Chapter 10 #2
I nodded without saying anything.
“And something still happened last night, even after you told him?”
I nodded again, and she sighed.
“Cosi.” A warning.
“I told you. I just can’t seem to say no to him. Apparently, I don’t have the ability to think rationally around him.”
“Just don’t do it again. Don’t be alone with him ever, and then nothing can happen. Okay?” She rubbed her hands on the back of my forearms. Easier said than done, I feared. And I think she knew it too.
“Though, of all of us to end up with some rock star,” she muttered.
“You’re preaching to the choir. Why me?” I replied with a chuckle.
Sydney came squealing back into the room, and I shot away from Tera, who lifted the mug of coffee to her lips. My heart pumped heavily in my ears, the pounding drowning out much of Syd’s jubilee.
She clapped her hands and slid onto a barstool beside Tera. “Apparently, I talked with the band last night. I also learned that you were there during that conversation last night, Cosi. So, while I was trying to keep this a surprise for your birthday, I guess the cat’s already out of the bag.”
I watched her and lifted my brows, swallowing a gulp of lukewarm coffee.
“Void will come to your birthday party! I sent the information over to their manager! Geeee!” She squealed again.
“I’m so happy! Will my pancakes be ready soon?
” She grabbed her mostly cold coffee now.
Sipping it, Tera raised her brow at me, then began discussing details about the party with Syd, shutting me out.
“Yeah, let me just take care of some stuff really quickly,” I muttered, grateful that Tera pulled Syd so deeply into a conversation that she didn’t even acknowledge me.
I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket. Tapping on Asher’s contact, I sat myself down on the couch and wrote four simple words.
We need to talk.
Bubbles appeared almost immediately in response, and then they disappeared.
Everyone hated those four dreadful words, even I did.
But he needed to understand that this one-time, or several-time thing really couldn’t continue.
Especially now that Syd knew he was coming to my birthday party, and even more so now that Tera knew.
Besides, at some point, he would grow bored with me. At some point, he’d move on and forget I ever existed, so I needed to shut this down. Now.
The phone vibrated against my palm, and I glanced down at the screen. Asher was video calling me. Wait, what? Better yet, why?
Shooting up from the couch, I glanced at my two friends sitting at the island, as Katie came plodding down the hallway, mindless to everything as she hummed to herself.
My chance to quickly slip away was right now, while everyone was distracted.
The moment Katie’s back was to me, I quietly shot down the hall and closed the door to my room as silently as I could. I clicked the answer button but didn’t say anything until my earbuds were in my ears and connected to my phone.
“Why did you call me? A text would’ve been fine,” I hissed, staring at the most handsome face I’d seen.
He shook his head. “Normally, when a girl says that we need to talk, the news isn’t good.” His molten-gold eyes watched me as he ran a hand across the back of his neck. Leaning back against a couch, I blinked in shock. He was shirtless.
Nope. My self-control was already limited around him, and here he was, looking way too delicious for the type of conversation we needed to have.
I narrowed my eyes, sliding my gaze across his lean figure. If he just opened that mouth of his, I would melt. Knowing what it could do not just with music but between—
“Cosette?” His voice pierced through my thoughts that were going in a not-so-appropriate direction.
“Sorry,” I muttered. Shaking my head, I heard him chuckle.
“Like anything you see?” He winked, and I rolled my eyes.
“We need to have a serious conversation, so knock it off.”
He leaned back a little farther, spreading his legs as he propped the phone up against something on the coffee table. My belly flip-flopped as that persistent pulse raged between my legs. Deep in my core, a fire roared. His eyes darkened in desire, but he remained quiet.
“Tera knows,” I blurted out.
He took a sharp breath in. “Knows what?”
“Seriously? You’re still going to play coy?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “You’re the one making it very clear that this isn’t something that can happen.” He gestured between himself and me. “Again.”
“Except it does keep happening.”
“And?”
“And.” I gritted my teeth. “It can’t. Not again, again. Even she warned me about how much it would destroy Sydney. So, not only am I risking losing my best friend, potentially pissing my parents off enough that—”
“I know what’s at stake, Princess.” He quickly inserted, and I furrowed my brows. “I heard the conversation between you and Danny at your school.”
My eyes widened as I realized what he was saying. “That Picsnap video. I totally forgot about that.” He knew way more than I’d ever purposefully told him.
“For one, you don’t know if Danny would really take it far enough to destroy your parents with this. Besides, from my understanding, all of your reasons for not having anything to do with an ‘us’ involve everyone else. None of them take you into consideration. What do you want?” he asked bluntly.
I stared at him, shaking my head. That didn’t matter. What I wanted wasn’t of concern here. Plus, I wasn’t in the mood to latch onto someone only for them to leave the moment another girl showed up.
“Cosette Duval. What do you want?” he asked again, leaning forward. Placing his elbows against his knees, he tipped his head.
“That doesn’t matter,” I whispered, and he sighed.
“Yes, it does. That’s all that matters.”
“What about you?!”
“I think you’re very aware of what I want.” Lifting a brow, he pulled his luscious lips into a thin line.
“Right. A fuck buddy,” I mumbled under my breath quietly.
His brows stitched together, and he tipped his head in confusion.
“What’d you say?” he asked, and then I heard a faint knocking sound coming from the background of the phone. Asher glanced over his shoulder and scowled. “I’ve got to go.” Standing up from the couch, he pulled his phone close to his face, his features twisting in frustration.
“Cosette, I’ll come to your party and then disappear from your life. Just like you asked,” he said, and then abruptly ended the call.
“No,” I gasped, my voice catching in my throat. That’s not what I wanted. Why wasn’t he fighting harder? Why was he giving in so easily? Had another girl just arrived at his hotel room?
Wait, I shouldn’t be so upset. This was good for me. Now I wouldn’t have to constantly dodge his advances, then fail and feel guilty because of how it would hurt Sydney. I wouldn’t be risking anything that could ruin my friendship with her anymore over some celebrity.
Sighing, I placed my phone against my chest, both hurt and relieved.
Mostly hurt.
It vibrated, and I immediately looked at it, hoping it was Asher.
And it was.
Opening it, I furrowed my brows, confused at what he said.
Just remember what you said. You asked for this.
Why was he telling me that I’d asked for him to leave? Why was he digging more salt into the wound? A tear slipped out, and I threw my phone onto my bed. This shouldn’t be so painful, but I was truly broken. My heart was torn into shreds.
I thought he’d at least fight harder.