33. Asher
33
ASHER
I wake up in my bed with Viv’s naked body tucked against my side. Neither of us seem to be able to stop this between us.
I’ve never felt so helpless. Knowing I should push her away, but also knowing that I don’t want to.
“I need to get up.” I smile at the sound of her voice. Waking up next to her isn’t a hardship, but I’m afraid to let this feel too good.
“Why?”
“I need to get Baz ready for school.”
I kiss her temple, enjoying her skin against mine too much. “I can do that.”
She smiles up at me but shakes her head. “No, you need to get yourself ready.” Her eyes flicker with wickedness when she purrs, “ Mr. Sterling .”
“Fuck, Viv,” I groan, ready to pull her body to mine to quench the fire she just started, but before I can, I hear Baz pushing my door—that I now realize I forgot to lock—open and quickly tuck Viv under my comforter and roll to my side as she hides.
“Uncle Asher!” Baz comes to my side of the bed. “Mommy isn’t in her room.”
I hate lying to him. “She’s not?”
He shakes his head. “She’s supposed to get me ready for school! I don’t want to be late.”
He loves school so damn much. I lean back, angling my body, hoping to block the body next to me. “She’s probably in the kitchen making your breakfast, buddy.”
He places his finger on his chin, “Hmmm . . . I didn’t check there.”
Relief washes over me even though I feel like shit for lying to him. “I’ll get you dressed for school, but first go hide and I'll find you.”
“Do we have time?” His eyes flash with excitement. He loves to play hide and seek.
I shrug my shoulders. “I’m pretty good at finding you.”
He has a competitive streak in him. “I’m going to hide really good!”
I smile and ruffle his hair. “Okay. I’ll give you to the count of twenty. Ready?”
He nods, already heading out the door. I jump up and tug on a pair of sweats, but Viv doesn’t move from under the covers. I place a hand on the bed, leaning over and tugging the comforter down. “Get dressed, make the prince his breakfast, and I'll keep him distracted.”
She smiles weakly. “That was too close.”
I nod and leave a quick kiss against her lips because I can’t not kiss her. “I’ll remember to lock the door next time.”
She nods quickly as she gets up, pulling on her shirt and skirt from last night, and we walk to my door. I glance around for Baz and then go into her room, doing another quick sweep before signaling her room is clear. She walks into her room, but her eyes hold mine. “I know I'm not supposed to thank you for being a good uncle.”
I shake my head and hold her face in my hands, tilting her head up, biting her bottom lip.
“Nope, but you can thank me for the three orgasms.”
Her eyes roll, but she places a quick kiss on my lips anyway. “I think it was four.”
I grin and then release her, shouting into the hallway, “Baz! Where are you?”
I wink at her and leave her to get ready before walking down the hall toward the living room, not finding him until I go into his room and open the closet door. He looks disappointed, his little bottom lip poked out. “You found me.”
“It took forever!” I scoop him up. “We better hurry and get your little butt dressed.”
He giggles in my arms. “Butt.”
I laugh, unable to hide my admiration for this little guy. I get him dressed in his school uniform and brush his hair before taking him into the kitchen. He runs to Viv, who’s at the stove making French toast. “Mommy! Uncle Asher was right! You were making breakfast.”
Her eyes meet mine, and I know she feels guilty about our deception. “Are you hungry?”
He nods his head several times as he makes his way to the table for Viv to place a plate in front of him. I grab some coffee and am surprised when I see Lola stride in, all ready for work. “You’re here?”
She laughs at that, moving ahead of me to grab coffee. “Well, technically it’s my house.”
“Does that mean you and Hayden took a break from your little sleepovers?”
She shakes her head, taking a sip from her coffee mug and facing me as she leans back against the counter. “God, no. Why would we do that when are sleepovers are oh, so much fun?”
She wags her eyebrows suggestively, and I fake gag even though really, I couldn’t be happier for her. “So, he’s upstairs, then?”
She nods her head with a great big grin. “Yes.”
Viv sweeps her hand over Baz’s hair before walking past Lola and me. “I’m going to go get dressed.” She looks back at Baz. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye, okay?”
He gives her a thumbs up as he stuffs his face, and she looks to me, her eyes saying so many things, but she only offers a small subtle smile. “Thank you for getting him ready.” I give her a quick nod, and she turns to Lola. “Good morning. I’ll be ready for work soon.”
Lola nods her head appreciatively. “No hurry.”
Viv leaves, and I can’t stop myself from letting my gaze linger on her before I feel a sharp nudge in my ribs. I look over at my sister, who is eyeing me with fierce suspicion. Her voice is kept low and directed away from Baz. “What the hell are you doing?”
“What are you talking about?”
She looks over her shoulder at Baz, who is definitely not paying attention to us and then back to me. “Look, I'm not a creeper or anything, but last night I went out on the balcony and saw the shadowy figures of two lovers on the beach.”
I cringe. “Shit,” I hiss as quietly as I can. “How long did you watch?”
Her cheeks heat. “Not long at all. And obviously, I completely looked away when I saw it was Viv.” And me. She doesn’t add that part, and I'm grateful.
“That is fucking creepy.” I grab my own coffee and face her, ready for the long lecture I know she can’t help giving.
“Well, maybe you shouldn’t be having sex in public if you don’t want anyone to know about it.”
“Lols . . .”
I have nothing to say really, but I'm trying to delay the inevitable. “What the hell are you doing, Asher? I specifically told you, you can stay here unless you decide to torture Viv.”
I scoff at that and take a quick drink of my coffee. “Please. That was hardly torture.”
“She’s in love with you. Every kiss. Every touch. Every single thing with you is torture when you don’t mean it.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, knowing she’s right. And I have no argument because I already know. “You think it’s not torture for me too?”
She doesn’t seem mad. Honestly, she seems sympathetic as she places a hand on my arm. “It’s okay to love her too.”
I stare at her in deep confusion. “What? I thought you didn’t want us together either?”
She takes a deep breath and admits easily. “I was wrong.”
“What?”
She offers a kind smile. “Asher, you’ve changed so damn much in the last year. You graduated. You have a career molding young minds. You’re a strong, amazing man.” I don’t know how to take the compliment other than make a lame joke, but I'm trying to be mature, so I keep my mouth shut and let her continue. “I hope this doesn’t sound condescending, but I'm so proud of you.” I hear her voice catch with emotion, and I know it’s hard for her to say the next thing, but she boldly lifts her chin and meets my eyes dead-on. “He would be proud.”
My eyes automatically go to Baz, knowing she’s talking about Colt. I don’t need this shit right before work. I don’t want to think about all of this. I’ve wanted to make him proud since the day he died, maybe before that.
“Thank you,” I choke out, and thankfully she doesn’t push me. Lola’s good at that. She makes you think but doesn’t really force you to respond.
“Go teach.”
I nod and then address Baz, who’s still at the table, “I’m going to go shower, then we’ll go. Okay?”
He gives me the same thumbs up he gave Viv, and I grin before leaving to go get ready for the day.
Everything seems oddly calm and at the same time out of my control.
And I have no idea if that’s a good thing or not.