Page 137 of Isolation

“Huh?”

“Milo! You said he was looking for me. Is he pissed?”

It’s actually not a lie. Milo did ask about Raven, but he asked earlier in the night, not when I left to find her.

“Oh right. He is fine. We couldn’t find you at the party, and you didn’t pick up my calls. I guess you were having too much fun,” I try but fail to keep the disdain out of my voice.

“Oh sorry. I totally spaced.”

We are both quiet for a few minutes. Grabbing her hand, I entwine it with mine as we make our way back.

“Rave, I don’t care for Asher,” I break the silence lingering between us.

“What?”

“I. Don’t. Care. For. Asher.” I enunciate each word, as if it will mean more if I do.

“Why?”

“Because he is eighteen, pursuing a fifteen-year-old.”

“He doesn’t know that I am fifteen,” Raven protests. “Everyone assumed I was seventeen. I just didn’t correct them.”

Asherdoesknow that she is fifteen, which makes him a creep. There are plenty of women who are of age. Why doesn’t he pursue one of them?

But I don’t bother telling her that he knows. If she knew that I told him, it would end in a huge fight between us. It will make Asher look bad but not enough to win me any points.

“Still. Before we started going to those parties, Milo told all the guys they are not allowed to pursue you or Mia. Ever. He knows Milo will kill him if you two were ever caught together. He is putting you in a bad position as well. Milo will be pissed at you too. You know that!”

“I know,” Raven sighs in defeat. “But you were the one who kept telling me that we need to experience all of our firsts together. I wasn’t going to leave you hanging on our deal. And all the boys in our class are so lame. Where the hell was I supposed to meet someone interesting if not through one of Milo’s parties?”

I.

Hate.

My.

Life.

I did this to myself. I really did shoot myself in the foot.

“Rave, it was stupid to think that we need to experience our first kisses by the end of freshman year. Please just forget about it. Asher is not good enough for you. He should have never been your first kiss.”

“Ugh! You don’t think anyone is good enough for me.”

“Damn right!”

It’s true. No one is good enough for her. And there are so many of them, all undeserving of her.

My stomach is in knots as I think about all the men I have to compete with.

One day at a time.

One asshole at a time.

For now, I can keep reminding her how much of a risk Asher is till she gets it through her head.

As if on cue, Raven speaks without provocation. “Ash is sweet. I like him but not enough to pick a fight with Milo,” she concludes.