“But do you feel that?”
“Yes. What is wrong with you?”
“I just don’t want you to do me how you did Jasmine.”
His eyes widen slowly as he nods. “I hear you.”
“I don’t want to lose us.”
“You won’t, but I hear you.”
“What does that even mean?” I ask, and his eyes burn into mine.
“It means that what happened with Jasmine is one thing. But this, us, is different.”
It’s at that moment that the shitshow ends, and it’s time to learn a dance. I wish I could say I feel better. I wish I could accept that the difference he speaks of means what I want it to. That he is falling for me, giving me his heart, and we’ll live happily ever after. That his future is nothing without me.
But something inside me tells me otherwise, and all I can do is worry that I’m truly fucked if it isn’t what I hope it is.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ally
“Thanks for helping me with the Bullies’ jumbotron.”
I grin over at him, holding his hand in mine. I didn’t mind helping; I actually enjoyed watching him work. He’s so meticulous and loves what he does. With a teasing glint in my eyes, I say, “I figure I owe you after making you my personal makeup tester.”
I send him a forgiving smile, but he just gives me a dry look. We have the same color complexion, and since I am wearing a long-sleeved shirt and he isn’t, it only made sense to test on him. Asher didn’t agree, but he went with it. He holds up his arm that is covered in different eye shadows and rubs at it, though it doesn’t budge much. He needs remover, but he won’t listen to me. Instead, he insists on rubbing at it like this is the first time this has happened. “I will never wear a tee around you again when we go to the mall ‘for a quick second.’”
“You act as if we haven’t been through this before.”
His eyes narrow. “Yes, but you promised me remover. I thought as your boyfriend now, I would be given that luxury.”
I feign innocence, holding back my grin. “I thought I had some in the car.”
“You’re a liar.”
I snicker as he pulls me into him, still holding my hand but wrapping his arm around my neck. It’s awkward but so him. We head across the parking lot of his mom’s restaurant, still wrapped up together since her restaurant closes early on Sundays and no one is here. We’re only here to grab something for his mom. He takes out the keys and unlocks the door before pushing it open. He lets me in before him and then relocks it behind us. I bring in my brows. “Are we not leaving?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want anyone coming in behind us and surprising us.”
“Oh, true,” I agree as he pulls me in close to him, bringing my hand to his chest. He kisses my knuckles and guides me to the side doors where the private dining room is. We hold all parties here for our families, but for Shelli and Aiden’s engagement party, they’ll have the whole restaurant because, duh, a single room isn’t enough for Shelli. I always knew she loved the finer things,
but this wedding is like something out of a magazine. Totally extravagant.
“It’s in here.”
“Okay,” I say as I walk close to him. We’ve had such a great day together. We always have fun, but now, it’s special. The quick kisses he gives me. The sneaky grins and sultry looks. It’s all just so perfect. So us. I could honestly spend every day like this, and I hope I get to. I refuse to let the unknown ruin today, so I sigh happily as I lean into him.
When he pulls open the doors, I’m taken aback. The room is lit only by the fireplace that is roaring in front of a buffalo plaid blanket. A tray of marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate is laid out on the blanket.
S’mores.
My favorite.
I look over at Asher in confusion, and he grins that grin that takes my breath away. “What is this?”
His eyes soften when he pulls me into his arms, pressing us close as he moves my hair out of my face. “Well, you see…”