12. Rae
Rae
Ihave a baseball cap on my head, a generic one because if I wear any of the sports ones I own it doesn’t take much to deduce that it’s me.
I’m trying my hardest to make myself as unrecognizable as I can.
I don’t have any wigs, so my hair is pulled back at the base of my neck.
I’m going to wear sunglasses and I’m half tempted to throw on a fake mustache for good measure.
I think that plan may backfire and that would draw more attention to me than not.
The weather has cooled, but we don’t have any snow yet, so I dress in some jeans, and a black sweater under a jacket.
I’m still not convinced that this is a good idea.
Normally, I would invite Grayson to come with me, but he’s out of town on his road trip so I’m on my own.
I could see if Easton is in town, but I’m not as close with him.
Plus, Asher isn’t exactly friends with any of my friends or family.
Grayson can be nice, he’s nice to basically everyone. Easton isn’t. He’s not exactly mean, but he’s…less tolerant of people if they piss him off. Those two may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different.
I have no idea what I’m walking into with Asher, I don’t even know where we’re going, which has my anxiety making an appearance. I try to calm myself knowing that if someone tried to do anything to me Asher is a professional MMA fighter, he could protect me. If he wants to, that is.
Shaking my head, I try to shake away the worry. I’m sure everything will be fine. Just two old friends catching up.
He insisted on picking me up, I tried to tell him he didn’t have to. My driver really doesn’t mind, in fact he likes to keep an eye on things anyway. Asher wouldn’t take no for an answer, which should make me nervous since I don’t really know him anymore, but I finally agree.
Grayson
Tommy is snoring so loud I can hear him through the walls at this hotel.
I chuckle at the text I see before pulling on my boots.
Rae
I’m sure the walls are fine, you have superhuman hearing.
Grayson
I hope not.
Grayson
What’re you doing tonight? Is it weird if I say I miss you.
I sink my teeth into my bottom lip, biting back my smile as I think about what happened between us before he left.
Rae
Not weird at all, I miss you too *smiling emoji*
Rae
I’m actually hanging out with Asher, he moved back.
Just then a text pops up telling me he’s here, and I grab my small bag on my way toward the door. My phone goes off while I’m descending the stairs.
Grayson
Really? Now I really wish I was there, I don’t know if I trust him.
I shake my head.
Rae
Don’t worry, I can handle myself. I think he just needs friends.
Grayson
I doubt he wants to be your friend, Sunshine.
Rae
I didn’t take you for the possessive type.
Rae
When you get back we can all hang out. Get some sleep. I expect a winning game from you tomorrow.
I tuck my phone away, stepping out onto the porch, locking the door behind me and double checking it like I always do. I have cameras and security, but I still make extra sure I lock doors behind me.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as I walk up to Asher’s dark Subaru WRX. When I open the door I see him the same time I’m enveloped in the pine musk that must be his cologne. I get into the car, and turn toward him, my eyes dropping down to his left arm being held up by a sling.
“What happened?” I ask automatically.
Instead of answering me, he nods toward my head. “It’s nighttime, you know a hat isn’t necessary.”
I pull down the bill, securing it more over my forehead. “It’s not, but you won’t tell me where we’re going so I didn’t know how much I had to hide.”
Asher scoffs, pulling out of my rounded driveway. “You don’t have to hide at all.”
“I’d really rather not have my business aired out all over the internet by being out with you.” I slump back in the seat, mumbling under my breath. “More than it already has.”
“Lucky for you we’re in Denver, not LA, so you really don’t have to worry about paparazzi around here.”
“No, but everyone has a cell phone and it just takes one picture to create a whole narrative, no matter how untrue it is.”
“Right, can’t have your perfect image being damaged by being seen with me, right?” He looks over with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“Why would that matter?” I question.
He shrugs with his arm that isn’t in the sling, and he still hasn’t answered me as to why he has that on.
“I’m just not one of the golden Wheeler twins, or some other celebrity a girl like you would prefer to be seen with.”
I narrow my eyes at the man in the driver’s seat.
We may have never been close, and haven’t seen each other in so long, but it annoys me that he thinks he knows me.
He’s assuming a lot of things about me that he has no idea about.
And in my head all I can think of is that fucking article talking about my clean image, and how boring I am.
I don’t want to be boring.
Not anymore.
I don’t want to be predictable, or for people to make assumptions about who I should be seen with because of it.
Fuck that.
Song lyrics are already starting to flow into my mind like they do when I’m inspired. I want to take my phone out to write them down, but I try to hold onto them to remember for now.
“You know what, you’re right, you’re none of those things.” I take the cap off my head, and pull my hair down, letting it flow around my shoulders. “So are you going to tell me why your arm is in a sling?”
“Maybe after a drink or two,” he counters.
“You’re not drinking and driving,” I gasp.
“I meant for you.” He winks and I shake my head.
“Don’t think you’re going to get me drunk and take advantage of me,” I tease.
He turns to me with a smirk. “Trust me, I wouldn’t need to get your drunk to take advantage of you.”
I roll my eyes. “Good to know you’re completely full of yourself.”
He chuckles. “Unless you don’t want to piss off your boyfriend.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “Don’t have a boyfriend.” Even though it’s technically true, it doesn’t feel completely right to deny.
Grayson and I just kissed, we didn’t commit to more than that. He wouldn’t even touch me more than that kiss. He claims he doesn’t sleep around when he’s on the road, but he could.
We aren’t together, he’s free to do whatever he wants, and so am I.
Not that I’m going to do anything with Asher. I look over at him again, even shrouded in mostly darkness, and I see the way his strong arm strains the fabric of the long sleeve shirt he’s wearing.
His brown hair looking darker right now is already a little longer than the last time I saw him, a piece on top falling onto his forehead.
I clench my fist to stop myself from pushing it back.
His eyes are focused on the road, and I take in the sharp lines of his face.
He’s intense, all sharp lines and angles.
I can’t help but think about how different Grayson is, his face is softer, eyes less intense behind his glasses. Both of them are beautiful in their own way. I’d be blind not to notice. Asher swings his head over to look at me again.
“Are you going to keep staring at me the rest of the night?”
I avert my eyes, and try to look anywhere that isn’t at him.
We pull up to an unfamiliar dive bar, and he parks, cutting the engine, and looking over at me. “This probably isn’t up to your standards, but I doubt you’ll be recognized.”
I turn in my seat to glare at him. “What do you think my standards are, exactly?”
He pretends to think. “Champagne and caviar.”
I huff out a humorless laugh. “Can’t stand either one, so you’re wrong.”
He nods. “Let’s see what you like, then.”