“So?”
But before I can even focus on what she is saying, I see Ally getting up and heading out with Taco. Hand in hand. I hold up my hand to Angie. “One second.”
I get up then despite her gripe and catch up with Ally and Taco. “Hey.”
Ally’s brows come in, and Taco gives me that “Die” look he has totally perfected since meeting me. Dude hates me. A lot. I take great pride in that. “Are you leaving?”
Ally eyes me. “Yeah.”
“Are you giving me a ride?”
Taco looks between us, and his aggravation is growing. “No, we’re leaving.”
“I thought you were going to Uber?” Ally asks me.
“My PayPal is shut down, and I left my wallet at home.” Wow, that lie came off my tongue quick. Ally doesn’t believe a word of it.
“I can call you an Uber,” Ally suggests, but I shake my head.
“Why, when you can take me? Meet up with him later.”
“Dude, stop cockblocking,” Taco says, and I give him a look that I hope he realizes means he is trash.
“Chalupa, I mean Nacho. Sorry, can I call you Nacho?” I ask and his look says no, but I don’t care. “I don’t need to cockblock. You’re not worth her time—”
“Ash, stop,” Ally says then, pressing her hand into my chest. “Go back to your date. Stella can give you a ride.”
Our eyes meet, and I silently beg her not to do this. “You’re better than this.”
She looks away. “See ya.”
I want to stop her, but there is no point. She does what she wants. That asshole has some kind of pull on her. As I watch them walk out, Taco’s hand slides down her back to her ass, and I cringe as the anger eats me alive. What the hell is she doing? When Stella comes up beside me, I can feel her gaze on me as I exhale.
“Just FYI, you can’t care more about your best friend than you do a potential girlfriend. Your date can get a little icky about it.”
I take a deep breath as I shake my head. “Ally has been my best friend for a long time—she is important to me. Whoever I am with will just need to get used to that. I care about Ally’s well-being. She doesn’t think before she acts.”
I meet Stella’s gaze, and she’s giving me a weird look. “Dude, you know the only reason Jasmine was okay with your relationship with Ally was because she wanted to sleep with her, right?”
I don’t need this reminder. “So?”
“So, a straight woman isn’t like that. They want you all to themselves. You either need to be prepared to give up this need to protect and be there for Ally, or start dating her, because you can’t have both.” She pats my chest. “I’ll be ready to leave in ten. Might want to go back and smooth things over with Angie before you lose that potential. She’s really great, and I think you two could be good together.”
I make a face. “She only wants to sleep with me.”
She shrugs. “What’s wrong with that?”
With that, she walks away as I let out a long breath. I think there is something wrong with me because, unlike my sister—and I know, my brother—I don’t want to just fuck someone. I want a relationship; I want the person I’m with to understand my relationship with Ally. She means a lot to me. I don’t care what Stella says; anyone who wants to be with me will always have to be cool with Ally. She’s my person, and it’s that simple. I’ll be alone forever before I stop worrying, caring, or trying to protect her. Anyone who can’t understand that wouldn’t understand me. It’s loyalty, and Ally has all mine. When I turn, I see Angie waiting for me. She looks annoyed, and I really don’t want to go back over there. Maybe we could be great together, but I want someone who wants me for who I am. Not because I look good and can rock her world. I can, but I want more.
I want to chase after Ally and make sure she doesn’t go home with that jackass.
Man, I knew coming home would be a cluster, but I honestly didn’t think the cluster would be caused by Ally.
Chapter Eight
Asher
I haven’t talked to Ally since she left Brooks House last night.