Spiked by Love (Bellevue Bullies 6)

“Yeah. I should meet back up with Taco.”

His expression changes to frustration. “Okay. I’ll walk with you.”

He wants to say more, but I don’t want to hear it. We start down the hall and out of the building. The cold air is brutal, my legs are freezing, and I realize I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to sit in the corner as Taco mingles. He is all about the party scene, and at one time, I was too. But now, I’d rather just hang. Alone. With snacks.

“You okay?”

I glance over to find Asher watching me. “I don’t want to go back.”

“Then don’t.”

I shrug. “But Angie wants to be alone, and I really should go back since Taco and I are trying to make things work.”

“You shouldn’t have to try. They should just work,” he says, and I roll my eyes.

“Not now, Ash.”

“Fine,” he says gruffly. “Why don’t we go check out my new condo?”

I look up at him. “I thought you weren’t getting the key until this weekend?”

“I went and got it today from Shelli. I move in this weekend.”

“Cool,” I say, and then I shrug. “Sure. Let’s go.”

He seems pleased, and so am I, if I’m honest. We turn left and head to the parking lot where my car is. Once we’re on the road, Asher asks, “Hey, you got any snacks?”

“I have peanuts in the console.”

He grimaces. “I’ll wait. Maybe Aiden left something behind.”

I snort. “You’re still scared of peanuts?”

He gives me a blank look since I know good and well the answer to that. “They can grow in your gut.”

“Ash, come on. They can’t,” I insist, but he’s convinced. He watched this video on Facebook for a start your own garden thing, and he is convinced that things that start as seeds or have them inside will grow in his gut and come out his asshole. I wish I were kidding, but I’m not. “The acid in your gut kills them.”

“Nope. I’m good.”

I can’t contain my laughter. “You’re insane.”

He doesn’t care, and I love that about him. He doesn’t care what people think; he is who he is. I run through the McDonald’s drive-thru for him, and we’re done with our food before we reach his new condo. Aiden is swanky, so of course, his condo is too. After parking and Asher showing his ID, we ride the elevator up to his new place.

“This place is not you.”

He grins. “I know, but I feel kinda glamorous.”

“They’ll probably kick you out when you set up your collectibles.” I snort.

He nods. “I know. Especially when I put my Star Wars parking zone sign on my door.”

I beam. “Yeah, you might want to resist hanging that.”

Asher grins at me. “But then how am I supposed to meet other Star Wars fans?”

“Asher, you don’t have to advertise for them. The Force brings y’all together.”

He points to me, his grin growing. “You’re right. How dumb of me.”