Page 5 of The Backup

“A really good time.”

“Pretty cocky of you.”

He shrugs, his grin wicked. “No. Cocky would be saying I’d fuck you better than your ex—or whatever he is—ever has.”

A hot chill ripples down my spine, landing squarely between my thighs.

Before I can say anything, we hear a noise. Jacklyn walks into the room, holding my wrap.

“Hey, guys!” she says, keeping her voice low for the library. She glances at Asher, her face lighting up. “Whoa! Blast from the past! How are you, Asher?”

Asher stands, his grin genuine. “Hey, Jack! How are you?”

They exchange pleasantries, catching up quickly. When Jacklyn mentions her boyfriend, Brian, Asher nods approvingly.

“Bring him by the house sometime,” he says as he packs up his things. “We’re having a party next weekend. Sloane, you’re welcome to come too.”

“Thanks,” I say, watching him walk away.

When he’s gone, Jacklyn gives me a sly look. “So…marketing? That’s what you were talking about?”

I laugh. “Something like that. Do you know him?”

“We kinda dated freshman year. It was a rebound thing.”

“Oh. You…‘dated.’”

“Yeah, it was casual,” Jacklyn says with a grin. “But he’s really cool and respectful.” Her smile widens as she sighs. “Those were some good times.”

“Okay…I feel like I’m missing something here,” I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

Jacklyn hesitates, her cheeks tinting pink. “Asher is…” She clears her throat. “He has a gift.”

“A gift?”

“I mean…ugh, this is bad. I shouldn’t be telling you this because I’m with Brian now.”

“What?! Just tell me.”

She glances at the floor, then back at me. “He’s gifted…down south.”

It takes a second to click, and when it does, my mouth falls open. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope.” Jacklyn raises an eyebrow. “Let’s just say, he might be the backup quarterback, but there’s nothing ‘second string’ about his endowment. If you know what I mean.”

“I think I’m catching your drift.”

“He’s gigantic. But he’s also fun,” she says with a mischievous smile. “If you’re in a bad place and need a pick-me-up? He’s definite hook-up material. Just saying.”

She pulls out her phone, quickly typing Asher’s name into the search bar of her messages, then hands it to me.

“I’m not going to look,” she says firmly. “Because, you know, Brian. But scroll back to freshman year.”

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I start scrolling. Most of their recent conversations are mundane, but as I dig into the past, I stop cold. My eyes land onthephoto.

It’s a picture of a naked, ripped guy. Slim, toned, and very much…endowed.

My jaw drops. “This is the guy we were just talking to. That’s…him? His dick is literally the size of a Starbucks Venti latte.”

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