Page 78 of The Harder You Fall (Rixon Raiders 3)

“You think it was easy announcing to my dad that I was dating Jason Ford? Hell no. But we have to make our own decisions, Mya. Even if they turn out to be mistakes.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” My stomach twisted.

“I don’t mean I think Asher is a mistake. If anything, I think you’re finally thinking straight. I meant your aunt has to let you make your own way.”

“I hope you’re right.” Because I could only imagine how much grief she was going to give me when I broke th

e news to her.

“Anyway, did you still want to come over later? The guys are having guys night at Bell’s so I thought me, you, and Hailee could have girls night at my house.”

“Will you stop asking about the size of my boyfriend’s dick?”

We both exploded with laughter. It felt good, easing the heavy weight that had settled on my chest as we talked about my aunt.

“Just give me a ballpark figure and we can move on.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Nine inches,” she snorted down the line. “It’s got to be at least nine—”

“Goodbye, Felicity.”

“Nine-and-a-half?”

Her voice faded away as I hung up, still chuckling at her outburst. Pre-Jason, Felicity had been sexually repressed. Or at least, that’s the impression I’d gotten. But now she was all too willing to share. Still, I loved her in a way I hadn’t anticipated. She would never replace my childhood friends from Fallowfield Heights, but Felicity had done a pretty good job at filling the hole left when I moved to Rixon.

Against all my better judgment, and my misguided expectations, I was making a life for myself here. I had friends, real tell-it-as-it-is friends. I was making good progress in my classes. And I had Asher.

The boyfriend I never knew I wanted.

I was falling hard and fast for him. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to let it happen, but I was tired of fighting my feelings. Of always being the tough girl.

I was tired of letting other people dictate my life.

So what if me and Asher came from different sides of the tracks? Attraction didn’t discriminate based on color or background or life experience. It wasn’t black or white but various shades of gray; prisms of color. My world had been dark when I’d moved to Rixon; dreary and desolate. All the pain and anger I felt bleeding into a black stain on my soul. But Asher, my girlfriends, even some of my teachers at school, were splashes of vibrancy, refusing to let me live in the shadows.

And if I admitted it to myself, I kind of liked living in the light again.

“Mya, it’s so lovely to see you again. Come in.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Bennet.”

“Julia, please call me Julia. Asher,” she called out over her shoulder, “your friend is here.”

Asher rushed into the kitchen, sliding to stop in front of me. “Girlfriend, Mom.” He grinned at me. “Mya is my girlfriend.”

The word did all kinds of things to my stomach.

Closing the distance between us, he kissed me softly, not caring his mom was right there, pretending not to watch. I let out a contented sigh and gazed up at him. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Asher replied. “I’m glad you came.”

I’d almost told him no when he had invited me over but before I could make my excuses, Asher had dropped it out that his father was on a last-minute business trip. He said his mom was excited to meet me again, in less chaotic circumstances, and I didn’t have the heart to trample over his enthusiasm.

“I hope you’re hungry, Mya. I took the liberty of making us all some lunch.”

“Oh, you didn’t have to do that, Mrs.... Julia.”