me home, please?”

He saw the next tear that trailed down my cheek, then nodded, “Yeah, sweetheart. Let’s go.”

I ignored Asher and Stella and walked beside Stoney.

When I got home, I headed to my bedroom, closed the door, and then blocked Brett’s number.

For the rest of the evening, I worked on my homework. I had to set my phone to the side and was close to turning it off because not only was Stella texting me, but so was Asher.

I ignored the two of them.

After I ate dinner, and thankfully, my mama and dad were busy talking about a cruise that they were thinking of taking in a few years, so I was able to keep everything to myself, I settled into bed and then looked at my phone.

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