Page 127 of Off Limits

He nodded and sat up straight. “Fine.”

“Are you doing that thing where you pretend you’re fine, but you’re actually spiraling inside?”

“Not this time.” He leaned against my arm and put his head on my shoulder. “That wasn’t fun, but I feel better, if that makes sense.”

“It does.” I shifted so I could hold him and rested my cheek against his soft hair. “Do you want to talk about anything?”

“Not really, but we can if you have questions.”

“Has she really said that to you?”

“That she wishes I’d never been born? Yeah. And it wasn’t a one-off either.” He shifted so he could throw his leg over mine and get even closer.

“I had no idea.”

“Because I never told you.”

I had no idea what to say.

“Did you know I was an accident?” he asked.

“You were?”

“Yup. They weren’t even together when she found out she was pregnant with me. I don’t know if they were pressured by their families or if the baby hormones made her forget that she doesn’t actually like my dad all that much, but they got married because of me. That’s why they were never happy, and why neither of them gives a shit about me. I’m the living reminder ofa time in their lives they’d rather forget. A mistake that reminds them of another mistake.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“There’s nothing to say. It’s just a fact.” He nuzzled his cheek against my shoulder. “It is what it is.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“No, but I can’t change them anymore than they can change me. And it doesn’t help that I’m different. You know her. She’s all about appearances and fitting in. She hates that I don’t give a fuck what people think of me.”

“You’re incredibly strong, you know that, right?” I said.

“Not really.”

“You are. You’re amazing, Asa. I wish more people in your life had told you that because it’s the truth.” I kissed his hair. “And I’m going to keep telling you until you believe me.”

“That might take a while.”

“I’ve got nothing but time.”

“Thanks,” he said softly. “At least now we don’t have to stress about finding a time to talk to them.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Did you just look on the bright side? Who are you, and what have you done with Asa?”

He elbowed me in the side. “Shut up.”

“I have an idea.”

“What’s that?”

“How about we dump those coffees I brought home and go out and get fresh ones.”

He lifted his head and gave me a confused look. “We can just microwave them if they’re cold.”

I grinned at his bewildered expression. “We could do that. But I was thinking it would be more fun to go out and spend some time together outside of the apartment.”

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