Chapter 12: Ice Cream Wasted

ADDY

I step out of Asher’s embrace and spin around to face him. His captivating brown eyes lock onto mine, and I feel like I’m under a spell.

“Princess,” Xander’s voice breaks through, and my head snaps in his direction. His face is unreadable, and that’s when it hits me. I push away from Asher and move to Xander’s side.

“We need to go,” Xander finally says, and I nod. I take a step, but I’m stopped. A hand wraps around my wrist, holding me back. I glance back to see Asher, his gaze never leaving mine.

“Let me go, Asher. I’m with Xander right now!” I whisper harshly, tugging at my arm.

“Can we talk?” he asks, his brown eyes filled with hope. But I shake my head. I’m here with Xander, and no matter how much I want to hear Asher’s explanation for his recent behavior, I can’t.

~He can’t just do whatever he wants and expect me to agree with everything he says.~

“No,” I say firmly, but Asher doesn’t let go.

“Please, Buttercup, just listen to me once,” he pleads, but I shake my head.

“You heard her. Let go of her hand, King!” Xander growls, pulling me away from Asher.

“This is between Addalynn and me, Grey. I suggest you back the fuck off.”

My eyes go wide.

“Just stop, both of you,” I beg, taking Xander’s hand. But Asher pulls my hand away again. Xander whirls around, furious, and shoves Asher away. I gasp.

“Xander, stop it, let’s just go!” I pull at his arm, but before he can respond, Asher’s fist connects with the side of his face. Xander’s head snaps to the side.

“Xander!” I scream, trying to get between them, but Xander ignores me and punches Asher in the jaw.

Before I can plead for them to stop again, they’re pulled apart.

“What the hell is going on here?” Kaylee demands, with Blake and Gabe appearing behind her. Jalina immediately clings to Asher’s side, fussing over him.

~Seriously, woman, he’s not a baby!~

“Nothing,” Xander mutters, pulling away from Kaylee and storming off.

“Just talk to him, Addalynn, one time,” Kaylee whispers before running after Xander.

“Blake, I want candy!” Gabe whines, pouting, and Blake just smacks him on the head.

“Jalina, let’s go get a drink,” Blake suggests, grabbing her arm.

“No, I want to go with Asher!” she protests, but Blake drags her away despite her complaints.

“He’ll catch up with us soon.”

Gabe chuckles at my confused expression, winking at me before following the others.

I glance at Asher before turning and walking off in a random direction.

~If everyone’s going to ditch me, fine. I won’t let it ruin my night.~

“Where are you going?” Asher asks, catching up with me quickly.

“None of your business!”

“If I buy you ice cream, will you listen to me then?”

My ears perk up at the mention of “ice cream.”

“You had me at ice cream,” I grin, my mood lifting just a bit. I’m still angry, but who can say no to ice cream?

Asher laughs, pulling me along with him.

~Why is he holding my hand? It feels so damn good.~

~Get it together, Addy!~

We stop in front of a small ice cream parlor, and my mouth waters at the sight of all the different flavors.

“I want a scoop of mint chocolate chip,” I say, and Asher orders the same. He pays for our ice cream, and I thank him. He rewards me with a dazzling smile.

Once we’re away from the parlor, we walk in silence.

“Why are you here with him?”

I raise an eyebrow at Asher, and he sighs.

“With Xander, why are you here with him?”

I frown. ~What’s wrong with being at the carnival with a friend?~

“He’s my friend,” I shrug.

“You just met him!” he grumbles, and I raise an eyebrow.

“What do you mean? I only met you a few weeks ago.”

He falls silent at that.

“That’s different. We’re neighbors.”

I give Asher a look.

“You do realize you’re not making any sense, right?”

He doesn’t answer, and I can’t help but laugh at his frustrated expression.

“Stop hanging out with him.”

My mouth drops open in shock.

“What do you mean?” ~He can’t be serious.~

“Exactly what I said. He’s not good for you.”

Something snaps inside me, and I’m suddenly furious.

~He ignores me for days and then comes back to tell me who I can and can’t hang out with?~

Asher opens his mouth to speak again, but I don’t want to hear it. Before he realizes what’s happening, my ice cream is smeared across his forehead. I keep rubbing it in, now that I’ve started.

“What the fuck, Addalynn?” he exclaims.

“Don’t ‘what the fuck’ me!” I snap.

“You don’t want me to fuck you?” he asks with a cocky grin, and my mouth drops open in shock.

~Don’t deny it, Addy. You know you want him…~

I shake off the voice in my head.

~Stop it, Addalynn. Stop it.~

“I didn’t say that!” I smack his arm, my other hand still pressing the ice cream cone to his forehead.

“So, you do want me to fuck you?”

“No!” I shout.

Asher grins at me.

“I meant I didn’t say that I wanted you to fuck me!”

“Mommy, look at what they’re doing!” A little girl points at us. Her mom just shakes her head and pulls her away.

“You pig,” I retort.

I glare at him.

~Did he just call me a pig?~

I smash the rest of my ice cream into his face and pull back.

“Addalynn!” he bellows. I glance down at my ruined cone, not at all bothered by the fact that he’s covered in my mint ice cream.

“Can you get me another one? I wasted mine on your hair.” I give him a sheepish smile.

I look up to see him glaring at me. ~Oops.~ If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.

***

Luckily for me and unluckily for him, Asher had to go home after the ice cream incident. He handed me his cone before he left. I felt bad, but I couldn’t help it. He was messing with my head.

I’d promised to let him talk, but I avoided him for three straight days. Something was nagging at me. What did he want with me?

I survey my work. I’ve just finished cleaning the entire dance studio. I’ve started practicing a new dance routine and I can’t wait to show Kaylee.

“Sweetheart!”

I turn to see Margot, the studio’s cleaner.

“You know cleaning is my job, right? That’s what they pay me for!” she chides.

I just laugh.

“I know, Aunt Mar, but I finished practicing and thought, why not? The mirrors were smudged and the floor was dusty.”

She just shakes her head at me.

“Well, thank you, sweetheart, but you need to get home. It’s almost midnight!” she scolds me again, and my eyes widen. I quickly say goodbye and rush home.

Thank God my parents are away on a business trip. They would have freaked out, probably even called the cops. I hurry home and fifteen minutes later I’m fumbling with my keys to unlock the door.

I jog up the stairs and try to open my door, groaning when it doesn’t budge.

~What the hell?~

I give it another push and the door swings open. Suddenly, I’m yanked inside.

“Ahhhhhh!” I scream, but my voice is muffled against a chest.

“You scared the shit out of me!” a voice scolds me, and their grip tightens around me. I freeze.

“Asher? What the hell are you doing in my room?” I try to push him away, but it’s no use.

He buries his face in my hair, and I smile, my heart pounding.

“You scared me!” I scold him, stepping out of his arms. If I stay, I’ll never be able to leave.

“What the hell were you doing out so late?”

I flip on the lights to get a better look at him. He looks adorable.

“Dancing.” I shrug and push him toward my window.

“Now go, I need to sleep!” I yawn at him.

“No, we need to talk!” he insists, but I just mumble a later and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth.

“Tomorrow!”

~Asher King, you better be gone when I get back!~