I just wish I knew how true that statement was.
TWENTY SIX
RUELLA
The night has been even better than I ever thought it could be.
We have all chatted, laughed and danced like we have all known each other for years, Asher’s two friends included to a certain extent. Even Deena has let her hair down metaphorically.
I am a little more than tipsy but not quite drunk as we jump around singing to a Taylor Swift song. Piper has her head back and arms in the air, finally finding her rhythm, albeit with Jacob attached to her. But she doesn’t seem to want it any other way. Asher’s strong hands are placed at my hips, keeping me close to him while he sings along. Every so often I feel his hips press into mine from behind and my mouth dries at what I feel. I want to push back more, feel his hands trail all over my skin, have his lips on my neck. Even though all the faculty have called it a night and only the students and servers are left, I still don’t take it any further, and neither does Asher.
I glance back over my shoulder and Asher grins down at me, a red blush to his cheeks and looking completely relaxed. It’s the first time I have seen him resemble the twenty-three-year-old he should. No pressure to be good enough to run an empire or take care of his siblings by taking on the family load. No, this man looks like he can finally breathe and is enjoying a night with his friends, not thinking of anything else other than right now.
He leans down and places a light kiss to my cheek. I could push for more, lift and brush my own mouth against his, but I hold back. Tonight, I want to let him have this moment.
“I’m going to go get another drink,” he whispers in my ear. “Do you want one?”
I shake my head. I am happily buzzed right now, and I want to remember everything about tonight.
“Stay put,” He shifts to Daylan. “Watch her,”
Daylan nods as he steps a little closer to me. My spine stiffens and I lean away from him as Asher heads to the bar.
“I don’t bite,” Daylan grins, the look he gives me almost predatory.
I scowl. “No, just attack girls who are running all alone then?” I decide to address my suspicions. Could it be the alcohol running through my veins, quite possibly.
The smile flattens and his thick eyebrows furrow. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t play dumb. I know it was you who attacked me behind the sports centre,” I whisper shout while the others are oblivious. “Was it you who put the note under my door as well?”
“Attack you? Note? Ruella what the fuck are you talking about?” He pulls my elbow, so we make more space away from the group, but everyone is still in screaming distance if he tries something again.
“I have never even spoken to you let alone touch you, until this moment right here,” He says nodding down to his hand still on my elbow. Not hard or threatening, but keeping us close. “Are you talking about the time you and Asher were in the gym when I walked in?”
I scoff. “You may have taken your hoodie off before you came back in and held my face in the ground so I couldn’t see you, but I saw your trainers,” I rip my arm from his grip. “It was you,”
At first, he glances to the side as if trying to wrack his brain for the memory, and for a second I think he actually doesn’t have a clue what I am talking about.
Then he stands back and chuckles, hands going into his suit pockets.
“You mean the academy issued sports trainers for all sporting activities?” One eyebrow raises and his smirk makes my blood freeze.
Academy issued sports trainers. That can’t be. I would have seen more people with them on. Wouldn’t I?
“I will take an apology now, thank you,” Daylan stands waiting for me to speak.
“Just because they are academy issued, doesn’t mean it wasn’t you,” I snap.
“Trust me. If it was me who attacked you, I would have made sure you knew it without a doubt. Look directly into your eyes,”
I sigh at the honesty in his gaze. Shit. If it isn’t Daylan, who is it?
I nip the bridge of my nose. “Sorry!” I grit out.
“What was that?”
I drop my hand and give him my attention. “Sorry for thinking it was you who attacked me. But you did look all suss,”
