brother
Chapter 93: Penny
Asher stand between my legs, his hips tembing the inside of my first, and Terbend is level with his chest, right against the dean stretch of his
keep telling my well not be
It’s been day of that this push mul pull incide
This quiet ache Fre tied in ignore. For told myself over and wet that whanner I’m
I thought I was doing well, thought I was pulling back, that the serend Bointer said Asher was in love with nimeone, I felt like. I might chrom at the table
That’s when Tinw
And now? Now I just feel pathetic.
His hands are holding my hot tight enough to besise, but right enough to make me feel it. Tight enough that my bones remember where timer were. I don’t know if he realizes how mich that small gesture wicks me. Makes me hope for things I have no business hoping for
He’s just trying to be nice. He always is.
I’m the problem
Maybe I’m broken, I’ve only had two boyfriends in my entire life–Tyler, and before him a boy in freshman year who dumped me because I wouldn’t sleep ameter is broken, and I’ve been reading writhing with him. Maybể 1 never lamed the difference between kindness and something else. Maybe my
Maybe all of this-all these feelings clawing at my ribs and curling hot in my belly–are just me, misinterpreting. And maybe Tyler n’irting when be Hughs too hard with other girl. Maybe I’m just hypersensitive and ridiculous and-
His voice cuts through the spiral slow and quiet, but duect. The kind of voice that doesnt let you look away.
He shifts closer, his hands sliding slightly so I’m pulled to the very edge of the hood. Our legs are practically tangled his thighs, I have to tit my head back to see his face.
“I need you to say it,” he mars. “That you’re okay”
I try to speak, Swallow. My throat burns.
I’m okay,” I say. It doesn’t sound like me. My voice is small. Fragile.
Alis gaze stays on me for a moment longer, unreadable. I fire a weak smile.
“And thank you,” I add. “For the dinner. For everything Again”
He studies me for a beat, then just mods. His hands fall away from my hips.
The absence feels like a punch.
When we walk imide, Tyler’s voice greets un mediately.
“Hereys, how was it?”
I force a smile as I toe off my shoes.
knees brushing the sides of
1/3
Chapter 93: Penny
“Good,” I xiv.
“Wah,” Asher anchors
Tyler walks over and was an arm around my waid. “Hom wat iebenrub”
“Good,” I say again. My seabulary has apparently been toured to a single word. I mind like a mbet.
He leans in and kisses me. I let him
My stomach prids. Gallt bees through me like poison, but I don’t pull away. Tosht. Not now. Not when I already feel like I’ve betrayed him tesi öömet over just be having the thoughts I’ve hal
“I think T’in gonna go to bed,” Il koy, barely above a whisper.
“You tired?” Tyler asks, brushing some hair out of my face.
Inod. “Long day.”
He presses another kiss to my forehead. “Alright, baby. Sleep tight.”
I head opstairs without looking back.
Behind me, I hear the soft sound of Asher’s boots on the floor as he walks toward the kitchen. Not following me. Not saying anything.
It shouldn’t matter.
Upstairs, I close the bathroom door behind me and lean against it for a second. The house is quiet. Too quiet. I can still feel the weight of Asher’s silence in the car like it’s trailing after me. Clinging to me. Settling into my skin.
I shake it off.
The water is already running when I step into the shower. Hot. Steam curls around me, wrapping my bare skin in mist. I lean against the tile for a second, let the hear sting my shoulders, my spine, my face, I close my eyes.
Asher,
His voice still echoes somewhere deep in my chest. His hand on my back last night. His fingers brushing my spine. His forehead resting on mine like I was something precinas. Like I was something he wanted to protect.
No
I grab the shampoo and scrub at my scalp like I can erase the memory. Like I can wash him out of my hair. Out of my mind. Out of wherever he’s carved himself into my ribcage without asking.
I rinse, then go for the body wash. I lather it hard, dragging it over my arms, my stomach, my scrub like I’m trying to peel off a layer of skin. just clean deep enough, I won’t still feel the ghost of his touch.
I’m with Tyler
He’s here. He’s trying. He messed up, but he apologized. He says he’ll do better, and I believe hist. I want to believe him. We’v something. That has to mean something.
So what if I’ve been questioning us lately?
So what if I’ve caught myself wondering if I’m still the sance
Asher isn’t mine. He’s never been mine.
who said yes to hire fast year!
He’s in love with someone. Someone he won’t talk about. Someune he won’t bring around the house. Someone who lia’t me
Chapter 93: Penny
And in a few weeks, he’ll be gone again. Back to whatever corner of the world the Navy decides to send him to Back to danger and distance and
detachment.
So no mare feelings. No more wondering. No more looking at him like he’s something I want and can’t have.
I rinse off and turn off the water.
It’s time to stop feeling anything for Asher Hayes.
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