Page 82 of Adorkable

With a heavy sigh, I dropped my arms. Ash Stryker asking me out was unbelievable, but even more mind-boggling was his offer to help me with Becks. Unfortunately, even if he did, it wouldn’t do any good.

“Becks doesn’t like me that way.” I shrugged. “I guess you missed that part. He’s always just seen me as Sal, not a guy but not really a girl either. He doesn’t want me.”

“Are you serious?” I looked up at his incredulous tone. “Spitz, he wants you. Trust me. What guy in his right mind wouldn’t?”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “But you’re wrong.”

He crossed the space between us and took my hands, forcing me to look at him. “You don’t get it. You don’t understand how guys like Becks operate. Spitz, you’ve got to show him that you’re desirable, that you won’t wait around forever.”

Ash made it sound so easy. Like all I’d have to do is parade some guy in front of Becks, andPoof! Ta-dah, he’d realize he loves me and we’d live happily ever after.

“Who knows? You might even like me better.”

I smiled. That sounded more like the Ash I knew.

“Come on, Spitz,” Ash said. “Say yes. You know you want to; I can see it in your eyes. Go out with me. What have you got to lose?”

Nothing, I thought. Becks wasn’t any closer to being my boyfriend now then he was before the F.B.F. disaster. Why not give Ash a shot? There was just one thing I didn’t get.

Brow furrowed, I asked, “Why me? If you know I’m still hung up on Becks, why would you want to date me?”

“You mean, besides morbid curiosity?”

I waited.

“Well, apart from the fact that I’d really like to get to know you better—” He wore a shit-eating grin. “—you’ve starred in basically every erotic dream I’ve had since freshman year.”

“Ew.” My nose scrunched. Definitely too much information. “And I thought you were such a nice guy,” I muttered. Could I really do this? Why was I even considering it?

“I am a nice guy,” Ash said, stepping closer. “The nicest.”

Rolling my eyes, I pushed him back.

“Alright,” I said suddenly, thinking what’s the worst that could happen? Why not go out with a guy who’s interested in me? In my heart, the answer to that question was simple—I was in love with someone else—but I didn’t want to hurt Ash’s feelings. He’d really put himself out there, which I still hadn’t managed to do after all these years.

“Great.” Ash smiled. “This should be fun.”

I smiled back.

Ash held the door and followed me out. There were lots of people in the hall now, lockers slamming, people talking as they walked to class. Zero period was canceled for today, which was a good thing since this “meeting” had taken longer than I’d thought. Ash and I stood side by side, watching everyone hurry past.

“You sure you want to do this?”

Turning to face me, he said, “Absolutely. You?”

“Sure,” I said, trying not to blush. “Thanks, Ash.”

“Anything for you, Spitz.” His eyes widened, one corner of his lips turned up as he looked over my head. “And so it begins.”

Before I could wonder what he meant, a familiar voice called, “Sal.”

Becks sounded annoyed, and when he reached us his expression matched his tone.

“Becks,” Ash said easily, looping an arm around my shoulders. I nearly gasped in surprise but managed to hold it in. “How’s it going man? You ready to take on Myers Park today?”

“I’m always ready.” His voice was icy, but his eyes burned, tracking the movements of that arm with a scowl on his face. “Sal, what’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I said.

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