Restrictions (Sterling Family #2)

10. Asher

10

ASHER

I unlock the front door to the house and walk inside, trying to be quiet. It’s not super-late, but Baz is probably tucked into bed. I had a long day with it being the first day back, and I’m glad to be home.

Home. Huh. I guess it’s my home for now.

Viv greets me with a smile from her seat on the white sofa in the living room. Why she went with white furniture I’m not sure because Baz is going to have them all different colors in no time. “Hey, busy day?”

I nod, closing the door behind me and sitting on the cushioned ottoman in front of her. “Yeah. Most of my classes are in the afternoon, and then I had to meet with my advisor, and he only had an evening appointment available.”

“There’s chicken in the fridge if you’re hungry.”

She looks tired, but so damn pretty. She’s not dressed like the thousands of other co-eds I saw on campus today, mostly wearing shorts and casual tees. Not Viv, she’s in dark washed jeans and a silky blouse, her hair smoothed to perfection and makeup still intact. “Thanks. I grabbed something on campus.”

She nods, looking down at the open textbook on her lap.

“So how was today?” She was so stressed yesterday. I thought she was going to have a full-blown panic attack when Baz got hurt. Honestly, it scared the shit out of me too when I saw her rushing into my room with blood on her and covering his little face, but when I saw it was just a split lip, I quickly recovered.

Viv seems calmer today though, her eyes lift and meet mine. “Good. You were right. He had a lot of fun at daycare with the other kids and told me all about it. And I did cry when I dropped him off.”

I shrug. “No biggie.”

“He’s getting so big.”

“He still needs you.” I see the panic in her eyes and smile.

“I suppose.”

“He in bed?”

She nods her head, and I notice the worry. She carries so much with her.

“You okay, Viv?”

She raises her arms in the air, her shirt riding up and showing a very thin sliver of the skin of her taut stomach and then drops her hands in her lap. “Yeah. I’m fine. My mom called this morning to tell me that my father and she are dropping off a present for Sebastian tomorrow and then catching a flight to New York.”

“That’s good news, right?” Them being in a different time zone, albeit only one hour, is a good thing.

“Yeah. It’s good. It just means I’m truly alone.”

I roll my eyes and sit next to her on the couch. “What do I have to do to get you to understand that you aren’t alone? I’m fucking here.”

She tips her head to the side. “I know that, but you know what I mean.”

“I don’t actually.” I know she thinks I’m going to get wifed-up and move out, but that’s fucking insane as I tried to portray during our talk yesterday.

She sighs and then we both look toward the front door when the doorbell rings through the house. “Who would that be?”

I jump up from the couch and run to the door, hoping whoever it is doesn’t ring the doorbell again and wake up Baz. I pull open the door, and Viv moves to my side. I see it’s Sawyer, and he’s not alone. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I nod behind him at Bianca and two other friends from school—Porter and Nadia .

Sawyer’s grin is easy and totally unaffected by my obvious irritation. “Today was the first day back to class. Thought we’d celebrate.”

He holds up a twelve-pack, and I see Bianca has a bottle of vodka in her hands. “No.”

“Oh come the fuck on, man. You aren’t dead.” His eyes move to Vivienne, who has her arms folded and is obviously very nervous.

I’m sure Vivienne is internally freaking out, considering not throwing a party is one of her very few rules, but she has to know I didn’t invite them over. “This isn’t a fucking frat house, but there are a ton of them. Go find one.”

“Oh, come on.” He looks over his shoulder. “Four people is a party now?”

“It’s fine.” I turn to Viv. “Really it’s okay. Just, can you guys please go outside or down to your room?”

“You don’t have to.”

Sawyer pushes the door open further, walking inside, already embracing Vivienne’s forced approval. “Patio sounds good.”

The other three unwanted guests file in, and Viv closes the door, turning to me. “It’s fine. Really. It’s your house too.”

“You coming, Viv?” Sawyer pulls a beer from the twelve-pack, offering it to her.

She waves him off politely. “No. Thanks. I have some studying to do.”

“On the first fucking night? Come on, loosen up. Come hang.”

I know I tell Vivienne to loosen up daily, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting to deck Sawyer for bugging her. Still, I do want her to come outside for a bit.

“Thanks, but you guys go have fun.”

Sawyer shrugs and leads everyone out back, and I stay behind to talk to Viv for a minute. “I’m sorry. I swear I never even implied I would be cool with him stopping by with other people.”

She smiles, her pale pink lips lifting from the previous frown. “It’s fine.”

“You keep saying fine. Which means it’s totally not fine.”

She laughs and looks out the large bay window of the living room. “Bianca, huh? And Nadia and Porter. I didn’t know they went to school here. ”

“Yeah, there are a lot of people from our school that go here. The ones that didn’t move across the country after graduation anyway.” I look out at the people I suppose I call friends, even if they annoy the ever-loving fuck out of me, and then turn back to Viv. “You should come out for a bit.”

“No.” Her nose scrunches up, and it’s fucking cute how badly she wants to and frustrating that she is so afraid of disappointing her godawful parents that she won’t let herself do anything fun.

“Come on. You have the monitor app on your phone so you can hear Sebastian. Come out for a drink.”

“Warm beer doesn’t sound that intriguing.”

I laugh. “Vodka then?”

She shakes her head, but she’s biting her bottom lip, and I know she’s tempted.

“You promised.”

She huffs and then motions for me to lead the way, which I do as she tucks her phone into her back pocket, and we go outside, taking a seat on the lawn furniture.

“Well, holy shit. You decided to join us.” Sawyer kicks back in one of the reclining lounge chairs with a beer in hand.

“Just for a moment.” Viv tucks her hair behind her ear, her posture straight and rigid with nerves.

Bianca turns music on her phone and places it on a table and takes a swig of vodka, although I think she’s already been into some type of alcohol or something before she came because her pupils are fucking huge. “So, Viv, long time no see. What have you been up to?”

There’s an edge in Bianca’s whiney voice, and I can tell she despises Viv the way her beady little eyes scan over her. Vivienne’s eyes dart to mine as I sit next to her and then back to Bianca. “Not much. Just school.”

“Right. And the whole motherhood thing.” Bianca shakes her head from side to side, taking another drink from the vodka bottle. “That has to be a fucking handful.”

Viv is uncomfortable with the attention on her, and I see her picking at her fingernails with her hands in her lap. “Yeah, but it’s worth it.”

“I couldn’t fucking do it. You’re like superwoman.” My eyes narrow at Bianca as she sways to the music and looks over at Vivienne like a bug she wants to squash. Superwoman was not said in a complimentary way. “I mean, don’t you miss having a social life?” She laughs coldly. “Not that you had much of one before.”

“Shut the fuck up, Bianca.” I’ve already had enough of this bitch.

She feigns innocence, looking over at me, her hand moving over the top of her large, fake tits that are barely covered by the tank top she’s wearing. “What? I’m just saying she’s fucking impressive. College and a baby.” Her hateful gaze moves back to Viv. “But seriously? Don’t you miss your freedom? Being able to date? You have to be like, so fucking horny.”

“Bianca.” My eyes lock onto her, shooting fire in her direction. “Shut. Up.”

Vivienne stands up. “You know, I should actually go back in.”

“Don’t leave, Viv.” I look up at her, wishing it was Bianca that was leaving and not her.

“Yeah, Viv. Don’t leave. We’re all adults here. We can talk about this. I mean how long has it been since you got laid? It has to have been a long time.”

Vivienne’s eyes meet mine briefly, and I swallow the massive lump in my throat, thinking about her revealing she hasn’t had sex since she and my brother conceived Sebastian. And that was her first time ever.

“How the fuck is that any of your goddamn business?” I glare over at Bianca as Sawyer shakes his head, laughing.

“Oh relax. I’m just asking.” She kicks her shoulder up coyly. “You know all about the last time I got laid, Ash. We don’t have to have secrets here.”

What the fuck was I thinking? Clearly my dick is a dumbass. “It’s been days since you got laid? What’s the matter, Bianca, losing your touch?”

I see Viv flinch, putting the pieces together, and for whatever reason, I don’t like her knowing I’ve fucked this vapid bitch.

“I think you know my touch is just as good as ever, considering how fast you came.”

“Oh shit.” Sawyer laughs and takes another drink.

“Oh please, don’t embarrass yourself by lying, Bianca.” I stand, looking into her hate-filled eyes. “I had to squeeze my eyes closed so fucking tight, I wasn’t sure they were ever going to open again and give my cock a nice pep talk to finally fucking finish.”

Truth.

And go back to the chick-only-wearing-a-tie-lying-on-my-bed fantasy from the wedding. And unfortunately for me, that chick was Viv. I tell myself it was only because she was there when the dumbass fantasy formed in my male brain, but then I also saw the Viv-in-tight-black-leggings-on-all-fours fantasy right after that as I tried to get through fucking Bianca.

“Bullshit.”

“All facts. I rarely lie.”

“Fuck you, asshole.”

Sawyer climbs up, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. “Whoa, guys. Let’s relax. It’s a party.”

“I didn’t invite you fuckers.”

Bianca shrugs, swaying with Sawyer who is whispering something into her ear. She looks over at Viv. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to make you uncomfortable. I admire you.”

That’s laced in deception, no doubt.

“Why?”

Oh Viv, don’t fall for it.

“You fucked Colt Sterling in high school.”

Viv freezes in shock, and the vapid fucking bitch keeps going. “I mean how the hell did you do that? Everyone tried. Like fucking everyone. And then Ms. Goody Two-shoes is the one he gives it to? Fucking crazy.”

“You know what, Bianca? Get the fuck out of here.”

She looks playfully offended. “What? I’m dead serious. Everyone knew that Colt was with that foster chick, totally pussy-whipped.” She walks closer to Viv, and my entire body goes rigid. “You must have a seriously magical pussy to get him to cheat on her.”

“Get. The. Fuck. Out.” I look over at Sawyer, letting him know I’m not fucking kidding, and Nadia and Porter are already out of their seats.

Vivienne swallows, her slender neck pulling tight as Bianca spews her venom. “What did you do? Huh? How did you convince him to fuck you? ”

“Get out, Bianca. I fucking mean it.” My shoulder brushes Vivienne’s as I stand directly next to her.

“You aren’t going to tell me?”

“Why do you care?” Vivienne crosses her arms, and why she’s entertaining Bianca at all is beyond me.

Bianca shrugs, acting like she doesn’t. “Thought maybe you could teach me. I mean, I tried to get him to fuck me a couple of times, but he was a tough one.” Her eyes slide to me. “Unlike some.”

“He had high standards.”

“You just insulted yourself, asshole.”

I shake my head, pursing my lips. “Nope. Just honest. My bar is clearly set a hell of a lot lower. Now get the fuck out, and don’t come back.”

She rolls her eyes, her hand snaking over my chest. “Oh, I think you’ll come back for more. I know exactly what you like.” Her eyes move back to Viv. “Unlike virginal little goody-goody types that are so repressed they probably don’t even make a sound when they’re being fucked,” she leans close to Vivienne’s face, “like a good little mouse.”

I look back as Sawyer who hooks Bianca’s arm and leads her out of the house. I watch them all go through to the front door and leave before sitting down, and Viv joins me.

“I’m so fucking sorry. I have no idea what her problem is.”

“She’s always hated me. I don’t know why either, but it’s not a problem.”

I look over at Viv and know she’s rattled. “She’s a bitch.”

“She’s pretty.”

I shake my head. “No. She’s not.”

Vivienne rolls her eyes and finally leans back into the chair, no longer sitting rigidly now that they’re gone. “She is. And looks like she’s had some work done.”

I laugh. “Fake tits and a nose job and still not fucking pretty.”

“Pretty enough for you to sleep with.” Her eyes meet mine with an honest vulnerability I like.

“I was drunk. And stupid. Really fucking stupid.” I shake my head and cover my face with my hands, and I can hear her laughing.

Viv’s voice sounds whimsical as I lean back into my chair, my hands still covering my eyes. “Well, she was right about one thing. I am definitely horny.”

What the fuck? Suddenly, I feel like I can’t fucking breathe, and my entire body goes stiff, including my treacherous, really fucking stupid cock as I drop my hands and turn to look at her, seeing her head tilted up toward the sky. “What?”

She lets her right shoulder lift and doesn’t look at all embarrassed like I had imagined she’d be. “I’m not dead.”

My throat is dry as I adjust to my side, trying to tame my dick and hoping she doesn’t notice the effect she has on me as I look up at the sky, seeing the sun setting. “No, you’re not. I just didn’t expect that. Didn’t seem like you were interested in sex.”

“I’ve been focused on Sebastian, but I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try the dating thing sometime.”

I have the urge to discourage that but shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t. She deserves to date and even fuck someone.

Although that thought makes me slightly sick, and I’m not sure why.

I want her to loosen up and live, right?