The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“Try telling that to someone who’ll listen. You’ve got it bad, girl. Almost as bad as Asher.”

“I just... crap, it wasn’t supposed to happen this fast.”

She was right.

Me and Asher had been inseparable for the last forty-eight hours. It was only when Flick insisted I help her with some last-minute shopping, and Asher’s mom needed his help with preparations for the Christmas Eve party they were hosting, that we’d actually left each other’s sides.

“You should get him something.”

“Don’t you think it’s a little soon for gifts? We’re not even official.”

Flick gave me a pointed a look as she inspected some wallets in the men’s section. “Do you plan on hooking up with other guys?”

“You know I don’t.” I rolled my eyes.

I hadn’t planned on hooking up with any guys when I’d moved in with my aunt. But here I was, Asher Bennet’s unofficial girl.

“Asher made it pretty clear he only has eyes for you.” Felicity cut through my reverie. “So label or no label, you’re together. I don’t know what the big deal is. This is a good thing, Mya. That boy is crazy about you.” She traded one wallet for another. “You’re coming tomorrow, right? To the party at the Bennets’?”

“I don’t know.” Asher had said he wanted me there but after everything he’d told me about his dad, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.

“You have to come. We’re all going. It would mean a lot to Asher if you were there.”

My heart clenched. I wanted to be there for him, I did. But I didn’t want to make things any worse for him.

“You’re worried his parents won’t approve?” Flick lowered her voice.

“If people can’t accept me because of where I come from or the color of my skin that’s on them,” I replied, the half-truth souring on my tongue. “I just don’t want...” Pressing my lips together, I swallowed Asher’s secret. The one I’d promised not to repeat.

“You’re acting strange.” Felicity frowned at me.

“It’s all right for you,” I deflected. “Jason’s family all love you.”

“And Mr. and Mrs. Bennet will love you too. You just have to give them a chance to see how good you are for their son.”

I pretended to look at some nearby sweaters, letting my fingers run over the soft material.

“We all know something is going on with Asher,” Flick came up behind me. “I know Jason talked to you about being there for him.”

“That’s not what this is,” I rushed out, glancing back at her.

“Mya, I would never think that. All I’m trying to say is, if you ever need to talk, about anything, I’m here.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.”

She smiled, mischief sparkling in her eyes. “Now about his gift. I have an idea.”

I followed Felicity as she weaved through the racks like a girl on a mission. But we never reached our destination because she stopped in her tracks, anger rolling off her.

My eyes immediately found them; a group of girls from school, talking in hushed whispers, judgmental gazes narrowed in our direction.

“We should probably go,” Flick said, her words clipped, but one of their voices drifted over to me.

“Don’t know what he sees in her. I mean he could do so much better than her.”

The words reverberated inside me, and something snapped. Before I knew what I was doing, I marched over to them. “Do you have a problem?” My brow went up and I folded my arms over my chest. But I was met with a wall of icy resistance.

“So you can say it behind my back,” I scoffed, “but you won’t say it to my face?”