If he heard-
God, he'll kill Dain.
And then he'll kill me.
And then he'll probably lock me in my room until I'm thirty.
Another noise, the front door opening, Leon's voice piercing my panic as if he just walked inside.
"You ready?"
My brows furrow, wondering who he's talking to, but I don't have to wonder long because when I turn to the entrance I see Asher with Leon.
He walks past the archway, doesn't look in. Doesn't even notice me.
I breathe a sigh of relief, practically slumping against the counter.
Chapter 2
Tip two; enthusiasm beats technique. Every damn time.
Asher
Iwasn't trying to listen.
That's the thing I tell myself while I stand in the hallway outside the kitchen, keys still in my hand, jacket half on, frozen like afuckingidiot.
I'd come by to grab Leon. Party on the north side of campus. A team thing. Loud. Annoying. Mandatory. As team captain I don't really have a choice in attending these things and I drag Leon with me every time I can - not that he complains.
I didn't expect to hear anything except maybe music or my sister laughing about something stupid.
Instead, I hear Ivy's voice and the shakiness in it has me pausing.
"It was embarrassing, Charlie."
My spine locks.
I don't move. Don't breathe. The words root me to the spot like if I step forward, I'll break something I can't fix.
"There's other guys out there, Ivy," My sister says, her voice low but loud enough I catch the words. "They're not all selfish dickheads."
That's fucking debatable.
Ivy laughs, but it's wrong. Brittle. "That's not the point. I don't want to do it anymore."
My jaw locks and I shift my weight without meaning to, my shoulders pulling tight. The action has the wooden floorboard beneath me creaking and I pause, glaring down at the floor as it tries to give away the fact that I'm spying on my little sister and her best friend.
God, I'm pathetic.
Then Ivy's words catch up with me.Don't want to do it anymore.And the way she said it, like whatever it was, was something vulnerable.
I don't know whatitis, but something sharp curls in my gut. Protective. Immediate. I already hate whoever made her say that. I shove that feeling far down. I don't have the right to feel protective over Ivy or feel anything at all. She's Leon's sister for god’s sake.
"What's the point?" Ivy goes on and I find myself holding my breath, causing myself for it yet unable to stop myself from eavesdropping. "It wasn't even that good. The books make it out to be so good and then it was just... meh."
I tilt my head, confusion clouding my mind. What the hell are they talking about? I should walk away, wait for Leon out the front because he sure as shit isn't inside like he said he would be. Yeah, no, I definitely should leave before Charlotte finds me and rips me a new one for spying.
"He was no Cassian or Rowan," Ivy adds. "Or Gryphon Shore."
