“I can’t figure you out, Ashton,” the guy says. “First you’re with guys. Then you’re fucking around with girls. Now you’re blowing jocks like this asshole. I thought you were gay. Maybe you’re bi. One thing’s for sure, you’re a fucking whore.”
I snort out a laugh. “No, wiseass. Your mom’s a whore.”
It’s so juvenile, but it has Ashton laughing.
The guy’s face turns purple, but I have to give him credit, he isn’t backing down from this standoff.
“All this time off, Travis,” Ashton says lowly, his voice a menacing growl, “has given me time to practice. I’m pretty sure I shaved two seconds off my best time on the one hundred-meter butterfly. What was your best time again?” Ashton shoves past him, scooping up his bag before sneering at Travis. “Oh, that’s right. Always several seconds behind me.”
Ashton storms off toward the locker room without looking back. I smirk at Travis before heading back over to my bag. My phone buzzes in my hoodie pocket. I pull it out to read the text.
Mia: Did you study, mister? You have a test Thursday.
Grinning, I reply.
Me: Too busy thinking about you.
I really have been studying for it, but it’s more fun to tease her.
Mia: Gag. Ew. Don’t say corny pickup lines like that. I’m allergic.
Me: Fine. I studied, ice princess.
Mia: I think you meant ass princess since that’s where I ended up on our date.
Me: We could always go on another date soon… somewhere softer for that cute ass. Like my lap.
Mia: Gag. Again. You’re killing me.
Me: Friday, after the game, I’ll take you out for dinner and I’ll throw all my pickup lines at you. I won’t be able to get rid of you after that. You’ll be a goner for my maddening charm.
Mia: Definitely maddening. As enticing as that is, I can’t. For real this time.
Me: Ashton?
The dots move and stop a few times before she replies.
Mia: No. Why?
Me: He’s your best friend.
Mia: Oh, lol. No, I’m going to California to visit my mom and dad.
Me: The mom you don’t get along with? Need a wingman?
Mia: I wish. I’ll manage a way to get through.
Me: When you get back, I’ll reward you with pineapple pizza, even if it is the grossest shit I’ve ever seen.
Mia: Sounds like a date!
Dates with Mia distract me from things like unwanted kisses from Drew.
Asshole.
“Why are you here?” Ashton grunts, no longer half naked and wet. He’s changed back into his clothes and has his bag slung over his shoulder. His hair is wet on the roots around his ears and along his neck where the cap rode up.
“Watching you.”
“Got that, stalker. Why?”
“You didn’t tell me you were half merman.”
He lifts a brow. “Of all the fucking shit you could come up with? Merman?” He shakes his head and walks back toward the doors.
I snag my bag and trot after him. “Would you prefer whale?”
He shoots me the bird over his head.
“Fine, fucker, you swim like a dolphin. Happy?”
His head turns so he can sear me with his probing hazel eyes. “A little.”
Laughing, I follow him out into the hall and then out the side door. As soon as we step outside, snowflakes flutter around. We’ve been having small flurries, but nothing’s sticking yet. It’s going to be one helluva winter if we’re already getting hit with snow.
“It’s fucking cold out here,” he whines, squinting against the wind. “Why are you following me?”
I reach into the side of my bag and yank out a beanie. “Put this on, whiny.”
Rather than glaring at my Ice Hawks beanie like it’s a snake, he yanks it out of my hand and pulls it on over his head. I’m surprisingly grateful he took it without argument.
“You’re a good swimmer,” I tell him when we reach the parking lot where his car sits beneath a thin layer of snow.
He hits the fob, unlocking it, before turning to flash me an arrogant grin. “I’m the best.”
After seeing him destroy that Brady kid, I have no doubt.
My phone buzzes in my pocket.
Mia: I can fit you in Thursday.
Me: For our date?
Mia: No, dork. For a tutoring session.
Me: Your place?
Mia: The tutoring center. I’m on to your tricks.
Me: I can still steal a kiss there, babe. No one’s going to kick me out.
Mia: If you’re good and stay focused, maybe you won’t have to steal it.
Challenge accepted.
Hopefully Mia’s kiss will help me erase the one Drew gave me.
I’m tired of Drew taking up space in my mind.
So fucking tired.“And what’s one of the main themes from ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’?”
“Gender,” Brayden says, “because she was a woman and during that time that meant she was confined to the home. When she speaks, it’s for all women and not just her.”
“Good.” I glance over the questions we’ve been going over before his quiz on the short story. “And what about—”