Page 28 of Ash
“Alright, Sunshine, I can’t fight that logic so I won’t.”
“Why would you even try to fight me on it?” He shrugs as he stands, picking up our tray and heading towards the door.
“Because I’m probably going to miss your face more than I’m willing to admit when you leave.”
Chapter12
Ash
“Sunshine,” I groan, rubbing my stiff neck while standing up from the makeshift bed I’d slept in. I look at my phone as it blinks four AM at me and I inwardly cry. I need coffee, but I know that my mom and Neil are anti-caffeine because they believe in fighting the good fight with Indy. Since her diagnosis, Indy hassupposedlycut out all caffeine. But since watching her toe-fuck that bowl of cheese puffs while claiming veganism, as well as her getting drunk at Sunday’s apartment, I’m not completely sold on how strict she is being on her restrictions. But, as her brother, I won’t rat her out. I will, however, need to get to a Starbucks soon if I’m going to drive to the resort.
“Sunshine,” I groggily repeat while trying to adjust to the dark room. “It’s time to–Ow! Fucking hell!” I whisper-scream as I hit my foot on the bedpost. I sit on the edge of the bed, only to sit on Sunday's foot, causing her to scream awake and kick me in the side, resulting in me falling on my ass on the wood floor.
“Ash?” I hear her whisper into the dark as I lay on the floor, contemplating my life choices.
“Yep?” I say shortly.
“Was that you?”
“No, Sunday, fucking Santa Claus was coming to talk to yo– Oof!” I grunt when she slams a pillow on my face for the second time in less than twenty-four hours. I jerk it off before standing up and glaring at her. Though it’s probably not that intimidating in the dark. “Listen, brat, I was trying to wake you up to see if you wanted to run and get coffee with me before we head out. Now I have a broken toe and rib, and you smacked me in my face.”
“It was a pillow,” she states dully as she turns on the bedside light and yawns and–Holy shit, that’s her full fucking tit. Stop looking. Stop. Looking.
Her breast is perfect. A nice, small handful with perky nipples that are a really pretty reddish and light brown color. With that hot-as-fuck bar in it, I have an uncontrollable urge to lean in and taste it.STOP FUCKING STARING.
I go to look away, but it’s too late. I watch as she gasps, covers her chest, quickly tries to fix her cami top, trips over my makeshift bed on the floor and slams right into me. I grip her to me as I try to get my footing and keep us from falling.
“Oh my God,” she whines with her face firmly buried against my chest. “The amount of embarrassment… I should’ve just stayed home. There isn’t a number of Starbursts worth this.”
I sigh and stand her upright before using one hand and removing my t-shirt. She blinks and looks me up and down before staring at me in confusion.
“There,” I state firmly. “Now we are even. Actually, you got to see both my nipples. I only saw one of yours. But you can have lefty as a freebie.”
Her eyes look at me with such a fierce intensity I think I’m about to get slapped. But she laughs, and hard. She doubles over at the waist and cackles. After a couple seconds, she stands back up and smiles.
“I like you,” she says between laughs, and I swear my heart is exploding. “I feel like every time you and I are in contact with each other this past month has been one embarrassing thing after another. Which is remarkable because I’m actually not normally one to havethismany moments of mortification,”
I snort. “It’s good to know what kind of effect I have on you.”
Sunday huffs out an annoyed breath while shoving her hand against my mouth. “Stop talking,” she states firmly, and I’m overcome with the urge to lick her soft hand. “My point is.” Her tone has a warning edge to it, as if she is daring me to do exactly what I’m thinking. “Things have not been going well for me, like at all. But every time it seems horrible and unmanageable, you are there to make me feel better. Which I’ll admit is weird considering how you treated me before,Dash.” I roll my eyes at her little dig and blow out a breath against her hand, earning me a small grin. “I really appreciate you making me feel better about my shit storm, Charming. Shockingly, you are the only one that has been able to keep me grounded.”
I gently grip her forearm and easily pull her hand away from my mouth. “I know what it’s like.” I shrug. “I know what it’s like to have everything go wrong and to feel like nothing will get better. Like every bad thing that they ever said about you is right and you should just accept it.”
Her hand goes to her chest and— Oh fuck, here we go again.
“Ash,” she says my name calmly, like I am a wild animal backed into a corner and may try to attack or flee at any moment.
“Don’t,” I warn sharply, and she holds her hands up in surrender.
“One thing and I’m done, then we can get coffee,” she offers and I sigh in defeat before nodding. Goddamn it, can’t a man just get some fucking coffee? Sunday drops her hands and steps towards me before burying her face back into my bare chest. I inhale sharply and I am sure she can hear–and possibly feel–the quickening of my heart as she wraps her arms tightly around my waist. I stay frozen for a second before my body reboots itself and I melt into her while wrapping my arms around her, inhaling her intoxicating scent.
“Why?” I whisper into her hair after a moment. I feel her shift, and for a moment I fear she will move, and I’m not ready to let this go. To let her go. Her hug is warm and soft, and I feel whole here. I don’t want to give it up, I want to keep this hug. I want to keep her. But I know I can’t, I know we can’t. So, I will hold on to this hug, and steal a couple more seconds before the real world comes calling again.
“It’s not a pity hug if that’s what you are worried about,” she murmurs into my chest.
“Sunday,” I gasp as I feel her kiss me between my pecs. God, this feels too good. I pull her face up to stare into mine. Her eyes are heavy lidded and, fucking hell, I want her. I watch as she grabs my hand and slips it under her cami.Oh my God.I slide up her tight, smooth stomach and she lets out a shaky breath, but doesn’t lose eye contact with me.
“Sunday,” I say, my voice full of pain as I halt my movement, this must stop. “We should go get coffee.” I feel her arms drop from around me, and instantly I hate myself. I want to take it back.
