19. Ashley
CHAPTER 19
ASHLEY
W hen I wake up from my nap, I’m not sure if Sean and I really hooked up. My memory is fuzzy, like a dream. But when I check my phone and read his text messages, I confirm it really happened. The butterflies in my stomach turn radioactive.
I re-read his texts and smile.
SEAN: I’m done with my workout. Let me know if you’re up.
SEAN: I guess you’re still sleeping. I’ll go to the library and study for a bit. ALONE. Promise.
You’d better be alone.
SEAN: I can’t concentrate. Are you up yet?
He sent the last message an hour ago. I curse those damn painkillers. They knocked me out. But their effect is wearing off, because my ankle is bothering me. I’ll have to suck it up, because I hate the drug’s side effects.
I type a reply to Sean, hoping he still wants to come over and bring me food. If not, I’ll have to order something and then take a shower, which will be a pain in the ass.
ME: Hey, I just woke up. Do you want to come over now?
I don’t expect him to answer straightaway, but when the three dots appear on my screen, my heart soars.
SEAN: YES! What do you want to eat?
You . I giggle, but I don’t type that. Instead, I decide to test Sean.
ME: Surprise me.
SEAN: Not fair. What if I screw up?
My hand is shaking a little as I type. I can’t believe Sean is actually sending me all these sweet texts. He was so prickly and rude to me growing up. I didn’t know he had a different side.
ME: I’m sure you won’t.
SEAN: You’re right. I won’t. I got you.
I chuckle. That’s the Sean I’m more familiar with—the infuriating cocky one.
My finger hoovers over the heart emoji. Would it be corny to send it? In the end, I decide to send the kissing emoji.
SEAN: I’ll see you in a half hour.
ME: Ok. I’m gonna hop in the shower.
SEAN: I could help you with that.
The idea of Sean in the shower with me makes my skin tingle and my clit throb. Unfortunately, there are strict rules about guys coming into the girls’ bathroom.
ME: You’d probably make me dirtier.
SEAN: Yep.
ME: See you soon.
Sean sends me the emoji of a running man. I shake my head but can’t help smiling. He’s making me giddy. I shouldn’t allow my feelings for him to grow beyond sexy times, but how do I stop it?
SEAN
I was lying through my teeth when I said I had the food situation under control. It’s pathetic that Ashley has been in my life for ten years, and I don’t know her favorite food. My years of being a dumbass are making my life so much harder now.
Since I don’t know what she likes, I get everything. Burgers, tacos, and pizza, and I add a salad to the mix too, just in case she wants to eat something healthy. I wouldn’t say I have enough food to feed a hockey team, but maybe my closest friends.
I’m sure Ashley will say I cheated, but she never told me I could bring only one type of food. I’m in my head, thinking of possible responses if she gives me shit, and don’t pay attention to my surroundings. It’s my bad luck that I bump into the same group of girls I met when I was helping Ashley with her art supplies. They’re walking down the hallway in my direction, and there’s no avoiding them.
They smile at me, and the one in the middle pipes up, “Oh, hello there. Isn’t it our favorite hockey player?”
“Hi,” I reply in a friendly tone but without the smile.
“We have to stop meeting like this,” she says.
“No kidding.”
I would have kept walking, but they’re blocking my way.
“Maybe you should ask me out instead.” She takes a step forward and touches my chest.
Yikes. I’m used to girls flirting with me, but I’m not keen on them invading my personal space. I take a step back. “Sorry, my girlfriend doesn’t like to share.”
Did I actually refer to Ashley as my girlfriend? Hell. Is she my girlfriend? All we’ve established so far is that we won’t hookup with anyone else while we’re seeing each other.
My response does one thing though—it wipes the smile off flirty girl’s face.
“Oh? Is it serious?”
Like I’m going to tell you anything, random chick . I walk around her. “Have a nice afternoon, ladies.”
I continue toward Ashley’s room, but I’m aware that the girls in the hallway are watching me. Shit. They probably want to see who I’m visiting. I shouldn’t have said anything about a girlfriend. I don’t know if they know who Ashley is, or that she’s my stepsister. There’s nothing I can do about it now.
I knock on Ashley’s door, and say, “It’s me.”
“The door is unlocked.”
I walk in quickly and close the door behind me. Ashley is on her bed with a sketchbook in her hand. She’s wearing an oversize sweatshirt, micro shorts, and fuzzy socks. I can’t help that my gaze lingers on her legs.
“What did you bring?”
“Well, one is obvious.” I lift the pizza box. “It’s meat lovers.”
“My favorite.”
My brows arch. “For real?”
“Gee, Sean. Where were you during all our Sunday night dinners in the summer? That’s literally the only pizza Kenzie and I ate.”
The heat of shame spreads through my face and ears. I’m glad that the blinds are closed and the twinkling lights on the wall are the only source of illumination. The sun hasn’t set yet, but it’s already dark outside, thanks to the storm clouds.
“What’s this smell?” I ask to change the subject.
“Oh, it’s a vanilla and raspberry scented candle.” She sets her sketchbook down, but she doesn’t close it. Maybe I can sneak a peek tonight. “What else did you bring?”
“Burgers, tacos, and salad.”
She gets out of bed, hopping on one foot. “When you said you got me, you really meant it, didn’t you?”
I shrug. “I figured it wouldn’t hurt to increase my chances, and I do remember you were a carnivore.”
“I believe you called me a bloodthirsty savage once or twice.” She smirks.
I shake my head. “Don’t remind me of my dark days, will you? How’s your ankle?”
“Hurting, but I don’t want to take the pain meds unless I’m dying. I hate the side effects.”
“I brought instant ice packs. Do you want to put one on now?”
She stares at me with wide eyes. “You did? That was… thoughtful.”
“You sound surprised. I am a nice guy, you know?”
She tilts her head. “No, I don’t know, but I’m keen to experience your nicer version.”
A strange feeling spreads across my chest. It’s a bit of guilt, and something else, almost like euphoria, but more subtle. I set the food on her desk, then step into her space, snaking my arms around her waist. “Hi,” I rasp.
Satisfaction washes over me when her eyes turn hooded, and she reciprocates my smile. I don’t know what’s happening to me, but I shouldn’t question it when it feels this good.
“Hello,” she replies, then brings her nose to my shirt. “Hmm… you smell good.”
I chuckle. “I do?”
She lifts her chin and looks into my eyes. “Yes.”
God. The way she’s looking at me now, like I’m everything, makes me feel like I’m on the top of the world. It’s hard to believe that, a few months ago, I wanted nothing to do with her, and vice versa. Maybe she’s still under the pain-meds effect, but I don’t care. I cup her cheek and claim her lips.
She opens her mouth with a sigh, and I take full advantage of that. I deepen the kiss, tilting her head to the side. She clutches my upper arms, melting into me. My heart is beating at warp speed, and I’m burning from the inside out. The food is forgotten. Hell… the world is forgotten. When I’m with her, everything fades into the background.
Ashley leans back a little, breaking the kiss. “Sean… the food will get cold.”
“Are you that hungry?” My gaze drops to her lips.
“Yes. I haven’t eaten anything all day.”
“All right,” I say, resigned. “What do you want first?”
“Did the burger come with fries?” She looks inside one of the bags.
“What kind of question is that? Of course.”
She narrows her eyes. “Hey, watch the tone, buddy. I can still kick you out now that I have food.”
I’d believe her if her lips weren’t curled upward.
“Don’t make empty threats, gorgeous. We both know you won’t.”
“Tsk. Don’t get cocky now.” She fishes out one of the burgers and fries from the bag.
I laugh. “I’m not.”
“Whatever.” She sits on her desk chair and takes a big bite of her burger.
I watch her for a moment, in awe that she doesn’t seem to care how she looks when she’s eating. All the girls I dated in the past were so concerned about eating like birds in front of me, and I hated that.
She catches me staring and asks with her mouth half full, “Whut?”
“Nothing.” I decide to follow her example and eat the burger and fries too. They won’t taste as good when they’re cold.
“You can sit on my bed,” she tells me.
“Can I?” I raise a brow. “What if I get crumbs on your bed?”
She shrugs. “I’ll make you clean it.”
I chuckle. “Of course you will.”
Before I get comfortable, I take off my shoes. Ashley isn’t paying attention to me, so I when I finally sit down, I pick up the sketchbook she left on the mattress and start flipping the pages. Her art is incredible, but I refrain from making a comment before I finish looking at everything. I don’t want her to snatch the sketchbook away too soon.
“Hey, put that away!”
“Why? Did you draw something embarrassing?”
Her eyes go round. “No. I just don’t want you looking at it.”
She’s totally hiding something, so naturally, instead of putting the sketchbook away, I keep flipping the pages. “Did you draw smut? I bet you did.”
“I didn’t draw smut, you perv.” She gets up, but I anticipate her intentions and jump out of bed as well, moving away from her.
“Come on, Ash. Why don’t you want me to see your art? It’s really good.”
“Ugh. Why are you being a pest right now? I guess nice Sean has left the building.”
Her words get to me, and I freeze. Shit. Am I unable to not act like an asshole when I’m with her?
“I’m sorry. Here.” I hand her the sketchbook, but a torn piece of paper falls to the floor. I drop into a crouch to pick it up, and when I flip the page over, I see what Ashley was trying to hide from me. My heart skips a beat. It’s a sketch of a couple who looks like Ashley and me in a romantic pose.
“Is this… us ?” When she doesn’t reply, I look up.
Her face is beet red. I have my answer. Ashley has been thinking about me enough to draw us together. The knowledge makes me stupid happy.
She snatches the paper from me and crumples it into a ball. “Why are you so nosy?”
I stand straight. “Why did you do that? It was a good drawing.”
“I hate it.” She turns her back to me and throws the paper ball toward the trash but misses.
I walk around her and retrieve the sketch from the floor. “Well, I love it. If you don’t want it, I’ll take it.”
Her eyes bug out. “You can’t have it.”
“No backsies. You threw it away.” I smooth the page again. It’s wrinkled beyond repair, but I’m keeping it.
“Why do you want it so badly? It’s a terrible sketch.”
I fold the paper and stick it in my pocket. “You drew it, that’s why.”
She stares at me in silence. Her face is still flushed though. I walk over and touch her cheek. “If you’re embarrassed because I found your drawing, don’t be. I like that you were thinking about me.”
“Of course you do.”
I shake my head. “Not because I’m conceited. You haven’t left my mind in weeks, gorgeous, and I’m relieved that I’ve been on yours too.”
She arches a brow. “Relieved?”
I lean over and kiss the corner of her mouth. “Yes, relieved. It’d suck to be obsessed with a girl who didn’t like me.”
“You’re obsessed with me?” Her voice rises in pitch.
I capture her face between my hands. “Yes, Ash. Very much so.”
Before she can reply, I kiss her because, one, I want to and, two, it keeps me from overthinking the reasons I was so… honest.