Page 36 of Casualties

Morgan stops me as the girls sway toward our building.“Hey man, you think you could keep Ainsley occupied with a movie or something?I need to talk to Cassie and I know if Ainsley is around, she'll refuse.”He's desperate to talk to her if he's asking this.My chance to have Ainsley alone has fallen into my lap.And to think, I thought the universe was against me.Here goes nothing.

FOURTEEN

AINSLEY

Damn, that last shot affected me more than all the champagne I consumed tonight.In reality, it was probably the shotmixedwith the champagne.All I know is when Cassie and I get out of the car, we're both swaying side to side.She pulls me in and nuzzles her face in my hair.

“Ahhh, AC, you know how much I love you right?Shhh…Don’t answer, I will tell you.I love you more than all the stars in the sky and fish in the sea.You know how big that is?Ginormous!”She has her arms spread wide, showing how big her love is for me.I laugh at her grandiose gesture and tell her I love her, too.

Morgan pulled Ace back for a side chat—I wonder what they’re talking about.Ace looks up at me while nodding at whatever Morgan is saying.Then a cheeky grin adorns his face, and I’m not sure what he is thinking, but whatever it is can’t be good.

Cass is slowly fading as she leans against the wall for support.Morgan and Ace are at our sides quickly after their one on one.Morgan takes Cassie’s arm to help her into the house, while I stay outside to enjoy the fresh air.

“Come on, Ice Queen, let's get you something to eat to soak up the booze, and then it’s bedtime.”Morgan chuckles as he guides her in when I hear her answer him loudly.

“Ha.Ice Queen.You’re just mad you can’t melt the heart you forced me to free—” He cuts her off before she can finish that sentence, but I heard it.

The heart he forced her to freeze.

If their earlier behavior wasn’t enough, that statement just confirmed my suspicions.

“Hey, hey Ice… Come on, let’s go inside.”He ushers her in as fast as he can without her losing her balance.I turn to look up at the sky, and love that all the stars are visible under the moonlight.Ace stayed outside with me—I can feel his presence and smell his cologne that I've always loved.

Tonight was surprisingly fun, for a night I have been dreading.I was able to put all the drama bullshit aside with Ace, and let loose with my friends like we used to.The altercation with Jackson and Tetherball Tara was unfortunate, but I should have known dancing with him was going to put her in territorial mode.I didn’t see him for the rest of the night.Hopefully he was taking her dramatic ass home.I’m surprised she was the only one to take issue with our dance, to be honest.

I break the silence.“You want to talk, Big Guy, let's hear it.”I laugh at the name.I mean, he is big…like, really big.Even in my heels, he towers over me.

Speaking of heels, let's get these death traps off.

I know my feet will be killing me tomorrow.Apparently, courage isn’t the only thing you get from alcohol.I lift one foot behind me at a time and reach back to take the pumps off by the heel.He's watching, infatuated, with a hungry look on his face.

“I think now is the perfect time to air everything out.That is, if you’re willing to.”Wow, he's going right for it.He gestures with his hands to tell me the floor is mine, but I’m not sure what he expects me to say.I shouldn’t be the one to start this conversation.I would like to keep the parts I'm embarrassed about to myself, but I’m not sure how to answer his questions without giving him the whole truth.

I start to head for the door when his hand grabs my forearm, stopping me in place.He walks toward what looks like a mini park on the complex's property, pulling me with him, shoes be damned.There’s a grassy area with some fancy-looking benches and a couple bistro sets.He sits us down on one of the benches and I sigh, turning toward him with a touch of attitude that I don’t mean to give.I said I would hear him out, but that isn't a guarantee we’ll get anywhere.

He cuts me off right as I'm about to talk.“Be quiet, Ains,” he says aggressively.

Talk about mood change.

“I'm going to ask you this again, and you better have a different answer.What happened?”I can tell by his no-bullshit attitude, I will not be going to sleep unless I give him a real response.

I sigh, thinking back to the day that destroyed me and wrecked us…

I walk up the stairs to Morgan’s room, knowing that's where he'll be.Should I knock or just walk in?I go to put my hand on the doorknob when I hear smacking sounds and light whispering.He's in there with a girl.He’s only been here for a couple hours and already has a hookup?Oh God, I need to leave.The smacking stops and the voices get louder.I hear my name.Ugh, it’s Ashley Jacobs, of course it is.In his defense, I never told him who the bully was that made school miserable for me.

“Did you ever have feelings for Ainsley?”she asks, as if it would be embarrassing for him to like me.

“What?Why would you even ask that?”Oh no, walk away.I can’t handle him friend-zoning me to her.

“I know she is Morgan’s little sister, but she was always around.I’ve seen the way she looks at you and it’s pathetic.”Ouch, that hurt.I always thought I hid my feelings for him well.

“She is Morgan’s little sister, and that’s all she is."There's a pause, and I'm hoping he stops there.

"I feel bad for her,” he continues.“She doesn’t have friends and would never leave the house if we didn’t tag her along.It’s not pathetic, it’s sad.”I hear Ashley let out a breath of relief, followed by an evil laugh.

“Well, good.I knew there couldn't be any way you would like someone like her.She’s not your type, babe, but I just needed to make sure.She's a homely-looking nerd.Everyone finds it hard to believe Morgan is her brother.”Oh God, this is one of those worst-case scenarios, and I'm just frozen in place listening.

“Can we stop talking about Morgan's little sister, and can you continue rubbing my dick?”He laughs, and I hear the gross sound of whatever it is they’re doing.I step away with tears falling down my face and make my way to the stairs.I need to get out of this house.

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