After she told me she was in love with her brother, I figured something out, and I was going to talk to Asher about it, but what was it?
The logical step would be to ask him, but the truth is, I’m scared. My shoulders shake with terror at the thought of talking to him about Ari.
She’s his wound, and if I keep snooping around, he might shut me down immediately.
Besides, he thinks I did something to her.
…did I?
In the beginning, I didn’t want to believe that, but after that flashback, I’m not sure. My relationship with Arianna was as odd as her feelings for her brother.
And my feelings for him, too.
Because even back then, it was obvious how much Asher meant to me. I was just a pro at hiding it.
How could someone so young carry the weight of the world on their shoulders? The loss of Mom and Reina, then losing Dad, and to top it all off, I had to push away the only person who added color to my life.
I shouldn’t have judged Old Reina so hard. She might have acted like a bitch, but she was also dealing with so much.
Add Arianna and it was a freak show.
“Rei-Rei?” Owen’s voice pulls me out of my jumbled thoughts. He and Sebastian cross the length of the gym and stand in front of me.
They’re wearing their Devils jackets with messenger bags slung over their shoulders, likely meaning they just finished practice.
I check my wristwatch: eight in the evening. Well, hell, I lost track of time.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
Owen points his thumb at Sebastian. “He always hangs around the cheerleaders like a creep.”
“So do you.” Seb searches around me. “Is Tsundere here?”
“Her name is Naomi, and she already left.” I jump to my feet and grab a towel from the sidelines.
Sebastian couldn’t hide his disappointment even if he tried.
“Told you.” Owen waggles his brows. “A creep.”
“Fuck off,” Seb says.
“He’s right.” I look him up and down. “It’s clear you’re attracted to her, so why don’t you stop the hot-and-cold attitude and step up? She won’t wait until she turns old and gray.”
“Deep words, Rei-Rei.” Owen clutches his chest. “I think I’m going to cry.”
I roll my eyes as Seb glares at me.
“Life is short.” A raw sense of sadness assaults me. “You never know what will happen tomorrow, so might as well seize today.”
I’m such a hypocrite. I was just telling my mind I wouldn’t ask Asher about the past, that I’m fine with our relationship the way it is.
I’m not.
I want to feel him more, have him open up to me more, have him hold me more.
Just more.
I’ll always want more from Asher.