16. Asher

“Do what?” I have no idea what was in her coffee, but the look she’s giving me right now has an x-ray quality that’s making me uncomfortable.

I shrug, going for casual and detached, but she’s not going to let me get away with it.

I seriously don’t know what she’s talking about, so this conversation should be fun.

Yes, that was sarcasm.

Bracing myself, I try not to shy away from her pointed look.

“You totally changed the second they walked in the door.” She flicks her finger between me and the entrance. “You were being funny and pulling silly faces, and then you just… detached. It was like watching you put on a costume or something.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shake my head, not enjoying the way my heart rate just picked up. What the fuck is she going on about? I didn’t detach!

“You don’t even realize you did it.” Her mouth can’t decide if it wants to drop open and gape at me or curl into a smile and laugh at me. “I swear, the second those guys walked in, you changed. You went all cool and aloof, like talking about the Council of Elrond and Narnia and Ken Follett were these taboo things. Like it’s not okay to be an elite athlete who likes classical music and talking about history.” Her eyes narrow again, and I can feel the beams shooting out of them, reading me like I’m a fucking open book.

A book I obviously haven’t read yet!

“You don’t need to hide, you know. It’s okay to let your geek flag fly. I like you better that way.”

I can’t help a scoff. “You don’t like me at all. You’ve made that abundantly clear.”

She goes quiet, her eyes dipping to the table, before she finally murmurs, “Yet I’m sitting here drinking coffee with you.” Her jaw works to the side before she lets out a self-deprecating laugh. “I must be insane—a crazy person, maybe, because…” She shakes her head, pressing her lips together before letting out a sigh. “Because you annoy me, and you’re arrogant, and you obviously have these two sides to your personality. I should be running in the opposite direction, but I’m still freaking sitting here!” Her arms flick up, smacking back down on the arms of the chair while I find my voice.

It starts out as more of a croak. “I guess I’m crazy, too, then.” I clear my throat, quickly licking my lips before admitting, “For reasons only the universe will ever understand, I kinda can’t stop thinking about you.”

Her lips part just a fraction, and I imagine kissing them again. Taking that beautiful face in my hands and pressing my lips to hers.

Would that freak her out?

I curl my fingers and shuffle in my seat. “Look, I don’t get it. I mean, that kiss was…” I puff out of my cheeks, then give her an appreciative smile. “But even before that, being around you is…” My eyes soften as I drink her in. “I don’t know why I like you so much, but I do. And it’s not just because you’re sexy as hell. You… talking to you is…” I lick my lips again. “It ignites me.”

We stare at each other for a few thick beats, and then when she still doesn’t say anything, I give her a hopeless shrug.

She purses her lips, like she’s fighting a smile, then softly admits, “I kinda can’t stop thinking about you either. Which is super annoying.”

“Yeah, it really is.” I grin, and her smile grows to match mine.

We get caught in something then. I don’t know what it is, but if this were a movie, the camera would be spinning around our heads right now, capturing this chemistry from all these different angles.

It makes it hard to think past my next breath. It makes it easy to forget her accusations about how I’m different around my fellow athletes. Shit, maybe I am. Maybe it’s safer that way. Maybe it’s just fucking easier to show them what they want to see.

Which means… fuck, I’ve been showing Lani a side of myself that no one else knows. And I’ve been doing it without even thinking. Zero hesitation or worry about what she might think of me behind my back.

I didn’t give a shit because she didn’t mean anything to me.

But she does.

She fucking does.

And the weirdest thing is, I want to show her more. Because she likes me better that way.

The words whistle through my chest, warm and intoxicating.

I have to kiss her again.

I want to take our connection to the next level, so she knows how much I meant what I said.

I like her.

I like her a whole fucking lot.

She blinks and clears her throat, reaching for her bag. For a second, I worry that I said all of that out loud. She had me in some kind of trance; I could have easily opened my mouth and let all that shit tumble free.

“I should probably get going.”

“Wait, what did I say?” I reach for her arm, lightly wrapping my fingers into the crook of her elbow.

“Nothing.” She smiles, and the light in her eyes tells me it’s okay. “I just noticed the time, and I should probably get ready for my next class. Thanks for hanging out with me.”

That’s too polite.

I don’t want that kind of thanks.

She stands and I scramble for my bag, flinging it over my shoulder as I chase her out the door.

“Lani!” I call her to a stop, and by some miracle, she does.

Slowly turning to face me, she waits while I approach… and doesn’t step back when I stop mere inches from her.

Staring down into her eyes, I slowly cup her cheek, my thumb gliding along her cheekbone.

She’s gazing at my face, her big brown eyes drinking me in as I move in even closer. I’m taking it easy this time, giving her every chance to back away, but she doesn’t.

Her breath catches the air between us, and then it’s gone as our lips press together for the softest initiation ever…

And it’s like a spark to a flame.

A current passes between us. A bolt of energy that seems to fuse our bodies together. The sweet peck quickly turns into a passionate kiss like we’re drinking each other’s life force and completely unaware of any other human being on the planet.

People are probably gliding past us, double glancing at this couple in a serious lip-lock.

But I don’t give a shit.

I’m not even conscious of them.

All I feel is the kiss. Lani’s tongue, her taste, her sweet tits pressing against my chest. All I hear is the sweet suction between us just before we pull away for a small puff of air, then dive back for more.

My arm wraps around her waist while my fingers trail into the back of her hair.

She’s squeezing my shoulders, pulling me close… then jerking in my arms and shoving me away.

I step back like I’ve just been electrocuted, and she gapes at me, bug-eyed—just like last time.

“I thought you wanted…” My voice trails off while her head bobs.

“I did.” She bites her lips together, her eyes glassing before she closes her eyes and shakes her head.

“Lani, I?—”

“I can’t,” she whimpers, then takes off running.

I don’t chase her. I can sense that would 100 percent be the wrong thing to do.

So, as much as it kills me, I stand my ground and watch her disappear.

“Burn, dude,” a guy walking past me hisses.

I give him a dry glare, which only makes him snicker, then grip my bag strap and head in the opposite direction.

At least she didn’t slap me in the face this time.

I just wish I could figure out what’s making her pull away so fast. If she wants to kiss me, then why won’t she fucking let herself do it?