Page 46 of Don't Let Me Fall (Don't Let Me 1)

“What about me?”

“You’ll screw anything with boobs. You even took Shorty’s girl out last night. What the hell, man?”

“Shorty’s an asshole,” I tell him. “And if he comes within ten feet of Mia, I’ll beat the shit out of him.”

Logan scoffs and tosses the apple core into the trash can across the kitchen. “So, you’re gonna piss on Mia too? Claiming her? Sorry to disappoint you, Colt, but I don’t think you can have every girl on campus.”

“I don’t want every girl on campus.”

“What do you want?” He gets up and stalks closer to me, but I stand my ground, refusing to retreat.

“I want you to treat Ash right,” I tell him.

“That’s it?”

The knife in my chest digs a little deeper.

I nod. “Yeah, man. That’s it.”

“So, you don’t want her?” he challenges.

My jaw ticks at the memory of my hand on my dick last night and the way she sounded, torturing me from the other room. The way I found her in the hallway wrapped in nothing but a blanket, left to clean up after herself. The way I promised I’d get my hands on her one day. The way her lips parted as I said it aloud. The way she watched me as I disappeared into my room and tossed my T-shirt at her. The way she’s haunted my thoughts ever since.

But she’s still his. And it doesn’t matter if she thought of me while they slept together last night. It doesn’t matter if I want her. She’s with Logan, so she’s off-limits. And after her little performance, it’s clear Logan’s more invested in their relationship than ever. I need to remember my place.

“She’s your girl, Logan,” I return, my jaw ticking. “I might mess around, but we both know I wouldn’t cross the line. It’s like Theo said. I know what it’s like to be on the other end.”

He nods and steps away, satisfied. “Thanks. And you’re right. I’m gonna treat her better. She’s the only girl for me.”

My chin dips back at him. “Good.”

“So, what’s going on between you and Mia?” Theo asks me, his attention shifting from me to Logan and back again. Like he’s our very own peacemaker, anxious to sweep the shit with Ash under the rug.

“She took me out to thank me for intervening with Shorty the other night,” I reply.

Unconvinced, he cocks his head to one side. “And that’s it?”

“Yeah, man.”

“She’s a nice girl, though. Hot too,” Theo adds.

I nod and roll my shoulders, trying to ease the tension, but it doesn’t erase the hurt in Ash’s eyes when she found me on her porch, waiting to pick up her best friend.

“Yeah, she’s pretty,” I answer.

“You two should go out,” Theo suggests, turning to Logan. “On a double date. Mia and Colt. You and Ash. Hell, maybe I’ll come too. It’ll help bury the hatchet.”

You mean the one lodged in my back? I almost offer but bite my tongue.

“We’ll see,” I mutter.

But we won’t. ‘Cause there isn’t a chance in hell I’d put myself through it. Not now.

Not ever.

20

ASHLYN

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