Chapter 51: Asher
There’s a sch knock at the dooi, followed by the sound of her mice ––
that effortless, slighth breaths “hey” that makes something in my chest respond before Lean thy
exter’s halfway acrme the house before Lesen shift in my seat, practically tripping over hit men feet to get to her. I hear her tough – fene på same honeyed sound from earlier – pad the third of him pulling her into his an
The kiss comes next. I don’t see it, but I knew it.
The kind of sound you learn to regnize when you’ve
or spent a little too
Httle too long listening instead of locking
It shouldn’t feel like a punch.
I stand.
And then I see her.
And for a fall second, my brain refuses in function
So this is the dress.
The one Tyler said our mom loves.
The one Penny’s wearing now like it’s stitched out of something gentler than reality.
Something made for sunlit Gelds and stolen glances and a life I’ll never have.
It’s pale blue with a tiny floral pattern, delicate in a way that makes her look touchable. The sleeves puff slightly at her shoulders, the neckline squared and sweet, drawing attention to the soft slope of her collarbines. And the slit–Jesus. It’s subtle, tasteful, but it still cuts up her thigh just enough to make me forget how to breathe for half a beat.
She looks like a dream
And worse – she looks like Avr
Tyler’s standing next to her, grinning from ear to ear like he just won the lottery and has no idea what to do with the prize money,
He’s rating her up with his eyes, and she’s soaking in the attention like sunlight.
But all I can think in how easy it is to forget how otherworldly she is when she’s wearing hoodies and oversized joggers–mime–sleeves pulled down over her handse she’s hiding.
She’s not hiding DOM
Her blonde curls are half–up, half–down, falling in lose waves over her shoulders and down her back. The overhead light catches the shine in them, turning gold into something molten.
1 should look away.
I don’t
Then I see it
The
cut on her cheek.
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Chapter 51: Asher
It’s faint
already starting to scab ini
today, something about it now
bat it blooma reil nginst her skin like a reminder. A warning. And was though I now it yesterday: under this soft glow, with her
Like the world let something touch her it was apposed to
And then I ser hri arm.
The braise isn’t shaped like a handprint anymore, but I remember it.
Tirmember the way she looked that day after her audition
I remember the gay, the way he held her am ton light.
The way she didn’t say anything about it even though her body was shouting the truth.
Tyler doesn’t notice.
Of course he doesn’t.
But I do.
And I
And later, when no one’s watching. I’m going to find out who that guy is
Where he works.
What he drives.
Itried after coming back home on the night it happened and it didn’t amount to anything. But when I do. I’m going to decide what kind of lesson he needs.
“Penny,” my mom’s nice breaks the moment, warm and sweet as always. home from college.
My mom hugs her tight. “Oh, honey. You look beautiful.”
She and my dad step into the room, both smiling like she’s their daughter coming
“Gorgeous,” my dad adds, giving her a soft squeeze.”
- r. “Clad you’re here. You brighten up
the place.”
the shift in her shoulders, the quiet pride she tries not to show. She doesn’t always know how to take compliments. That She flushes pink, and I see it part of her is still new to me, but Eve started collecting those Sittle pieces like they matter. Because they do.
My mom waves a hand. “Go relax with the boys while we finish up dinner.”
Tyler practically beams and throws an arm over her shoulder, leading her to the couch.
I stay standing. Watching,
She sits, carefully arranging the skirt of her dress, smoothing it over her thighs.
Tyler pulls out his phone. “Okay, okay so I saw s post today that made me think of you,” he says, grinning.
Shears her eyes playfully. “Should I be worded?”
“Absolutely,” he says. “Okay word ‘lasagna“?”
would you rather have hiccups every time you speak to semicone attractive or uncontrollable sneezing every time you hear the
She gasps. “This is this is diabolical.”
Chapter 51: Asher
I raise am eyebrow from my spot by the wait
Tyler İzocht. “Wou. No hesitation”
“Okay okay,” Prom cuts in, sisting straighter, “First of all, hiccups are annoying, but ineezing during dinner would in my life, ter you how her lasagna based inreals I’m around in a year? Like, at least ten. Minimum. And imagine sneezing during Garfield”
“Gaddick!?” Tyler clusken,
“He loves lasagna!” she defends, full serious.
And nose she’s spiraling, talking about herring condd be misinterpreted as allergies or rudeness or demonic poession, while hiccups
embarrassing — might actually make her seem more codearing, like a quirky trim com character. She thrives in an impression of herself trying to flirt while hiccuping and somehow manages to make it admirable and ridic
Tyler is dying.
He’s doubled over laughing, shoulders shaking
And m
Freally do.
But it slips out anyway
A breath of Laughter.
betrayal of how much I enjoy watching her turn the stupidest scenario into a thesis presentation.
She sees us both laughing and scowls. “I’m being serious.”
“That’s the problem,” I say quietly.
She glares at me but there’s a smile tugging at her lips.
It was eventually, soft and full, lighting her whole face.
God help me.
This cal
This fucking girl.
She’s going to be the end of me.
Before I can say anything else, my mom calls from the kitchen,
“Dinner’s ready!”
Tyler stands and stretches. “Let’s eat.
Penny rises beside him, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. The slit shifts with her movement, giving me another glimpse of skin and I have to look away o I’ll state too long
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Chapter 51: Asher
The turns toward the table, Tyler already traching to take her hand,
And with every step, all I can think is that I don’t know what kind of cruel
putting a girl like her in a world lik
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