Was he still depressed?
Still angry?
Hateful?
Horrible?
Why did I even care?
Finish classes and get the heck out—my only job at this point. Besides, once I lost my usefulness with The Family, I’d probably be kindly asked to leave anyway. Sent packing with enough money and a new identity, isn’t that what they did in the movies? Well, I mean either that or off people. Did they say it like that still?
I worried my lower lip and nearly ran into Tank’s muscled back as he muttered, “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
A black Tesla screeched to a halt directly in front of the curb.
I peered around Tank, digging my fingers into his biceps to keep myself from falling over because…
Ash Abandonato.
Of course, the angry one looked sexy.
Of course, he seemed to be walking toward us in slow motion.
His aviators only accented his chiseled jaw, pretty much perfect six foot three body, tight long-sleeve black shirt and ripped jeans. Was it so much to ask for him to look as bad as he’d made me feel that night?
Who was I kidding?
Multiple nights.
I willed the tears to stay in.
I was over it.
Over his stupid kiss.
Over those gentle words that night.
“Until the stars fall, Claire.” He’d messed up their phrase, making it feel new like it was ours when it had only ever been their sky, not our stars. His mouth was so tender as he pressed me back against the mattress. His expert tongue sliding past every defense I thought I’d erected.
Our bodies molded together.
Was this what people talked about when they said they just knew?
This feeling right here?
He pulled away, his eyes glassy, filled with tears. “Miss you so fucking much.”
“Do better,” I whispered. “Be better than this, Ash.”
“How?” His voice cracked.
“You live the life they would have wanted you to live. You need—” A tear ran down my cheek. “—you need to let go.”
“Anything but that.” He shook his head and then buried his face beneath a blanket of my hair. “I’m not good without you.”
“Yes.” I took a deep breath. “You are.”
Tank’s possessive stance then sudden shove backward pulled me from my memories as I waited for the gates of Hell to open and swallow its number one sinner whole. When I glanced down, I wanted to commit murder. How was he able to even make Adidas slides look expensive and sleek?
I didn’t think it was possible to hate him more, but I did. I so did. Because how dare he smile at both of us like he had a right to even look at me?
In front of me, Tank tensed, every muscle on high alert.
In a huff, I moved around him and put my hands on my hips; clearly, Italy had been good for me because I was ready for a fight. Ready to hand my sunglasses to Tank and throw a punch even though I’d probably break my hand.
Or so I thought.
And then he made eye contact.
And I lost all nerve, ready to dive into the nearest trashcan and rock back and forth.
“Hey.” Ash frowned down at me, and then slowly, a sultry smirk appeared on his face as he glanced back at Tank. “Who’s your friend?”
I opened my mouth, but Tank shoved me behind him again and laughed awkwardly. “Nobody, man, just a friend.”
“Your friend have a name?” I could almost imagine Ash’s sexy grin; the way it could literally melt clothes off a girl’s body was so infuriating, I had to imagine setting him on fire in order to feel better about my life.
“Nah, I think I’m keeping this one for myself.” Tank shrugged. “You know how we all like our secrets, yeah?”
“Yeah…” Ash drew out his response.
“So you need anything else, or…?” Tank was already violently tugging me in the opposite direction. I stumbled after him, nearly faceplanting against the concrete.
Ash sighed in annoyance, following after us. “Look whatever. My dad’s gonna kill me. Traffic was complete shit—”
Tank halted and shot him a glare over his shoulder. I tried but couldn’t keep my eyes off this man who had yet to really acknowledge me. What an ass!
Holding up a hand in surrender, Ash released a soft laugh. “Not the point, have you seen Annie? You know, about yay high.”
I was NOT that short!
His hand was literally halfway to his chest, the bastard!
And the gorgeous idiot just kept going. “Constantly has her nose in the air, most likely a pair of pearls wrapped around her neck.” He sighed and shook his head in what appeared to be disappointment. “I just hope she burned the Keds and cardigans… Then again, sometimes the cardigans did do something for me—”
“Stop talking,” Tank said through clenched teeth.
But it was Ash, so of course, he just put his hands on his hips and kept right on going. “Bro, what’s your deal? You still upset that I kicked your ass yesterday? It’s how we’re training the new recruits, you know? It sucks—hey, did you ever find your missing molar?”
Tank shifted between his feet. “No, but it’s fine; teeth can be replaced.”
“And dicks cannot.” Ash nodded solemnly like he was spouting wisdom. “Anyway, back to Annie, seriously, have you seen her?” He scratched his head like he was dumbfounded about why I wouldn’t be waiting for him at the airport. Was he insane? “Her plane was supposed to have just landed, bro. Come on, you know Annie! Looks like she’s always late for Sunday school.” He gave a sarcastic grin. “Either that or late to teach it.” He laughed at his own joke.
That bastard!
All right.
I was done.
I shoved Tank to the side, which meant he moved maybe two inches, and I made my appearance, jamming my hands on my hips. “Had I known the devil was coming to pick me up, I would have put on some garlic instead of my pearls.”
In one fluid movement, Ash jerked off his sunglasses and stared down at me in confusion, and then squinted harder, taking in my black leggings, black combat boots, and cream sweater. “I’m sorry, who are you again?”
I shoved both hands against his chest, sending him stumbling backward, then yanked off my sunglasses. “Apparently, your new Sunday school teacher. Spoiler alert, you’re going to hell!”
His eyes widened as he eyed me up and down and then seemed to realize it looked like he was checking me out and quickly looked away, jaw clenched, anger back.
Was it always going to be like this?
My heart was already so wounded at this point, right along with my pride, they were getting wheeled toward the emergency room as if the year of healing hadn’t even happened.
“Take me home, Tank.” I was suddenly exhausted as I tried sidestepping Ash, only to have his arm jerk out and grab my wrist. “Let me go!”
“No,” he snapped, his fingers digging into me, reminding me of that night, of my mistake and gross mistrust. “I promised my dad I’d pick you up, ergo, you get your ass in my car, not his truck.”
Tank lunged for him only to have Ash hold up his hand like he was God. I hated that it stopped Tank in his tracks. Hated it.
“Remember who you serve, Tank,” Ash said in a cocky tone that basically meant Tank’s hands were tied even though I was convinced he wanted to cheerfully strangle Ash.