Page 33 of The Backup

“I’m coming, baby. I’m coming. Oh God am I coming.”

When she’s done she pulls me up by the hair, gently. I bring myself to my knees, and stare at her gorgeous naked body under the starlight, sure that this is a moment that will be etched on my soul forever.

We don’t exchange words, just let our eyes dance together.

Finally, she opens up her arms. “Come here,” she says, and I do. I reposition my body so I’m on her side, and she slides onto her side and rests her naked body on top of mine.

“That was incredible,” she pants. “Geezus. How did you do that?”

I grin, doing my best to play it off like I wasn’t nervous as hell that she was having the best time of her life.

“I don’t know, but I definitely want to do it again.”

“Right now?! I can’t again. I think I need to drink about a gallon of water.”

“How about some wine?” I say, reaching behind me, and sitting up to refill her glass.

“That’ll work.”

nine

. . .

Asher

The driveback is quieter than before, a comfortable silence stretching between us. When I drop her off, she lingers for a moment, her hand brushing the door handle. “Thanks for tonight,” she says softly, her eyes meeting mine. There’s something unspoken in her gaze, something I want to hold onto.

“Anytime,” I reply, my voice low. She hesitates, then gives me a small smile before slipping out of the truck and disappearing into the night.

Once I park on the street, I enter the first floor of our frat house, with the warmth of the evening clinging to me. It’s quickly replaced by the cool reality of the dimly lit living room. Joe’s sprawled on the couch, half-watching a movie, the blue light from the TV casting sharp shadows across his face.

“Late night?” he says, his tone clipped as his eyes flick briefly to me before returning to the screen.

“Yeah. Late one.”

“You have a girl?” he asks, his voice laced with something between curiosity and accusation.

I shrug, keeping my expression neutral. “Nah. I was going over game film.”

He huffs a laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “Well, isn’t that great.”

He gets up, moving toward me with a deliberate slowness that sets my nerves on edge. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you,” he says, his tone sharper now. “But you’ve been acting fucking weird all week.”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorway. “How so?”

“You stay in your room. Don’t go out. You’re…different.”

“Yeah, I’m not a partier like you. And since when have you been keeping tabs on my habits?”

He narrows his eyes, studying me like he’s trying to piece something together. “Are we friends, Asher? I know we’ve never been close, but I want to know if we’re friends.”

“You barely talk to me,” I say, crossing my arms. “So, I’d say acquaintances.”

“Well, damn. Alright.” He exhales heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Fuck, man. I miss her.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and raw. I don’t need to ask who he means.

“Miss her?” I say anyway, my voice carefully neutral.

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