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I tuck both of ht a s my suspicions confirmed is nice I s hard, not sure what’s crazier: Asher’s suggestion or that I’ht, and Liaet him to see me as more than… whatever I am to him “You think he was jealous?”

Asher laughs and puts his arm over my shoulder He opens the door with his free hand and we step out into the hallway Those lips, the ones I just had onon a show for anyone who’s looking, and people are looking

“I knoas”

I stare at the four textfor his reply bubbles to pop ontoat the front entrance of the school for thirty nores me, which I should have expected after what happened in the cafeteria, except now I’m stuck at school without a ride home

I squeeze lance over ie still has another hour of band practice It wouldn’t be the end of the world to wait for her, but then I’d have to explain how Liaet over hi with him, or anyone else for that matter, is a horse of a different color

My ears perk at the sound of an engine It’s too loud to be Liah money for a classic : a motorcycle And there is only one person in our school who rides one

I take that back Plenty of girls have ridden it Too ht Yet again, I refuse to acknowledge that the sensation is fros I had for Asher years ago There is no way in hell I’ them come back Especially now

I stand up straighter as a flat blacklot, stopping less than a h rooain as a faceless girl wraps her arms around Asher’s waist I bite the insides ofthe physical pain as a distraction I irl

Asher’s grey combat boots kiss the pave the engine I haven’t seen hi, since we don’t have any classes together He lifts the face shield on his helaze In this light, bright yet shadowed, they look like ice Pale Clear With a hint of blue “Need a ride?”

“Not on that death mobile”

“Come on, Ellie It’s not that bad Here” Asher takes his helmet off and holds it out to me, white with blue flames It matches his jacket, but not the bike, which makes me wonder, Why?

It’s no secret that Asher lives on the sketchy side of the tracks While most of the families at my school aren’t rich, they’re cos are bleak It’s co by, whicha motorcycle unusual

I would think that if he saved all of his e up the extra cash for a o with the bike I’ stupid Asher’s attire shouldn’t bother ht it

“You wear this and I proo five miles under the speed limit,” he adds

I shift onuy who has an ulteriorhe does I don’t believe for one second that our fake dating is to ure out what it is he wants, I’ Not even a ride ho oddly nice today What do you want from me?”