Chapter 26: Sitting on His Lap

ADDY

Our teacher’s hands flutter in the air, signaling us to stay put. I lean into Kaylee, paying her no mind.

I’m tired, but it doesn’t stop me from hanging onto Kaylee’s every word.

“And then what happened?” I ask, grinning because I already know the answer.

“He yanked me close and kissed me like there was no tomorrow!” she squeals, squeezing me in a tight hug. I giggle, waggling my eyebrows at her.

“Adelynn, Kaylee! Listen when I call your names! If you don’t want to be on this trip, you can spend the next two days writing a ten-page essay at school!” Ms. Brown’s voice cuts through our laughter.

I pull away from Kaylee and turn to see Talin giggling in my direction.

~Bitch.~

“We’re good!” I assure our teacher, flashing her a small smile. She ignores me, continuing to read off the rest of the names.

“Ryder?” Ryder’s hand shoots up, signaling his presence.

“Blake?” I scan the crowd, but I don’t see Blake, Asher, or Gabe.

“Where are they?” I ask Kaylee.

“They’ll be here in two minutes.” She gestures to her phone, and I nod.

“Blake?” Ms. Brown calls out for the third time.

“They’re there,” Kaylee points to the staircase leading down to the train station. I follow her gaze to see all three of them sprinting toward us, heavy bags slung over their shoulders.

Even running, he’s a sight to behold. I can’t help but stare.

Asher and Blake weave through the crowd before finally reaching us. Gabe trails behind, panting heavily as he comes to a stop next to Blake. He leans on Blake’s shoulder, gasping for breath.

“I hate you guys!” he grumbles just as Blake slips away, his eyes locked on Kaylee. Gabe stumbles forward, and I can’t help but laugh at his surprised expression.

“Traitors!” he exclaims.

“I told you to be here by 8:30. The train leaves at 8:42!” Ms. Brown scolds Blake, Asher, and Gabe, who seem to pay her no mind as they walk toward me and Kaylee.

“We’re here now, aren’t we?” Asher retorts. She quiets down, muttering under her breath, ~I hate this job.~

Our classmates chuckle before returning to their conversations.

“Hey.”

I look up at Asher, who is smiling at me.

“Hey,” I reply.

Mr. Lowrey approaches Ms. Brown, whispering something to her before turning to us. “Does everyone have their tickets?”

We nod.

“Great,” he says, sounding pleased. “The train will be here in six minutes. You can sit wherever you want, but remember to get off at our station.

“We’ll be on the train for fifty-two minutes, so I expect you all to have used the restroom beforehand.”

Everyone nods again.

“Great, see you there,” he says before walking away.

“He doesn’t even want to sit with us,” Kay chuckles, and I shake my head.

“No, he’s following Ms. Brown!”

“Definitely.” Asher confirms my thought, nodding toward our teachers.

Blake laughs before pulling Kaylee close, giving her a quick kiss. “Hi, gorgeous.”

“Hi, handsome,” she replies, leaning back against him. I can’t help but smile at the sight of my best friend finally with someone who deserves her.

“Guys, I’m getting something from the vending machine,” Asher announces, pointing toward it. We nod, dismissing him. He drops a large backpack in front of me before walking off.

~Should I go with him?~

An arm wraps around my shoulder, and I look up to see Gabe wiggling his eyebrows at me.

“What?” I ask, poking his cheek.

“So how did movie night go?” He wiggles his brows again, and I quickly wave my phone in front of his face.

“For fuck’s sake, you didn’t show them, did you?”

I glance over at Blake and Kaylee, who are deep in conversation, before shaking my head at Gabe.

“Just delete it!” he whines, and I stick my tongue out at him.

“And lose my only leverage? No way!” I laugh as he rolls his eyes and I tuck my phone back into my pocket.

My gaze naturally drifts to Asher again. I frown when I don’t see him in the crowd.

Then, I spot Asher talking to Talin near the vending machines. A strange feeling creeps into my stomach, but I shake it off as quickly as it comes.

~They’re just talking.~

“Gabe, Addy!” Maya appears, giving me a hug and then Gabe one. She pulls Bea toward us, who is a rather shy girl.

“Hey Maya, Bea.”

“We’re getting something from the vending machine, want anything?” My eyes dart to Talin, who is now standing even closer to Asher.

“Ye—” I start, only to be cut off by Gabe.

“We’re good, thanks!” He smiles at them. Before I can protest, Gabe spins me around.

“Hey!”

“Asher was grinning all day yesterday because Xander’s class isn’t joining us on our trip.”

I raise my eyebrows at him.

“What I’m trying to say is: don’t let that bother you.” He shrugs in Asher’s direction. “She’s just trying to get his attention, but he couldn’t care less, trust me.”

“I don’t care,” I say, but I can’t stop the smile that replaces my frown. Gabe just shakes his head.

“So who else is coming on this trip besides us?” he asks me as he waves at a boy from the E class.

“Our class is going, along with the C class and the E class. The rest are going next week or something. Don’t ask me why.”

“Wait, the C class?” Gabe looks around us. “Irin isn’t here.”

His face falls and I can’t help but laugh.

“Don’t worry. She’s coming, but she’s meeting us there.”

He visibly relaxes. “Do you know why?”

I shake my head. “That’s all she said in bio yesterday.”

Gabe ruffles my hair, and I glare at him. Suddenly, his arm around my shoulder is thrown off and I’m pulled backward into someone else’s embrace.

“The train is here,” Asher says from behind me.

The train doors open, and I look over at Gabe, who smirks at my confused face.

“Watch where you’re going!” Asher’s voice is grumpy as he picks up his rucksack.

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” I ask as I follow the others into the train.

“Nothing. You can trip and fall if you don’t watch your step.”

I roll my eyes, climbing up the two steps before looking for empty seats.

“Guys, let’s go further. I can’t be bothered to sit with the rest!” Blake mutters from behind Asher, who nods.

“Let’s go to the next car,” Gabe says, and I nod.

“Why is it so full today?” Kay whines.

“Four seats over there.” I point to the right side in front of us before walking over. All the other seats around us are occupied except one seat on the left side.

“Kaylee can sit on my lap,” Blake suggests, to which she shakes her head.

“I get dizzy in trains sometimes, so I’m taking the window seat.”

“I’m not sitting over there alone either,” Gabe pouts.

“It’s okay, I can sit alone.” I walk toward the seat, only to see the man sitting next to it put his bag on the seat. I furrow my brows, about to say ~excuse me,~ when Asher leans in close to me.

“I already reserved a place for you on my lap, if you don’t mind?”

My eyes widen.

“She doesn’t mind!” Gabe says loudly, making a few heads turn. I turn red.

He pushes us forward. Blake takes Kay’s things just as the train starts moving and places everything in the space provided above us. They sit down next to each other while I shove in my stuff as well, taking the window seat opposite of Kaylee.

Two seconds later, Asher nudges my leg. “Can’t you ask him to move away and sit there?” I nod toward the left side where the man is clutching his bag to the seat.

Maybe he doesn’t want us sitting there.

“I want to sleep.” I give Asher my best puppy dog face.

~I can’t be on his lap for the next hour. I’ll pass out.~

“Too late to back out now,” he says smugly, and pulls me up in a swift motion. I groan when I catch Kay and Blake smirking at me.

“Just because I don’t want to sit alone either.” I finally relent. Asher sits down before pulling me on top of him, and I try not to squeak out. He scoots me against him before placing his chin on my shoulder.

I try not to freak out.

“Are you not going to sit down?” I ask Gabe, who just gives me a mischievous look before sitting down next to us.

“Problem solved.” The car shakes as the train moves forward, and I slip from Asher’s lap for a second, only for his hand to grasp my legging-clad thigh to keep me in place. The warmth from his hand seeps through my body.

~Assholes.~

~Who is going to solve the problem between my legs now?~

Asher laughs out loud with Blake and Gabe, paying me no mind when I settle against his chest as if it is the most natural thing to do. He grabs the Coke on the table in front of us and takes two sips.

People around seem too busy to ogle at our business, which I more than appreciate.

“What are we doing today?” I ask Kaylee, who is kicking off her shoes.

“Going to some museum first, then we are going to do ceramics at some workshop. I can’t wait!”

She places her legs on Blake, who doesn’t seem to mind.

I nod. Putting the pillow she brought with her behind her back, she looks over at me again.

“I’m tired, wake me up later.”

I give her a thumbs up, looking out of the window.

Asher’s hand on my thigh travels to my stomach, pressing me against him, just a bit closer. “Do you want to sleep?” he asks, only for me to hear.

“No, I’m good, thanks.”

“Want a drink?” He presses the Coke bottle against my skin and I nearly gasp out at the coldness but manage to restrain myself.

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see that Blake and Gabe are looking in our direction, but I ignore their gazes, taking the bottle from Asher’s hand.

A ringtone awakens me from my trance and I look at Gabe who has picked up the phone.

I screw off the lid of the soda before taking a sip as well. Asher sits back properly into the seat with me, and Blake plugs in his earphones, closing his eyes.

“Coming,” Gabe cuts the call.

“Who was that?” Asher asks.

“Luke and the guys. They’re sitting in the next car. Asked me if I wanted to come over shortly.” Gabe stands up before walking back up the way we came from, disappearing from our view.

“Tired,” I manage to mutter after a while, my eyes dropping shut. Asher takes the Coke from my hand, placing it on the table. I feel a thumb wipe at my bottom lip, and my eyes snap open again.

“Coke.”

“Oh, am I heavy?” I can’t help but ask, and he shakes his head at me.

“Fancy taking Gabe’s seat?” he suggests, but I respond by tightening my grip around him, shaking my head.

Asher gently maneuvers my legs to his right side. I start to move away, assuming he wants me to sit in my own seat, but he softly guides my head into the crook of his neck.

“This is cozier. I’m sorry for keeping you up. I know you didn’t get any sleep last night.”

~Swoon.~

I fight to keep the goofy smile off my face, whispering a quiet thank you into his neck.

He tenses as my lips graze his skin, and I can’t help but grin in my half-asleep state.

Asher murmurs something into my ear, but his words are lost as I surrender to a deep sleep.