Page 63 of From Asher, With Love

“Oh, Charleigh.” I cup the side of her face, threading my fingers through those long, dark waves. Tears spill down her cheeks. I can see the consequences of her father’s words weighing on her. She’s exhausted, and I can tell she hasn’t been sleeping well. Dark circles line her tearful eyes. She was crying even before I got into her car.

“I’m not going to leave you, Asher.” She rushes her words, hardening her gaze.

“Charleigh, no.” I shake my head, soothing my thumb across her cheek. “You can’t give up on NYU.”

“He’s only doing this to hurt me. He doesn’t care about me. He only cares about himself. Why should I sacrifice my happiness for him? I can find another way to pay for school.”

“I know it’s hard for you to deal with your dad, but I also know how hard it is when you don’t know how you will pay forthings: school, food, shelter. Your dad may be an asshole, but he’s also giving you the best chance at being successful by paying for college.”

I hate that I’m defending Trevor Keeler, but despite my hatred for him, I can’t let Charleigh give up her chance to go to NYU because of me.

“I can apply for scholarships,” she suggests. “Grants, financial aid—I don’t know. I’ll figure something out.”

“Scholarships, maybe. Grants, possibly,” I tell her. “Your parents can still claim you on their taxes, so you probably won’t qualify for financial aid, but it doesn’t matter. That’s going down a road of uncertainty—unnecessary uncertainty.”

More tears spill from her eyes, and my chest twists at seeing her so upset. She wasn’t expecting me to give her all the reasons why she should agree to her father’s ultimatum.

It tears me apart thinking about a life without Charleigh, but she deserves more than this life she’s been living. She deserves to live out her dream… even if it’s one without me.

“You want us to break up?” Her eyebrows dip, tears welling along her eyelashes.

I pull her toward me, pressing my forehead against hers. “I want you to live the best life possible, even if that means it’s a life without me.”

She pulls back. “That’s not the life I want.”

I look out the front windshield, watching our fellow classmates pour into the building. “We can’t always get what we want, Charleigh.” I’m trying not to get frustrated with her, but I can’t help feeling hopeless. I always knew Charleigh’s relationship with me was a risk—a risk bound to break one if not both of us.

I’d fight like hell to keep her, but even I know there is a limit. Is this it?

I turn back to face her. This time I don’t bring my hand toher cheek. She reaches across the center console, pressing her palm flat against my chest.

“I’m not leaving you, Asher. I just need some time to figure this out. Maybe my father will change his mind.”

She doesn’t even believe her own words. I highly doubt her father will suddenly change his mind about me.

The pain in her eyes is unbearable, though, so I lean forward, pulling her against me. She takes it one step further, climbing over the center console and sitting on my lap. She straddles me, her knees resting against the sides of my thighs.

I wrap both of my hands around her face. They’re slick and wet from her tears, mingling with the warmth in her cheeks. I search her eyes, hoping I’ll gather the strength to do the right thing, but my love for Charleigh is too strong, and I’m weak.

“I’ll keep the box.”

“Thank you.” Charleigh sighs against me. Her body relaxes as if she’s releasing the large breath she was holding. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I tuck her hair behind her ear, then press my mouth against hers. Her lips are a mixture of salty and sweet—sweet from her lip gloss, salty from her tears. She pulls away from me and runs her hand through my hair, pushing it off my forehead.

I grin, allowing her love for me to smooth over all the doubt. I wipe her tears away from her cheeks. “Let’s go in. We have that big math test today, and I can’t be distracted.”

She giggles, and it’s the most beautiful sound.

“Okay.”

“We’ll be okay,” I reassure her, not completely sure myself.

“We will,” she agrees.

Charleigh and I head into the building together, with me carrying her box of paper hearts.

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