Page 23 (1/2)

I smile at him like a doe-eyed pre-teen, too drunk to care if I look stupid Asher has a nice face I should tell him

“Youuve gawt a naish faysssss”

Asher looks at ht now isn't the best ti as they should My legs feel like Jell-o when Asher takes my hands and pullsor if the world is doing it on its own, but the trees behind Asher are swaying

Asher hooks his ar onto him Pretty sure I’d be on ht, I should not have taken those shots

“Watch your step,” he instructs as we climb the four wooden steps to the door of his double-wide

I’ve always known Asher lived on the sketchy side of town, but I’ve never been here With our parents being on the outs, there was no reason for ht me for a play date ere little I turn hborhood while Asher fishes for his keys in his pocket My vision is a little blurry, but from what I can tell we are on some sort of cul de sac Three, no four, double wides sit around a giant concrete circle, with a singular yellow street light illu the shadows It’s not as scary as I expected, but it isn’t home, either

Asher’s front door squeaks when he pushes it open The sound isn't loud, but it hurts one until soht”

“Okay” I’ht My voice sounds funny toanyreat, but now the world moves too fast

“Careful,” Asher says, ht “Don’t step there”

I let hi will be his roooing I closeto hi my feet carry me

“That’s a bad spot too” His voice is soothing I could fall asleep to it, but I forcebecause this feels iirls here all the ti a piece of himself with me

“When I was a kid,” he says, almost nervously, “I used to try and avoid the soft spots by playing the ga under my toes Now, it’s a miracle when I step on a fir as I can re” Asher shakes his head, and his whole bodyIt’s hard to tell at this point “The list goes on, but the money to fix the problems doesn’t exist”

We stop walking I try to lift my head and open ain It al another door, but that’s silly People don't put those kinds of locks on bedroom doors

We’re ht shines pastin ain It takes a second for the world to come into focus but when it does, I realize we are in Asher’s room

He leads me to the bed, where I sit down and he turns back to the door He turns a deadbolt, slides a chain, and then for good measure twists the lock on the door handle