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I nodded. “Yes. I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“It’s okay. When you’re ready. Unlike that fuck in there, I can actually keep my mouth shut,” he said.
I nodded again. “Thank you.” Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other, I said, “Okay, so how about I give you my number, and you text me directions to the gym? I have somewhere to be right after school, but I can meet you at the gym around seven?”
Asher sighed and looked up at the ceiling for a moment before nodding. His eyes met mine. “Yes. That’ll give me some time to calm down. Don’t tell anyone you’re coming to meet me.”
I looked at him with confusion. “Why?”
There was a pause as he stared down at me. “Because after that little stunt in the bathroom, Damian has fully claimed you as his little plaything. You’re his little pet project.”
“You’vegotto be shitting me.”
He shook his head. “No. Let me put it this way. Damian and I are best friends.Bestfriends. Have been since fifth grade. We’ve shared everything from cars to girls—sometimes at thesametime. He barredmefrom having anything to do with you. And while I don’t abide by anyone telling me what to do, unfortunately, this is one time I have to.”
A dark feeling settled deep in my gut as I contemplated the full weight of everything he said.
“Okay,” I said. “I won’t tell anyone.”
He gave a curt nod. “Good.”
I handed him my phone and allowed him to send a text from my phone to his. He handed it back, and I put it back in my pocket.
“I never sought him out, Asher. I swear.”
He huffed a laugh, but again, it was unamused. “Trust me. I know.”
“Okay, good.” I fidgeted with my hands. “Oh, you should probably save my number as some other name. Just in case.”
“Yeah, I know that one, too. It’s all good. Don’t worry.”
There was an awkward tension between us that seemed to grow by the second, so I simply nodded again and briefly risked looking into his eyes. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tonight. I’ll try to stay out of his way.”
“Unfortunately, it’s too late for that now. You should prepare yourself.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t like the sound of that. “Prepare for what?”
His head tilted to the side, and a sad smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “For everything. Anything and everything.”
Without another word, he stepped around me and made his way back into the cafeteria, leaving a very worried girl in his wake.
CHAPTER SEVEN
TEMPERANCE
Because of how much had happened at the beginning of lunch, I had to hurry to finish in time to make an appointment with a psychologist. Initially, they said they were booked for several weeks, but when they asked what I wanted to be seen for, they made an exception.
She offered to call the psychologist who dealt with trauma, and when she came back on the line, he agreed to meet me on Saturday. They were closed, but it was a private practice, which meant he could do anything he damn well pleased. In this case, he wanted to make sure to establish me as a patient, so I’d have scheduling priority for future visits.
I felt bad he was willing to do that, but I was also grateful. Waiting several weeks didn’t exactly seem like fun to me.
Third period was history, and it went well. Like second period, I didn’t have to worry about any of the Crestview kings, and most people left me alone. Whispers had started, but I couldn’t be sure what about.
Was it about me kicking Damian’s ass in the hallway?
Or was it worse?
Had the story he no doubt told his friends spread?