Page 83 of Adorkable

“Oh don’t lie to him, Spitz.” I did gasp this time as Ash nuzzled my hair. What was he doing? “He’s a big boy. He can take it.”

“Take what?” Becks said, looking right at me.

“Well, we…I mean, we’re…” I’d never been too good at lying to Becks, and now with him looking so intense, staring right through me, it was next to impossible. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want to admit that Ash and I were going out.

Luckily, Ash didn’t have that problem.

“Spitz just agreed to go out with me,” he said.

I stared at him slack-jawed. Ash had put it right out there.

If Becks’s eyes could shoot fire, Ash would’ve been dust. Without looking at me, he gritted out, “Sal, can I see you for a sec?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, simply tugged me a few feet away and started his tirade.

“What was that?” he said, head lowered, voice angry. “I asked you before what was going on with you and Ass Striker, and you said nothing. You aren’t seriously interested in that jerk?”

“Well, I—”

“He’s just playing you, Sal.” Becks shook his head, looking at me with pity. “And you’re letting him do it. I thought you were smarter than this.”

I set my chin, remembering how Ash had just admitted his feelings. No fear, no hesitation. I had to admire that.

“I like him,” I said.

“And you honestly think he likes you?” Becks laughed, but it wasn’t a funny sound. “How could he, Sal? He barely knows you.”

“Yeah, but he wants to,” I retorted.

“Yeah, he wants something,” Becks muttered.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Why are you getting so upset?” I asked, eyeing the hard planes of his face. “It’s not like you haven’t gone out with a ton of girls.”

“That’s different.” His tone was pleading. “You don’t know Ash. I do. We’ve played on the same team for years. He’s a complete ass.”

I took a step back. “Well, what if I want to get to knowhimbetter? He’s always been nice to me, Becks.”

Becks searched my face. “It’s him, isn’t it? I was right.”

“Right about what?”

“God, why didn’t I see it before,” he said, throwing up his hands. “Your crush, athletic, smart, good-looking. Sal, you’re kidding me, right? Ass Striker? You really thinkhe’sattractive?”

Looking over, Ash winked, nodding, encouraging me. Our relationship was already off and running, and I’d barely had time to blink, let alone get used to the idea.

Wanting to see how Becks would react, I tested the waters.

“Sure,” I said, checking Ash out with a grin. “He’s funny, nice and has a great body. Not as good as yours, of course, Becks, but he is a year younger.”

Becks stepped back as if I’d struck him. “Sal…”

“Hmm?” I tried hard not to notice the look of hurt that flashed across his face.

“He doesn’t want you. Not really.”

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