Chapter 6
ASA
The next eveningI pull up to the curb in front of Taylor’s house, surprised to not see her car in the driveway. I’m fifteen minutes early, but I expected her to be here. Don’t women need like two hours to get ready for a date? But then again, Taylor isn’t like all the other women I’ve dated. She’s perfect the way she is. She doesn’t need to spend hours on her makeup and hair. Not that the other women did either. They just felt like they did.
I put my Tahoe in park and shut off the engine. I pick up my phone, intending to send her a message to find out where she is, when I realize I have a message from her already. It came in thirty minutes ago, which was when I was on the phone with Mom.
Taylor: Had something come up with my sister, so I’ll be running thirty minutes behind. Meet at my house at 6:30.
I hit reply.
Me: Already here. I’ll wait for you.
Pulling the keys out of the ignition, I get out of my SUV. Instead of waiting for her in my vehicle, I decided to use one of the comfortable looking chairs on her porch. Her house is small and quaint. It’s made out of bricks and the windows have baby-blue shutters. The front porch runs the full length of the front of the house, and there’re flower beds full of colorful flowers on either side of the steps.
Just as I reach the steps, I notice one of her neighbors taking the trash out. A kid, probably in his mid-teens. When he turns to go back in the house, he spots me and does a double take, his eyes widening when he recognizes me.
“Holy shit!” he says loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear him. “You’re Asa Sharpe!”
I’ve been over the whole famous thing for years. Not that I don’t appreciate a fan—I very much do—but their excitement typically rolls off my shoulders now. However, I do still get a little thrill when I’m noticed by younger fans. It means we’re drawing in new listeners, and that’s always a good thing.
Instead of ascending the stairs, I turn and walk toward the kid. His eyes get bigger the closer I get.
“Hey, kid. What’s your name?”
His shoulders go back and he puffs his chest out a little, like he’s proud to be talking to me or something. “Koti.”
I hold my hand out. He looks at it a moment, his expression full of disbelief, before he reaches out and shakes it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Koti.” I let his hand go.
“Oh, uh, yeah,” he stammers. “It’s freaking great to meet you, too. I heard you were in Silver Falls, but I never in a million years thought I’d get to meet you.”
I chuckle. “You wanna do me a solid?”
He looks excited. “Hell yeah. What do you need?”
I toss my thumb over my shoulder. “Do you know Taylor?”
“Yeah. My mom goes over to water her house plants when she’s out of town.”
This is good news.
“Do you know if she keeps an emergency key outside and where she hides it?”
It doesn’t even cross my mind that she won’t have a hide-a-key. Everyone does.
Koti’s worshipful expression turns suspicious. “I think so. Why do you want to know?”
“I’m here to pick her up, but she messaged and said she was running a bit late. I figured I’d wait for her inside.” I pretend to wipe my forehead with the back of my hand. “It’s hot as blazes out here.”
My Tahoe has damn good AC, but I’m hoping Koti doesn’t call me out on it. I hate to take advantage of his youth and naiveté, but a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
“Are you guys dating or something?” He grins. “Because Taylor’s hot as hell, so I would totally understand if you were.”
I don’t know what Taylor and I are doing, I just know I want her more than I’ve wanted any other woman in a long time. Maybe forever. If telling Koti we’re dating gets me in her house, then labeling it as dating is okay with me. “I’m actually here to pick her up for our date.”
“Right on!”
“So, about that key….”
Some of his exuberant behavior dwindles, and he goes back to looking uncertain. “I don’t know if I should—”
“Oh, and I think I have a Grey Water t-shirt and a couple CDs in my truck that I can give you,” I add when it looks like he may deny my request. “You know, for helping me out.”
He bites his bottom lip, his gaze moving to Taylor’s house. After a moment, he looks back at me, only hesitating another couple of seconds before he says, “It’s under the blue flower pot on the right side of the steps.”
I feel like an asshole for using the kid, and I hope like hell he doesn’t fall for any other bullshit like this again.
“Thanks, man.” I clap him on his shoulder. “Follow me to my truck.”
After I give Koti a band t-shirt and a couple of signed CDs, I tell him I’ll see him later. I walk toward Taylor’s house while he walks toward his.
“Hey, Koti!” I call his name and he turns around. “If there’s ever a next time a stranger asks for Taylor’s key, do me a favor and tell him to fuck off.”
He looks sheepish. “You got it.”