Page 106 of The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

His arms looped around me tighter. “So you’ll do it? You’ll wear my jersey?”

I nodded, feeling my heart flutter in my chest.

“Everyone will know you’re mine.” I felt him smile against my hair.

“Isn’t that the point?” I glanced back at him, our eyes locking on each other’s. Asher’s gaze burned with pride.

“I hadn’t expected you to say yes.”

“I’m not ashamed of you, Asher. I’m not ashamed of us. And I’m done hiding.”

The way gossip flew around the halls at Rixon meant everyone probably already knew about us, and if they didn’t, they would come game day.

“My mom and dad will be there...” He let the words hang.

“Good,” I said. “They should be.”

“I think I like this side of you.” He dropped a kiss on the end of my nose.

“Isn’t jealousy and possessiveness supposed to be a turn off?” My brow rose.

“Maybe but it’s having the opposite effect on me.” His eyes darkened, and I leaned in, brushing my lips over his.

“You want to skip fifth period?” I asked.

“Fuck, yes I—”

“Okay, you two,” Jason’s voice cut through air. “Break it up before we all see something we can’t ever unsee.”

Asher flipped Jason off, laughter rumbling in his chest. “Tonight,” he whispered back at me.

I gave him a small nod, my stomach coiled tight at his promise.

I was already counting the hours.

By the time the final bell went, I was more than ready to get the hell out of school. Being Asher Bennet’s girlfriend would have elevated anyone to celeb

rity status in the halls of Rixon High but being his girlfriend and the Latina transfer from Fallowfield Heights… well that shit made me infamous.

I spent the entire afternoon overhearing my name in hushed conversations. Some were simple curiosity at the outsider who had managed to land herself one of the most eligible guys in school. But others were so farfetched, my eyes ached from all the rolling. And some were just too close to the truth that I’d sat and listened, my heart almost beating out of my chest.

Apparently, everyone had a story about me now, and if they didn’t, they knew someone who did.

But I forced myself to let their words roll off my back. Asher loved me.

Me.

He knew about Jermaine and my life in Fallowfield Heights, and he loved me anyway.

At least, that’s what I told myself as I filed out of class to meet him.

But when I turned the corner and found him talking to none other than Kellie Ginly, I froze on the spot, my resolve crumbling around me. She spotted me over his shoulder, her saccharine sweet smile growing into something twisted and ugly and too big for her heart-shaped face. She laughed at something Asher said, making a show of tucking a strand of poker straight blonde hair behind her ear.

And then she touched him.

She laid one of her perfectly manicured hands on his shoulder and leaned in, like they were two old friends sharing a private joke.

The hall was already emptying around us, but Asher had no idea I was standing there, watching them. How perfect they looked together. His All-American good looks and her beauty pageant complexion.