35. Asher

After my epic weekend with Lani, I’m starting Monday in a fucking good mood. It’s hard not to smile and grin my way through the morning. Even Dad’s reminder text about calling this guy for my summer internship hasn’t put me off. I’ve just ignored it. I’ll deal with that shit later.

Right now, I’ve got a lunch date to arrange.

I fight a grin as I text Lani to find out where she is. I can picture her walking about campus, her black curls bouncing against her shoulders as she moves with purpose. I wonder what she’s wearing today. I can’t wait to see her, wrap my arm around her waist, and pull her against me.

She’s mine.

She loves me.

Fuck yeah!

“Dude, where the hell did that smile come from?”

I glance up at the sound of a familiar voice and laugh. “What are you doing here?”

Harvey grins at me, slapping my hand and pulling me into a hug. We pound each other’s shoulders, then step back.

He’s looking slick in black pants and a faded denim jacket. He perches his shades on top of his styled hair, oozing the kind of cool that makes most girls look twice.

Which one does as she glides past us. He smirks at her, lifting his chin and winking. She blushes with a coy smile, and he watches her walk away, his eyes firmly on her ass.

I snap my fingers to get his attention. “You just come down here to check out Nolan girls or what?”

He laughs. “Pretty much. I heard about a sorority party that’s supposed to be lit tonight.”

“On a Monday?” I frown.

“Some chick’s birthday party, apparently. They’re going big. Thought it was worth coming down for.”

“What about class?”

“No one’s gonna die if I miss the afternoon. I’m on top of my coursework, and I need to blow off some steam.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “You want to come with?”

“Not tonight, man. I’ve got a date with my girl.”

He bulges his eyes at me. “You’ve got a girl?”

“I do.” It’s hard not to give him a smug grin. I can feel my peacock feathers blooming, but I don’t give a shit. My girl is hot and smart, and I’m the luckiest guy on the planet. What’s not to be proud of?

“No fucking way,” Harvey mutters, shaking his head with a teasing frown. “How you gonna go tying yourself to one woman. Talk about boring.”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t know what you’re saying, dude. It’s awesome. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

My phone dings with a text from Lani.

I’ll wait for you in the Judson Hall cafeteria.

I heart-emoji the message, because I do that kinda shit now, and turn to my cousin. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

His face flickers with a frown, but then he shrugs. “Okay, fine. Let’s meet this woman who’s gotten her hooks into you.”

I laugh and slap him on the shoulder. “No hooks. And you’ll understand when you meet her. She’s seriously amazing.”

He shrugs and saunters along beside me, sliding his hands into his pockets and telling me about school. He’s seriously not into it. Studies are going okay, but he’s bored. Athletics has started up again—he’s a kick-ass middle-distance runner—and he’s got some meets coming up soon, but even those don’t seem to fire him up that much.

I wonder what his problem is. He was so excited to go off to college, but the last couple years, he’s seemed restless and unsatisfied. It makes it hard to talk to him about stuff, but I muscle through his complaints, resisting the urge to tell him to stop whining. Hopefully he’s not like this in front of Lani.

Walking through the entrance of Judson Hall, I turn right and start scanning for my girl. This is one of the older buildings on campus, and the brickwork and architecture are pretty cool. That’s why Lani likes eating in here. I guess it’s the closest she can get to the great hall at Hogwarts.

Damn, I love that she’s a Potterhead.

My heart starts to dance as my eyes track along the outer tables near the windows. I spot her at the end of a long one. She’s smiling at the girl she’s talking to, and I can’t wait to come up behind her and wrap my arm around her waist. Claiming her in front of all these people is a privilege.

“There she is,” I murmur, pointing across the room.

“Black hair or blonde?” Harvey asks.

“The Hawaiian Hottie.” I grin.

“That she is.” He nods, obviously impressed. And so he should be. Lani is stunning. “She must be one fine fuck.”

I slap the back of my hand against his chest and stop us walking. Turning to him with a warning glare, I whisper-bark, “Don’t be a douche. That’s my woman.”

“Yeah, yeah. Chill, man.” He raises his hand like I’m overacting, but what the hell?

A fine fuck.

She is, but I don’t need to hear him say that. And you know what? I don’t care if it sounds old-fashioned, but you don’t fuck a girl like Lani. You make love to her, you pleasure her, you share a piece of your soul.

Fine fuck. I shake my head with a soft growl. Harvey can be such an asshole sometimes.

For a second, it makes me hesitant to introduce them, but then he mumbles an apology.

I keep walking and round the tables.

“Hello, beautiful.” I make sure she can hear my voice before I touch her, and she sinks back into me when my arm threads around her waist.

“Hey, sexy.” Tipping her head back, she kisses me, giggling against my lips when I cinch her a little tighter and dip my tongue into her mouth. Turning into me, she lets the kiss go a little further before the throat clearing behind me pulls us apart.

I ease back, brushing my nose against hers and murmuring, “Lani, I’d like you to meet my cousin.”

“Which one?”

“Harvey. He popped down to visit.”

“Oh, cool.” She grins and looks around me.

Harvey steps into view, extending his hand with a smile.

But she doesn’t move.

If anything, she goes stiff beside me. That warmth I was feeling only seconds ago has disappeared. And I have no idea why.