Spiked by Love (Bellevue Bullies #6) - Toni Aleo Page 0,32
to push around and fill with balls. I don’t like how I feel. It isn’t becoming of me. I could change it all, but what’s the point? It’s safer to be just friends with Asher.
Once I’m done, I move back to the serving line and grab a ball. I have time to kill. I don’t have to be to my next class for another hour, so might as well knock the shit out of some balls. Plus, Angie is back in the dorm, texting Asher and making oohing noises.
That’s a big hell nope for me.
I’m three balls in when the side door opens. I hold up the ball, stopping my hand from smacking it as I furrow my brow. No one is ever in here at this time. This is my quiet time. Asher walks in with no cares whatsoever. He has a beanie low on his head, wearing a black hoodie and fitted, ripped jeans. I can see part of his thigh and a little of his knee. It’s pitiful how turned on I am by those little peeks of skin. His gray gaze meets mine as he pulls off his beanie, his hair unruly underneath it.
I take in a deep breath, dropping the ball, and then slamming my fist into it when it bounces back up. When he doesn’t say anything, I find myself glaring. “What are you doing here?”
He walks toward me, his strides so carefree and sexy. “I have an interview with Tony.”
I bring my brows in more. “Tony? The athletic trainer?”
“Yeah, I’m wanting to work on the jumbotron.”
“Ah, that makes sense.” I hit the ball again. “What about the Assassins?”
“I want to do both.”
“Busy man.”
“I like being busy.”
I hate small talk.
“Why are you in here? No class?”
“I have a little break. I usually come in here, hit balls, and eat my lunch on days like this.”
He nods, looking uncomfortable. I bang my fist into the ball again, watching as it bounces back up so I don’t have to look at him. The tension is tangible, but neither of us speaks. I bite the inside of my cheek as I smack the ball over and over again.
But I can’t take it.
When I look up, he’s watching me, and at the same time, we each say, “Can’t text me?”
It’s like the tension just evaporates, and we’re both grinning. Then, again at the same time, we say, “Jinx!”
Now we’re laughing. “I said it first,” I claim, and he scoffs.
“The hell you did. I was a second faster. You owe me a Coke.”
“No! You owe me one!”
As our laughter fills the gym, he leans on the basket, bouncing on it while looking down at me. “You sleep with him?”
I roll my eyes. “That’s none of your business.”
He gives me a dull look. “Don’t be like that.”
“Did you sleep with Angie?”
He scoffs. “No. My choice completely. Pretty sure she would have done me in front of everyone.”
I give him a “Yeah, right” look, and he grins.
“I’m irresistible. I can’t stop all this.”
When he winks, I groan. He may think I’m joking, but in reality, I’m in distress because I know how hot he is and I can’t have him. Nor can I handle all of it. “Get a life.”
He laughs, but it gradually subsides. “Actually, Aiden told me I couldn’t sleep with Angie.”
I perk a brow. “Really? That’s surprising. I thought he’d come bearing a Costco-size pack of condoms and a bottle of tequila to get things started.”
“One would think,” he says with a grin. “He got weirded out by it. You know he used to watch her.”
I shrug. “So? He babysat all of us.”
“Well, I don’t think he’s trying to do you.”
“But he is doing Shelli, and he babysat her.”
He gags. “Hmm. That’s got me thinking. I wonder if we can sell their love story to someone?”
“We could make millions!”
Asher holds up his hand. “Whoa, now. Maybe thousands, but not millions. They aren’t that great.”
I snort with laughter as I shake my head. “Yeah, you’re right.” He nods as we each look away again. The silence stretches, and like before, I can’t handle it. “I didn’t sleep with Taco, but he does claim he’s changed.”
He rolls his eyes very dramatically. “Into what? A burrito? Or did he take my advice and go with nachos? I’m telling you, nachos are the way to go.”
“For the love of Pete.” I give him a dry look, but he just grins. “He was really good to me last night. He paid for dinner,