29. Chapter Twenty Eight

Chapter Twenty Eight

Skyla

L iam and I lay there for several minutes before he kisses the top of my head and moves to stand up. I let him go as he heads to the shower, shutting the door behind him. I don't know what I was expecting today to entail, but it definitely wasn't that. Not that I'm complaining. Have I manifested my boyfriends becoming boyfriends?

Probably not, if Asher's reaction is anything to go off. Deciding to get dressed and go in search of him, I slip on a cozy green sweater and a pair of jeans before padding my way down the stairs. In the kitchen, I find Asher making coffee, his hands gripping the countertop tightly.

Frowning to myself, I step up behind him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I rest my head against his back. I feel his hand cover my arm as he stands up straighter before turning to face me.

When he does, so many emotions are playing across his face that I'm not sure which ones to focus on first. So, instead of trying to guess, I go for the old-school method of communication.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he snaps quickly. "Are we okay, though?"

I tilt my head in confusion.

"Why wouldn't we be?"

"I just figured maybe you'd be upset about…you know."

He turns his head to look anywhere but at me, and I lift my hand to force his eyes to meet my own.

"Babe, I'm not mad. Not even a little. I practically begged for it last night," I laugh. "It was hot to walk in on; I only wish you wouldn't have ran away."

He pushes out of my hold, shaking his head as he laps the kitchen.

"I don't know what I was thinking. I'm probably still drunk or something."

I frown at that.

"We didn't drink last night."

Asher pauses, his hand running through his hair as he shrugs.

"Whatever. Don't worry, princess. I can promise that shit will never happen again," he says as he comes back over to me, grabbing a cup for his coffee.

"But it can if you want it to, that's what I'm saying. I have no problem with it, at all. Trust me," I say, with a short laugh.

Asher shakes his head tersely, and my smile falls as I nod. Clearly, he doesn't want to talk, and I'm not going to force him. So, I reach into my pocket and shoot a text to Wesley asking if he's free to give me a ride to the university. He responds almost immediately, telling me that he's on his way.

Liam appears in the next moment, wet hair from the shower and fresh clothes from his stash in my room. He sends Asher a hesitant look, to which he doesn't even meet his eyes before Liam gives me a tight smile and a kiss to the forehead.

Asher finishes his coffee, setting the cup down and rinsing it out before storming out of the room.

"Wesley is picking me up," I say, so he doesn't wonder why I'm gone when he gets out of the shower.

He pauses, and I expect him to say something. To argue, to forbid it or even just acknowledge that I spoke. Instead, he just keeps moving, acting as if he never heard me.

"I'm sorry," Liam says. "I think that's my fault," he says, as he nods in the direction Asher disappeared.

I shake my head. "Whatever is going on in his head is a him problem. You're golden," I say, as I lean up and press a kiss to his lips.

He accepts the peck happily, wrapping his arms around me when I get a text from Wesley.

Wesley: Here.

Pulling away from Liam, I smile as I grab my bag off the table.

"So is that how it is, babygirl? One of your boyfriends act up, so you call in a new recruit?"

I roll my eyes and, surprisingly, Liam laughs. It's a sweet sound that warms my chest and tells me that he will be just fine, eventually.

Waving goodbye to Liam, I step out the front door and see Wesley, standing outside my open door, with a cup of what I know to be apple cider in his hand.

"Good morning," he smiles, his body wrapped in a white dress shirt that is tucked into a pair of black dress pants.

"Morning. Were you really just hanging out this morning wearing that?" I laugh.

He looks down at himself with pinched brows.

"What's wrong with it?"

I shake my head.

"Nothing, nothing. It's just a little formal for seven in the morning."

"I dress to impress," he says, with a wink that has me rolling my eyes but laughing at the same time.

Taking the drink from him, I thank him before sliding into the seat. He shuts the door behind me as he climbs into the driver's seat and loops around the driveway.

"So, what did Asher do?" Wesley asks.

"Nothing," I answer. "Why?"

He shrugs.

"If he did nothing, I'm sure he'd be the one driving you to school. I'm like the backup guy these days. So, if I'm driving, he must have done something."

"You're not the backup guy," I defend.

"Hey, it doesn't bother me. I get paid either way."

"Who's paying you?" I ask, with my head tilted.

"The Brethren."

"And who is authorizing it?" I rephrase.

He grins at me through the rear-view mirror.

"Ronan."

I nod. That makes more sense.

"So, what did he do?" Wesley pushes again.

"Why do you care? Why are you so interested?" I huff.

That same grin spreads across his face as we come to a red light.

"Just seeing if my odds are increasing."

"Your odds?"

His head nods.

"Odds of what?" I ask, though, by that flirty look in his eye, I suspect I know the answer.

"Another time, little one. Now, it's time for school," he says, somehow miraculously pulling up to the school.

I blink as I glance around. How did we get here so fast? Or was I just really not paying attention?

Wesley gets out, grabbing my door for me. I sling my bag over my shoulder and slide out of the car, looking up at his gorgeous face.

"Thank you," I say.

"Absolutely. Anytime, Miss Parris," he says, though he usually only does that to piss Asher off. There is something sensual about the way the words roll off his tongue, though. I force myself to look away from him, before nodding my appreciation and heading down the courtyard.

I glance at the stone building beside me, the wrought iron gate like a safe haven for once. It's not like Wesley is necessarily something to run away from, but there is something about him that feels a lot like danger.

"Hey, babe!" Maggie greets.

I practically startle at her greeting before looking over to her.

"Shit, you scared me."

"Uh, sorry?" she laughs. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, crazy morning," I nod, as we head to the class.

"Oh really? Give me all the horny details," she says, with a waggle of her eyebrows.

I laugh at her, shaking my head as we step into a sea of students on their way to class.