Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 327(@300wpm)
He mirrors my smile. “I don't know. But when you find out, fill me in.”
It's our turn to jump off and my lungs cave in. Every breath feels like a timer counting down when this will be all over. No matter how many times he claims me, or I him, it will never replace the truth. We’ll never belong to each other.
We hit packed powder, the impact rattling my knees.
His hands find my waist to steer me in whatever direction he wants.
Nope.
I lean into the nose of the board, letting it knife across packed powder. Wind claws at my eyes until tears streak sideways, but the grin stays.
He flips his middle finger with an eye roll, but follows my trail anyway.
I spot Luce and Jord draped over a neon-slick picnic table, the paint throbbing lime under the LEDs. The crowd is larger than the first game. All here for Asher.
Bass rattles along the course, speakers wired between spotlights that bleach the starting gate. Logos smear every half-pipe and ramp, LED strips outlining each run.
“How was your trip up?” Luce teases, twisting off the cap to her water.
“What?” My eyes fly over her. “Fine.”
Damn Luce. She can sniff out my lies before they even leave my mouth.
“You poor bastard.” Jord clucks his tongue, eyes weak on Asher.
“Oh, look! They have cotton candy!” I gesture toward one of the carts that sell food. Shit. Are my jeans buttoned up? Can they even see?
“Ah, she ain't so bad. Right, Venom?” Asher flings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me flush against his chest.
Jord raises a perfect brow. “I was talking about the paps, but sure, if you want to throw Ivy on that too. Just make sure you both have a story for your partners because—” He flicks his finger behind Asher and to the shutter of cameras.
Asher doesn't flinch. “They always see Ivy and me together. It isn't anything new.” He pauses, and before he even finishes the sentence, I want to hit him. “Or…maybe a few new things.”
He drags his finger over the base of my lips and… I’m swinging.
My fist lands on the hard wall of his abs, catching him off guard.
“Ouch!” He laughs, tumbling over.
“Asher!” a girl calls out from behind, and every muscle in my body freezes.
Still pouting over my right hook, I think he’s going to ignore her, when his eyes slowly shift from me, to whoever it was that called out to him.
She drifts past me in a swirl of long black hair and a body that should be on a runway.
Also… closer to his age.
Luce clears her throat as the girl leans up, planting a kiss on his lips, only he dodges and she lands on his cheek.
That’s my signal to vanish. Or at least snag a different stretch of snow until he’s finally on.
I burn two hours carving a line on the far side of the mountain, needing distance from the multiplying bodies. When I circle back, the crowd has doubled again. Pop-up fencing funnels everyone toward the bleachers facing the start. The first ramp plunges, hooks hard, then slips beneath the shadows of forest.
“Hey!” Luce calls, threading through shoulders with three steaming glasses balanced against her chest. She shoves one into my hands. “Buttered rum! Yummy!”
The mug scorches my fingers in the best way. Spice and caramel punch up my nose, and my empty gut does a needy flip I pretend not to notice.
“Mmm!” Our glasses clink as I blow into the mug. A man's voice interrupts a 50 Cent song, mumbling the line up, but I can feel myself drift. Is it jealousy from the girl earlier? Where is Asher right now? This right here is why love is the most underrated weapon of our time. It destroys without spilling blood.
“I'm going to head home.” I hand her back the rum, not wanting to look anywhere else in case my eyes land on him and I change my mind.
“Wait, are you okay?” Her eyes search mine. Luce is the closest thing I’d ever have to a sister. Most times, I’m thankful for it, but there are times like now, where I need her to be a shitty one. “I'll come.”
“No!” I shake my head, laughing. “You love watching the games on TV. I'll see you later.”
Before she can answer, I dash for the chairlifts. Now if I could figure out a way to worm myself out of this situation as easy as I have tonight…
Chapter 16
Asher
The crowd parts as I move through it. Bodies shift aside like they always do, creating a corridor through the lingering fans and media. Tonight's win sits hollow in my chest. Victory should burn bright, should flood my veins with something other than this emptiness that follows me everywhere now.
My phone vibrates against my hip.
Camille: Coming tonight?