12. Asher

I stand there paralyzed for a second, wondering what the hell I’m supposed to do.

I thought that was going so well.

Lani was starting to relax. She was smiling, swaying her hips, singing along with Caroline, and then I took it one step too far.

I got too close.

Dammit!

I should have stayed on the edge like Ethan and Connor, looking like presidential security detail instead of getting into the dancing action with Riley and the girls.

But I couldn’t resist the fun. The music is great tonight, and my feet just wouldn’t stay still.

“What just happened?” Caroline stops beside me.

“I’m not sure. I just…” I shrug, forcing myself to remember the truth. “She just really hates me.”

“She said she needed the bathroom,” Riley chips in, looking awkward as hell. “Maybe she’s got the runs or something?”

Caroline’s eyebrows dip together.

I give her a hopeless frown. “I think she just wanted to get away from me as fast as she could. I got too close and?—”

“I so don’t get it. You’re just her type.” Her lips drop into an unhappy pout. “Ever since I got pregnant, she just hasn’t been the same. I don’t know why. Was it me?”

“Of course not, baby.” Casey holds the back of her neck, giving it a light squeeze and kissing the side of her head.

“She just seems to want to separate herself from everyone these days.”

“She loosened up a bit tonight.”

“Maybe one of us should go check on her.” Ethan’s deep voice carries across the music.

“Well, it can’t be me,” I mutter.

“I’ll go.” Caroline walks away with Casey following in her wake.

I sigh, watching the mound of red curls disappear into the crowd. Mikayla sidles up beside me. With a sad smile, she pulls a twenty out of her pocket and holds it up for me to grab.

I give her a side-eye, taking the money with another heavy sigh. “Not sure I really deserve this.”

“You made her laugh. When she took a few seconds to stop stressing so hard, she thought you were hilarious. When she lets her guard down, she really is a different chick.”

“Yeah.” I shake my head, wishing I hadn’t found her so damn intoxicating on the dance floor.

But the way her body moved? Holy fuck, she was hot.

The smell of coconut in her hair… and those luscious hips. It took everything in me not to pull her back against me and feel her body curve into mine.

Our kiss sears me all over again, disappointment following swiftly in its wake.

She’s got to be the most confusing woman on the planet. And of course she had to capture my attention.

If my stupid brain doesn’t get over this shit soon, I’m gonna drive myself insane.

I should spin back around and walk straight onto the dance floor again.

I bet there’ll be some chick out there who wants to feel my body pressed against hers.

But I don’t.

Because my feet can’t move.

All I can do is stare at the entrance to the bathrooms and worry about the girl who’s locked away inside them.