Spiked by Love (Bellevue Bullies #6) - Toni Aleo Page 0,61
you’re in the right place!”
We share a grin as I start picking out cupcakes. One turns into four and then six by the time I’m done. Of course, I need some for myself. I’m stressing, and the sugary delight will make things somewhat better. I get out my card to pay, but she waves me off. “No way.”
“Audrey—” I try, but she pushes the cupcakes toward me.
“Enjoy.”
“Thank you,” I say with a wide grin. “I’ll see you later.” The bell over the door of the shop rings. I turn to leave, and I’m stunned in place. It’s like my feet are glued to the floor as my eyes lock with Asher’s good eye.
He’s surprised to see me, I can tell, and I don’t feel like it’s a happy surprise either. As it normally is. No, it’s “What the hell are you doing here?” kind of surprised, and it scares me. In seconds, I know I never should have kissed him.
“Hey—”
Before he can finish, Audrey yells as she comes toward him, “My Slim Jim!” He groans as she wraps her arms around him, kissing him hard on the cheek. Fallon laughs as she sideways-hugs me. “My poor boy! How are you?”
“I was okay until I came in here and was reminded of my awful nickname,” he says dryly, but Audrey doesn’t seem fazed by his aggravation as Fallon heads toward the counter. Audrey kisses him again, petting his patch and then his chest.
“I made you carrot cake cupcakes to make you feel better.”
He moves his gaze to me for a split second before he looks back to her. “Thank God, I need them.”
“How are you feeling?” I ask, needing his attention.
Needing to know if I really messed things up.
He shrugs. “I’m all right. It hurts like fire. Mom has been babying me and feeding me my meds.”
“That’s good,” I say, forcing a smile. “I texted you.”
“Yeah, I’m really sorry. I passed out when I got to the house, and then this morning I had that follow-up appointment—”
“Oh? How did it go?”
“Okay. It’s a minor cut. He’s not worried about my vision, and I could actually see a bit out of it.”
I nod happily. It’s forced, but hey, I’m trying. “Oh, thank goodness.”
“Yeah.”
Time passes between us, and then I ask the question that’s burning inside me. “Why didn’t you tell me about it?”
He shrugs once more. “I don’t know, Ally. My head is all over the place.” I don’t say anything. I don’t know what to say. His gray eyes are dull when they meet mine, and my stomach drops out my ass. “I should have.”
“Yeah. I’m worried about you.”
He draws in a breath through his nose, looking every bit put out. “I know.”
“And I feel we have stuff to talk about.”
He licks his lips. “I figured we’d do it in person.”
“When? Gotta answer the phone for that,” I say sharper than I intended. “This isn’t like you.”
I almost ask if he’s mad at me, but I don’t know if I can handle the answer.
He hesitates and looks everywhere but at me. “I know. Listen, I’m sorry. My meds make me tired and cranky, and I hate this white patch. Emery won’t leave me alone, and yeah, I’m being a dick. I’m sorry.”
But it’s not the apology I wanted.
I nod slowly, fighting back the tears. “Totally fine. Totally cool. Hey, I’ll see you later—”
“Ally—” he tries, but I move past him.
“No, it’s cool. See ya around.”
He doesn’t stop me. He doesn’t call my name. He lets me go.
Once I get to the car, I sit there and wait for him to come out. I check my phone—and nothing. I thought maybe he’d text me to say he wanted to talk later, but he doesn’t. When the tears start to fall, I let them because I was stupid enough to allow this to happen. I knew it could go this way, that he wouldn’t want me the way I want him, but I wanted so much for it to be everything I dreamed of.
Problem is, dreams aren’t always reality.
Chapter Seventeen
Asher
Well, I fucked that up.
I shake my head as I fall into the nearest chair and cup my face in my hands. I’m freaking the fuck out. I hadn’t expected to see Ally so soon. I needed a little longer to process everything that happened last night. My reaction to Taco grabbing her. Aiden’s thoughts about what I am feeling and, ultimately, her lips on mine. I spent all night thinking and feeling Ally’s