It wasn’t until I was halfway home that I realized Ash had been being sarcastic when he had walked away from me.Well, damn.
Chapter 16: Jett
I finished typing up my assignment as I heard a knock on the door, and, making sure I had saved the document, I called out for them to enter.
“Hey,” Ash said as he poked his head around the door. “Safe to come in?”
With a grin, I spread my arms in welcome as I pushed the chair back from the desk. “What’s up?”
“Just spoke to Ava.” Ash sat down on my couch as I looked at him with surprise. “She was outside, literally hopping from foot to foot about approaching the door.”
“She’s here?” I was on my feet, anger pulsing through me.
“No.” Ash watched me carefully as I crossed to the window, leaning out to see if I could see her. “I told her to go.”
Spinning back to him, I tilted my head in question. “Why?”
“Because look at you,” Ash spoke quietly. “You look ready to kill her.”
“She spiked my drink and then fucked me.” At his sharp inhale at my bluntness, I stalked toward my cousin. “Both literally and figuratively.”
“I know.” Ash nodded.
My eyes narrowed. “Then why do I think you’re helping her?”
“Because I’ve thought about it. I met her on Monday, she’s . . . completely unassuming.” Ash stretched his legs out as he seemed to think about it. “Look, you’re right to be pissed.I’mpissed. But . . .” He trailed off as he looked past me to the other side of the room.
“But?”
As his eyes came back to mine, he grimaced slightly. “I think there’s more to this story.” He held my look and didn’t shy away from it.
“You think she’s innocent?” I asked him in disbelief. “Or tell me, is it because you saw her naked ass as much as I did on Saturday morning? You want a turn at her, that it?”
Ash wagged his head as he stood. “No, and don’t be a fucking asshole.” His shoulder bump as he passed me made me grit my teeth. “I sat beside her Monday. She does absolutely nothing to draw attention to herself, and earlier today, that fucktard Leitch ripped her to pieces. I mean, it was fucking brutal. Someone should report the fucker.Sheshould report him!” Ash sighed. “You don’t sit through that . . . that . . . humiliation without a word spoken, not if you’re the kind of person who drugs others.”
“So? Maybe she’s only tough when she’s victimizing someone.”
Ash’s laugh was loud in my room, echoing off my walls. “Dude! You? You’re never a victim. The whole house heard you fuck her. They all heard her screams, and apparently you weren’t quiet either. Do you know how many guys in this house jerked off to the sound of you fucking her?”
“I don’t care,” I snapped. “What’s your point?”
“Exactly.Youdon’t care,” Ash bit back at me. “And my point? My point is that you may have been drugged, but have you read about Versed? It’s used as an anesthetic.”
“So?”
“So, you stupid fuck, it makes you fucking sleep! You fucked her what, three, four times? Does that sound like someone who is almost fucking passed out?”
My next words died on my tongue. I hadn’t thought of that. “So? Maybe I had a different reaction.”
“Dude, all I’m saying is, if her intent had been to drug you and take advantage, you wouldn’t be an active participant. Understand?” His furious look made me pause, but I was a Santo, and we were stubborn.
“And?”
“And . . . I don’t thinkshedrugged you. I think something happened in between the two events.” Ash sat back down again. “We’re missing something.”
“Yes, it’s called my memories.”
“Stop being a diva,” Ash muttered as he leaned forward, his elbow on his knee, his head dropping into his palm as he stared at my wall. “We’re missing something. Something vital.”
