Yes, yes, I know… but I love fall. It adds to my basic bitch self, but I’ve never been able to decorate for fall before… and there’s that huge fireplace in the lounge at their house… and so much counter space.
I stare longingly at it, but keep moving.
“Briar…” Asher starts, holding the cart still. “Do you want to decorate?”
His eyes are crinkled at the edges where he’s trying not to laugh at me and I feel my cheeks heat.
“No, it’s fine,” I say, wistfully staring at the adorable freaking little ghost display that is practically calling my name.
“Briar. Do. You. Want. To. Decorate?”
“I mean, kinda. I’ve never been able to before, but it’s not my house.”
He rolls his eyes at me and turns the cart back to the start of the decoration aisles. “Well, it’s mine, and I say we decorate, so let’s do it.”
“Really?” I ask, not wanting to get my hopes up, but really, on the inside, my inner child is screaming with excitement.
Not to be all woe-is-me, but I’ve never been able to decorate for anything. Well, except for the odd Christmas, but after everything that happened… yeah, Christmas is not a fun time. But decorating for fall, and Halloween, and enjoying spooky season?
I amhere for it.
“Yes, really. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve seen you this excited about anything other than the puppies, and I like that I’ve been the one to give you that joy twice, so if this is what you want to do, we’ll do it. I’ll even rope Sawyer into helping us actually decorate once we’re home.” He pulls his phone from his pocket and I assume he shoots Sawyer a message when he taps on his screen, but I’m too excited trying not to bounce up and down about the prospect of what we’re going to do.
Asher laughs as I coo over garlands, string lights, little ghosts and pumpkins. I even find ghost and pumpkin outfits for the puppies, which are absolutely happening on Halloween.
“We should’ve grabbed a bigger cart,” Asher laughs when we’re at the point where I realize I’ve gone overboard.
We have wreaths, jars, a centerpiece for the dining table, as well as just atonof other stuff, and when I look at the cart, I chew on my bottom lip.
“I should probably put some of this back, huh?”
Asher raises his brows at me before he realizes I’m serious. “Don’t you dare. This is fun. I’ve never decorated anything. Mom and Dad have always had people do it for us. I’m looking forward to this.”
“Are you sure?” I hate how weird I feel about doing this when it’s something I really want to do. Guilt shouldn’t be a thing, especially when Chasewantsme to spend his money, and Asherwantsto decorate, yet, it floods me.
“Yes, I’m sure, you crazy woman. Come here,” he says, looping his fingers in my belt and pulling me flush against him. “I want you to be happy. And this makes you happy. So it’s happening. Stop fighting it. You haven’t told us much of anything about your past, but I see the sadness in your eyes way too often. Today, I’ve seen you smile more than I have in the entire time I’ve known you and it’s beautiful. So this is happening.”
“Okay,” I say breathlessly before he gently kisses me.
He releases me and takes hold of the cart again. “Now, are we missing anything?”
“Probably,” I say with a small chuckle.
He shrugs and takes my hand, putting it under his as he pushes the cart to the check out. “Well, if we did then we’ll just have to come back. Shopping with you is the most fun I’ve had in ages.”
And just like that, I fall a little bit harder for Asher St. Vincent.
* * *
“Girl, you look FIRE!” Penn squeaks as I exit the bathroom, trying not to look as self-conscious as I feel right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love my curves, and I’ve been expanding my wardrobe choices since starting at Saints U, the occasional crop top has been odd but fun.
But this…
“Penn, I am never letting you be in charge of our Halloween costumes ever again.”
She rolls her eyes as she toddles over to me on the stilts she has for shoes. “Don’t be so dramatic, B. You look amazing. And look, we match. Zombie cheerleaders for the win. Now let me finish your freaking makeup so we can get going.”
I’m not going to deny that she looks amazing, but having this much skin on show at a party, especially after the last one just makes me feel a little gross. But the party tonight is at the guys’ house, and ever since Saturday, Travis and Cole seem to have called some sort of ceasefire on their douchebag status.