Chapter 35 Ash #2
Halfway through lunch, Elise and her clones sidled up to the table. Jamie scowled at his food but said nothing when Elise dropped herself in my lap. I was used to this from various girls. It happened to me in high school, and it happened in college. It was never a big deal, but it felt wrong now.
I glanced quickly back at the table where Red sat with Ava and Quinn, but they were deep in conversation. I didn’t know why I was checking. I mean, it’s not like we were dating anymore. Right?
“Hey, baby,” Elise cooed.
“Why are you ruining my lunch?” I asked her as I turned to look at Jamie. “Your woman’s wandering.”
Jamie didn’t look at us as he picked up his sandwich. “Not interested.”
I felt Elise stiffen, and looking between the two of them, I connected the dots. “Why are you trying to make him jealous?” I asked her bluntly. “One, you know I don’t play these games, and two, I don’t want you sitting on me. Get off.”
Gray looked over his shoulder, and I saw him grin as he turned back. “You should move,” he told Elise with a chuckle. “Like really, get the fuck off.”
“Why, I—”
“What the cracking hell is this?” Red stood with her hands on her hips as she glared at me. Not at Elise. Me.
“Cracking hell?” Elise snorted, and seeing no one else was laughing, she shut up.
“Red, what’s the problem?” I asked pleasantly, leaning back and looking her over.
“Are you for real?” She looked at Elise. “Aren’t you ninety-nine’s girlfriend?”
“Jamie,” Gray supplied.
“I knew that.” Red looked at Jamie. “Sorry.” He waved his hand like it wasn’t an issue, but Red wasn’t finished. “Isn’t she your girlfriend?”
“Was.”
“Well, past-tense girlfriend, you can skedaddle.” Red was the only person in the world who could say the word skedaddle and make it sound like fuck off, and not sound like a fool doing it.
“Who are you?” Elise asked as she moved on my lap, drawing Red’s attention to my legs.
“And why are you even touching her?” Red demanded of me, ignoring Elise. “Are you serious?”
Holding my hands up, I showed her my innocence. “I haven’t done anything.”
“You haven’t moved her off your lap, you mean.”
“Excellent point,” Jamie piped up. “Well made.”
Red looked at me expectantly. “Brute!”
“What?”
“Get her off your lap.”
“Why?” I asked her, feigning innocence. “What’s the problem?”
“Because you’re—” She stopped abruptly and looked around self-consciously.
“I’m?” Making her squirm was my favorite pastime.
“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Red actually stamped her foot. She was adorable. “You’re sleeping with me!”
The attentive cafeteria audience all tittered. Red turned scarlet.
“We sleep?” I teased.
Her mouth twisted as she fought the smile back. “Get her off.”
“Oh my,” I taunted her.
“Ash, can you be serious?”
“Yes, I can. With anyone but you.” I winked at her, and she laughed out loud.
She composed herself. “Okay, you, what’s your name?” Red asked Elise.
“Elise.”
“Okay, Elise? Get off my boyfriend’s lap before you wear that plate of mac and cheese, understood?”
“Boyfriend?” I asked her.
She had the audacity to roll her eyes at me. “Ash, we both know I’m the only person you’re having sex with and have been the only person you’re having sex with for weeks. So, stop playing dumb.”
“Wait, what?” Jamie was now paying attention.
Elise slipped off my lap and turned to face him. “I told you that.” With more dignity than I had ever seen her portray, she walked away from the table.
“Shit, this place needs to sell popcorn,” Gray commented loudly to Jett.
“He’s sitting right beside you, jerkface, but I’m so glad we’re entertaining you.” Red looked at me and narrowed her eyes. “You.”
“Yes, Red?”
“Follow me.”
“Absolutely.”
We walked out of the cafeteria together, and I saw her bite her lip as we walked the halls. Finally taking pity on her, I caught her arm and tugged her into an empty classroom.
“Oh, thanks.”
I waited and I watched her, and the longer I remained silent, the more nervous she became.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Is there anything you want to talk about, or can we just skip to the making out?”
Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at me and then the door. “Eh, I was, um—”
I was fed up waiting. I pulled her into me, and I kissed her long and deep. When I was finished, I drew back from her and looked down.
“Okay?”
“Yes.” Red’s smile was soft as she looked at me. “We’ve been dating.”
“Yeah, I got told the other week.”
“Are we both that stubborn that we didn’t know what was in front of us and had to be told?” Her light laugh caused my amusement to grow.
“You’re infuriating, so probably we are,” I teased.
“I don’t want your doc to give you any more personal massages,” she blurted. “Also, it’s creepy.”
“Done.” She nodded and looked relieved. “I don’t want you wearing a top like you did on Saturday unless I’m with you.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “Okay, but you can’t tell me what to wear.”
“I won’t.” I saw her look. “Anymore,” I amended. “Just not that top, okay?”
“We take it each day at a time?” Red asked me softly. “No pressure.”
My arms wrapped around her waist. “Yeah, I think that’s best for both of us.”
Her head settled on my chest, and we stayed like that for some time before she looked up at me, her teeth pulling at her bottom lip. “Were you really going to spank me?”
Was that anticipation I saw in her eyes? “You want me to take you back to your apartment right now and prove it?”
“Would you judge me if I said yes?” Her fingers traced over the front of my jeans.
I groaned as I grabbed her hand. “I’ll race you.”