Page 132 of The Sidekick

“Fuck off, Trev,” I glare as a twinge of jealousy pierces me. He doesn’t even apologize as he waits for Asher’s answer.

“She’s not my angel. She can take her tits elsewhere.”

“What would your sisters say about this behavior?” I give him a smug grin at his easy acceptance that Tera is it for him.

“To grab Tera and never let her go, that’s what,” he looks at me like I’m an idiot. “She’s the right one. Unfortunately, she comes with two guests.”

“Don’t be a dick.” I snap. “We aren’t going anywhere.”

“That’s why we’re sitting here like fucking saps trying to compromise,” Asher leans forward with a glare.

“This is how you compromise?” Trevor scoffs in disbelief.

“If you knew how bad I want to murder you on her behalf, you’d have less doubts,” he returns without pause.

“Oh yeah?” Trevor pushes it and leans forward with his evil grin. “Then why am I not dead yet?”

“Because hurting you will hurt Tera, and I’m not doing that shit to her,” Asher looks like he’s fighting himself over that decision a little too hard right now.

“Let’s get on the same page then. What’s next?” I ask eagerly and try to stop the head butting going on at the table.

“I have to tell her that I know you,” Asher winces and drops back in his chair.

“You don’t have to do that right away,” I panic. She’s going to run. “Are we supposed to block the exits when you tell her?”

“No,” he shakes his head with a tired sigh. “I’m not starting this off with lies between us. She needs to know that I’m aware of the problems and still willing to stay. She’s convinced that she isn’t worth the attention I’m giving her. She’s trying her best to get me to change my mind.”

Trevor and I exchange confused stares. He’s the one who breaks and asks what we’re both thinking. “Why?”

“Because her self-confidence is at rock bottom,” Asher snaps back with a baleful glare. “She’s waiting for me to run first and is trying to make it easy on me because it will supposedly be all her fault.”

“Bullshit,” I whisper, praying he’s wrong. When her bubble popped, it left shards of glass in her that I haven’t seen yet.

Asher gives me a flat stare, and I swallow hard. “If I had to guess, I’d say that’s why things are still rocky between you two. She starts to feel comfortable and remembers how bad it hurts to get burned. You already have someone to fall back on when you get hurt,” he waves a hand at Trevor. “She doesn’t know she has me waiting right here for her yet.”

“That’s how you’re going to angle yourself in?” Trevor scowls at the thought, and my heart breaks a little more. If Asher can be her fallback, I’m all for it. He’ll never let her down, I’m sure of it. With a sturdy foundation like that, she’ll come back swinging.

“Don’t wait. Get in now,” I hurry to get out. My throat is closing because I thought I saw everything she had wrong, and I’ve only gotten the tip of the iceberg. She doesn’t tell me everything like she used to, and I’ve gotten stuck in the thought that she still was.

Asher takes in my advice and nods in agreement.

“Fuck,” Trevor mutters and looks around the bar with a grimace. “Just don’t fucking hurt her. I may not have some martial art shit going on, but I know how to use a gun.”

Asher smirks at him and salutes him with his bottle.

The sudden turnaround shocks me into staring at Trevor. “You’re in mi rey?”

My voice is desperate, and he grips the back of my neck in a tight hold as he looks back at me. “I don’t like how much maneuvering is going on right now, but if this blows up, you can blame me for it. Don’t argue with me. I’m in.”

Asher frowns at us and says, “Nobody is falling on a sword here. It’ll be rough, but we can get through it. I’m not letting it end any other way. Stop being dramatic dicks and have another round.”

I lied. I fucking lied. You’re one of the best things to happen in my life, and I made you feel like nothing when you are everything. I see you everywhere, but when I turn, you’re gone. No excuses. I lied, and I want you. I’m in love with you, and you aren’t here for me to tell you.

Chapter Forty-Six

Tera

It isn’t until I’m home, showered, and in bed that what happened hits me.

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