“Oh yes. Hearing about us is gross, but for me to hear what I did is fine and dandy,” he says, kissing my temple next. “How were your classes this morning?”
“Good. I’m ready for graduation.”
“Aren’t we all?” he says with a grin, and I grin back. My dad has aged like a fine wine. Growing up, everyone thought my dad was such a hottie. He is so exotic with his dark hair and darker eyes and thick Russian-accented English. He has hardly any wrinkles and doesn’t seem to have aged at all in my eyes. The same with my mom. They’re both halves of a stunning couple, one I’ve had the pleasure of watching never give up on each other or our family. It was spotty for all of us when my dad was dealing with his addiction and when my mom lost my baby brother, but I feel we’re stronger for having gone through it.
Dad exhales and lays down his wallet and keys. “I gotta go pack. I catch a plane early tomorrow. I don’t want to do it after the game later.” He starts out of the room, but before he leaves, he looks back at us. “Stop talking about dicks, huh?”
We both snicker as he walks away, and my mom leans on her forearms, her eyes meeting mine. “Listen to me, sweetheart. Please.”
I chew on my lip, looking down at my sandwich. I pick at the crust. Let’s be honest, I don
’t even like Taco anymore. I just wanted to feel something again. It’s hard being around Asher when we’re both single. Yes, it’s only been a day, but it’s already so overwhelming. Being close makes me want to do dirty things to him, and I know he’d reject me. That would probably be the worst thing ever.
“Yeah, Mom. I’ll cancel.”
She beams. “That’s my baby,” she says, squeezing my hand.
As I devour the rest of my sandwich, she watches me happily. We may fight, but I know she’d die for me. I love my mom. She squeezes my wrist, and I look up as she says, “Also, I think Asher didn’t want to sleep with you and her, because if he did, he’d give in to his feelings for you and break her heart.” She shrugs, her eyes playful. “Now that she’s not in the picture, nothing can hold either of you back.”
She takes my empty plate, leaving me speechless. While I have wondered if that could be the case—not that I would have joined them in bed, or maybe I would have for Asher, but Jasmine would have been mighty bored—I can’t let myself think that way.
It only chips away at my heart for something that will never be.
Chapter Five
Asher
I don’t know how my mom does it.
Really. She needs an award for her patience.
She moves through the kitchen, making Emery’s lunch as she talks so animatedly and with nonstop grins. It makes me happy to know I’m the reason she’s smiling, but seriously, how does she keep talking when it’s World War III down the hall?
“When is your interview?”
When something crashes, I widen my eyes as I look at her. She’s just waiting for my answer, no concern for the house or her daughters. “Friday. I have Ally’s game tonight.”
She nods as Stella screams, “That is my sweater!”
Emery doesn’t agree. “No. I bought it for me, not you!”
“You did! But then we traded so you could have those Mickey Mouse pants you loved so much.”
“We did not! You tried, and I didn’t want to!”
“You’re such a liar!”
I blink as I look at my mom when she asks, “What time is Ally’s game?”
“Six.”
“Nice, maybe I’ll swing by.”
“She’d love that.”
Mom smiles as she cleans up her mess. From the back, Emery yells, “Take it off! I need to wear it!”
“No, you only wanna wear it because I have it on!” Another crash. “You’re such a bitch!”