ADDY
Iâm standing at Asherâs door, knocking and waiting like a total goofball. Iâm nervous, chewing on my lip and hopping from foot to foot. Yes, literally hopping.
Iâm clutching the bracelet in my pocket when the door finally swings open, revealing Asherâs fifty-six-year-old maid.
âIs Asher home?â I ask, offering her a smile. She nods and smiles back.
âGo down the stairs and to the right. Then just follow the path.â
I give her a puzzled look before stepping inside.
~Follow a path? What the heck?~
She disappears into the house, leaving me alone. I close the door behind me and head down the stairs. Just like she said, thereâs a path leading off into the darkness. I scrunch my nose, shivering a little.
~Maybe I should come back tomorrow?~
Iâm about to turn around when I hear a noise from the other end of the path. I pause, my hair standing on end. I bite my lip and take a step toward the sound.
âFUCK!â The loud voice echoing from the lit-up room is unmistakably Asherâs. I hurry toward it.
When I reach the entrance of the room, Iâm taken aback. Asher has a massive underground basement. The dim lighting gives it a cool vibe.
Iâm full of questions as I take in the sight of training shoes, shin guards, ankle guards, boxing gloves, punching bags, hand wraps, and skipping ropes scattered around.
~And here I thought he was the neat freak type.~
The amount of training equipment makes me wonder how much he spent on all this.
~Does he fight?~
That would explain his mysterious absences and his connection to Xander.
I remember being surprised when Xander casually mentioned his involvement in underground fighting. But he brushed it off like it was no big deal, and I soon forgot about it. How did I miss all the signs?
~You canât know everything about a person just by stalking them, Addy.~
I push away thoughts of our last encounter. I donât want to bring that up today.
Asher hasnât noticed me yet. Heâs too busy throwing punches at a punching bag. His T-shirt does little to hide his muscles, and I canât help but stare.
Iâve never seen him working out before. No surprise there. If he trained in his bedroom, I would have seen it.
Iâm envious of the walls.
His arms ripple with each punch he throws, the sound echoing around the room.
~Should I let him know Iâm here?~
I stay silent, watching him like a total creep. No wonder Kaylee wonders how Asher hasnât figured out that Iâm crazy about him. Could I be any more obvious?
I lean against the wall, imagining those arms around me.
The image in my mind makes me drool. Coming here was totally worth it, especially since I havenât seen him for a whole week.
âAre you just going to stand there?â
I practically jump out of my skin at the sound of his voice.
Asher turns around and I feel like I might faint.
âYou knew I was here the whole time?â I stammer.
âWatching me? Yeah, I just thought Iâd let you drool a little longer.â
I blush a deep red at his comment and walk toward him. I look around the room again, still in shock.
He fights. Thereâs no doubt about it.
âYou fight.â I look him in the eyes.
âWhat gave it away?â He chuckles and runs a hand through his messy hair.
I walk up to him, stopping close by.
âYou really had no idea?â His words are teasing. âI thought you knew everything about me.â
He smirks and I roll my eyes. I run my hands over his punching bag, and he watches me closely.
âWhy donât you look surprised?â His voice echoes around the room. I look up, a small smile on my lips.
âI am surprised, but I had my suspicions. You know Xander because you both fight, right?â
âHow?â Now Asher looks surprised.
âI saw the way you two looked at each other the day he arrived.â
Asher chuckles. âYeah, heâs not my favorite person.â
He moves to sit on the training mat next to us.
âWhy did you decide to visit?â
I look at him before reaching into my pocket and pulling out the black braided leather bracelet.
âYou forgot this.â
His eyes widen for a second before he whispers a thank you, sounding relieved.
âHow did you find this?â
I move around, noticing the huge speakers mounted on the wall.
âYou took it off when we were going to bake and left it. I was going to give it to you at school, but you havenât been there for a week.â I shrug.
âYou definitely missed me,â he smirks, looking up at me.
âDid not!â I snap. He just chuckles and I glare at him in annoyance.
âCan you put on some music?â I gesture toward the speakers, and Asher nods. He picks up his phone and resumes a song he must have paused earlier.
Michael Jacksonâs voice fills the room, and my ears perk up.
âWhat do you want to listen to?â he asks, looking at me expectantly.
âYou listen to Michael Jackson?â I ask in return. He nods as if itâs the most obvious thing in the world. I grin and start to move to the music.
âDidnât know you were a fan.â I smirk as I dance around him.
Asher watches me with his eyes. âI already told you, Buttercup, you canât figure me out a hundred percent by stalking me.â
âI do not stalk you.â
~Is there any point in lying when he knows the truth? Damn him.~
âSeriously, you canât deny youâre hot for me most of the time.â
His teasing words stir me up, and I canât help but smirk.
He attempts to rise, but I push him back down. âJust sit back and enjoy, Asher.â I toss him a wink before turning my back to him.
~You got this, girl!~
âWhat are you up to?â
His confused expression almost makes me laugh. I grab his phone, cranking up the volume before I start to move around him. Asherâs eyes widen as I start to sway to the rhythm of the music.
Hey pretty baby with the high heels on
You give me fever
Like Iâve never, ever known
Youâre just a product of loveliness
I like the groove of your walk,
Your talk, your dress
I dance around Asher, mouthing the lyrics Iâve known by heart for as long as I can remember. My eyes never leave him as I press myself against the wall.
âHolyâ¦â he murmurs, sitting up straighter.
I feel your fever.
From miles around.
I wave my arms in the air, tossing my hair tie aside and letting my hair fall freely around my waist as I move to the beat.
Iâll pick you up in my car.
And weâll paint the town.
Just kiss me baby.
And tell me twice.
That youâre the one for me.
The way you make me feel.
âJust kiss me baby... and tell me twice... that youâre the one for me... the way you make me feel....â I approach Asher, spinning in front of him.
(The way you make me feel.)
You really turn me on.
(You really turn me on.)
You knock me off of my feet.
(You knock me off of my feet.)
My hands slide up my thighs, gripping the hem of my hoodie before I pull it over my head and toss it aside, proudly showing off my toned stomach.
I mean, I worked my ass off for it.
Now, the only thing covering me is my cropped tank top.
I must be losing my mind. One look at Asher tells me he didnât see that coming.
My lonely days are gone.
(My lonely days are gone.)
I like the feelinâ youâre givinâ me.
Just hold me baby and Iâm in ecstasy.
Oh Iâll be workinâ from nine to five.
To buy you things to keep you by my side.
I never felt so in love before.
Just promise, baby, youâll love me forevermore.
I swear Iâm keeping you satisfied.
'Cause youâre the one for me.
The way you make me feel.
His expression makes my lips part. His intense gaze heats my skin, but I donât stop. I love his eyes on me. I love dancing for him.
~I donât usually enjoy dancing for others. Is it because I like him?~
(The way you make me feel.)
You really turn me on.
(You really turn me on.)
You knock me off of my feet.
Now, baby.
(You knock me off of my feet.)
My lonely days are gone.
(My lonely days are gone.)
Go on, girl!
Go on! Hee! Hee! Aaow!
Go on, girl!
I never felt so in love before.
Promise, baby, youâll love me forevermore.
I swear Iâm keeping you satisfied.
'Cause youâre the one for me.
The way you make me feel.
My heart is pounding like crazy. My moves become sharper, knowing he likes watching me dance.
(The way you make me feel.)
You really turn me on.
(You really turn me on.)
You knock me off of my feet.
Now, baby.
(You knock me off of my feet)
My lonely days are gone
(My lonely days are gone)
The way you make me feel
(The way you make me feel)
I leap up and spin around, about to turn when the lights suddenly go out. I let out a yelp as I stumble forward.
~Did I just trip over my own feet? Really?~
Just as Iâm about to faceplant in front of Asher, he catches me, his arms securely around my bare waist.
My face is just inches from his as I look into his eyes. The music continues to play around us.
You really turn me on
(You really turn me on)
You knock me off of my feet
Now baby
(You knock me off of my feet)
My lonely days are gone.
(My lonely days are gone.)
Ainât nobodyâs business,
Ainât nobodyâs business.
(The way you make me feel.)
Ainât nobodyâs business,
Ainât nobodyâs business but
Mine and my baby.
He meets my gaze, showing no signs of letting me go. Not that Iâm complaining.
(You really turn me on.)
(You knock me off of my feet.)
Oh!
(My lonely days are gone.)
Give it to me, give me some time.
(The way you make me feel.)
Come on, be my girl. I want to
be with mine.
(You really turn me on.)
Ainât nobodyâs business.
(You knock me off of my feet.)
Ainât nobodyâs business but
mine and my babyâs.
Go on, girl! Aaow!
(My lonely days are gone.)
Hee hee! Aaow!
Chika, chika.
Chika, chika, chika.
Go on, girl! Hee hee!
(The way you make me feel.)
Hee hee hee!
(You really turn me on.)
(You knock me off of my feet.)
(My lonely days are gone.)
The song fades into the background, coming to an end. I pull away from Asher, who still seems to be in a daze.
âLooks like someoneâs excited now.â I glance at the bulge in his pants before smirking.
Asher just stares at me, his mouth slightly open.
âI should get going. This movie is supposed to be PG-13, and I canât promise itâll stay that way if I stick around. See you at school.â
I blow him a kiss before rushing out, up the stairs, and toward my house.
I canât wipe the grin off my face.
~Oh,~ shit, heâs never going to let me live this down.
~Damn it!~