Page 4 of Restrictions

“I need a favor.”

God knows he’s done several for me over the last few years—watching Sebastian and just plain being an uncle to my son. Still, I’m cautious. “What?”

“You still moving out of your parent’s house?” He leans his ass against my car, his arms still folded.

“Yes...” I answer hesitantly. When I told my parents I was pregnant at only seventeen, they went straight into damage control, pulled me from school and had me finish remotely. They hid me away from any gossiping eyes and kept me, and then Sebastian, close in their home. I had to fight for my independence.

I’m starting my senior year of college soon, and I wanted some freedom. Finally, they granted it to me in the form of a ridiculously large four-bedroom home in Lawrence, where I’m attending college and had been driving the hour and a half for class every day for the past three years. I wanted something smaller near campus, but my father insisted on a “nice home” for Sebastian.

Rich girl problems, I suppose.

At least I’m out of there in three days.

“Why do you ask?”

“Let me move in with you two.”

I stare at him as if he’s grown another head because—is he kidding? “What? Why?”

Like me, he also attends the University of Kansas in Lawrence, and he’s been staying with his mother, taking care of her after the loss of her son since it happened. I know he was afraid to leave her, so he also made the drive to school every day from the town where we grew up.

“Because I want to get the fuck out of my parents’ home. And besides, I know what a handful Sebastian can be. I’ll help.”

I have to admit it’s tempting as hell. I adore my little boy, but he is alot. I laugh at that, seeing the outline of Baz in his car seat through the window in the dark night. “Look, I already have a moody little roommate. I don’t think I can take care of another one.”

“First of all,” Asher gestures to his large body, “notlittle. Not atall.” I roll my eyes, knowing he’s not just referring to the size of his body. “And I don’t need anyone to take care of me. I just want out of my mom’s house. We go to the same school. We love the same kid. It makes sense.”

My heart squeezes tightly in my chest when he says he loves Sebastian. Not that it’s not any surprise to me, but it makes me happy to see someone love him almost as much as I do. “Asher...”

“I cannot stay with my mom during her honeymoon year.”

He shivers, and I can’t fight the laugh that comes from my mouth. “You have a trust fund. Use it.”

“I don’t plan to blow it on a house just yet. And if I’m going to pay rent, I’d rather it go to my nephew.”

I sigh, looking back through the dark window again. “I don’t know.”

My parents drive me insane, but I have had help since I became a mother. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Asher pushes off the car. “Great. That’s a yes.”

“What?” He hops up on the path leading up to the front door of the house. “I didn’t say yes.”

“You did. You did it with your eyes.”

“You drive me insane.”

He just laughs easily at that, his hand moving through his thick, wavy, sandy brown locks. “I’ll see ya on moving day. Thursday, right?”

Why do I tell him things?

“Fine.” He looks pleased with himself as I move around to the driver’s side of my car. “But we need to meet before to discuss some ground rules.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He waves over his shoulder. “Drive safe. Text when you get there.”

“Asher, I’m serious.”

His large hand waves me off again as he rushes up the walk, and I climb behind the wheel.

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