I think I fucked up.
Once outside, Lucas brings the car up and I try to talk to Asher, but his mom is talking his ear off. I love Fallon, but man, I wish she’d shut up. When she looks at me, she says, “You drove his car, right?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
“Okay, can you take Aiden home and just take the car with you? He doesn’t need it, and knowing you, you’ll be helping him get places.”
I swallow hard. Especially when Asher doesn’t look at me. “Yeah,” I choke out. “No problem.”
When Lucas pulls up with the girls in the back seat of the car, Asher grudgingly gets in. But he doesn’t even really look at me. “Take care of my car. I’ll call you later.”
That’s it?
I stand there, completely crushed, as the tears threaten to fall.
But then I remember Aiden is beside me. He reaches out, wrapping his arm around my neck. “Well, that was eventful.”
I swallow hard and ignore my breaking heart. “Yeah, a story for the ages.”
“My sisters are going to drive him into a mental institution.”
I can’t laugh. “Yeah.”
“You’ll have to go save him.”
“I owe him, huh?”
“For sure. I’ve never seen or known him to fight anyone. Shows how much you mean to him.”
I meet his gaze, and it’s almost as if he sees through me. I don’t know what he is implying or even if he is implying anything. Maybe I’m too emotional. His eyes, his words, they all make me really uncomfortable, so I jerk my head to the side, moving out of his arms in the direction of the car. “Let’s get you home.”
I didn’t sleep last night.
I tossed, I turned, and I checked my phone a million times an hour.
I felt horrible since Angie was trying to sleep, but I had no choice. I need to talk to Asher. After spending hours at the police station, she got home when I did and fell face first into her bed. I’m so incredibly proud of her for pressing charges. I know I may have forced her to, but she told me the only reason she didn’t when it happened was because I was with Taco. Fuck him. Fuck that—press the charges. Apparently, Nicolette had seen it happen, so Angie has a witness. And in so many words, Taco admitted to it, so hopefully, he’ll get in trouble for his actions. I am worried about Asher since Taco did say he was going to press charges, but I haven’t heard anything yet.
Actually, it’s radio silence on Asher’s end.
I texted him when I got home but no text back. I know he has his phone because his dad went to get it from Aiden. I even tried calling him, but it went to voice mail. I’m trying really hard not to think too much into it. He probably took his meds when he got home and slept off the pain from everything, but still, I wonder why he hasn’t reached out to me. I put myself out there. I made the move, and now, all I can think is that I made the biggest mistake of my life. It didn’t feel like a mistake, though; it felt like I found my home.
The place my heart and lips belo
ng.
I roll my eyes as I pull into Audrey’s cupcakery. Asher’s car drives like a dream, but it makes me a little irate since it’s his and he hasn’t called or texted. It’s so unlike him, and I know that’s the reason for my negative thinking. I get out and see Audrey in the shop, moving around, talking to customers, and being her awesome self. There isn’t a birthday or an event where Audrey Odder’s cakes or cupcakes aren’t involved. She’s another friend of my family, married to the great Tate Odder, the Assassins’ ninja goalie. They own this awesome place, and it’s the only bakery I go to for sweets. Since I wanted to get Angie something to tell her not only am I sorry for what happened, but I’m proud of her, I knew I could do it with one of Audrey’s cupcakes. Or four. We’ll see when I get in there.
I head inside, locking the car as I pull the front door open. When Audrey’s bright gaze falls on me, we both beam at each other. “Well, hey there, Ally!”
“Hey,” I say as she comes around to hug me. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too, my love. How are you?”
“Okay. Last night was a mess.”
She nods, concern filling her features. She is also Asher’s aunt. “Lord, my baby’s eye is disgusting. Fallon is freaking out like he is four again.”
I cringe. “Yeah, it was rough. I’ve never seen him act like that.”