Page 79 of Saving Barrette

Asa looks over at me, the sun beating down on his golden skin. He tips his sunglasses up and eyes me and the piglet. There’s another one that’s been at my feet for a while. He’s a big black and brown one that might be the mom or the dad of the piglet I’m holding but I’m not sure. Fearing I might get bit for taking their baby, I set the piglet in the water. “I didn’t mean to take your baby. Here, have him back.”

The bigger pig doesn’t leave. He stays at my feet, leaned against my leg. I kneel down to pet him and before I know it, he’s crawling all over me.

Asa rolls his eyes. “Should I be concerned about your relationship with this one?”

I don’t say anything because Terrell’s booming laughter draws our attention. “Oh my God,” Joey yells. “It’s pooping! Take it!”

She’s holding one of the babies and it’s pooping on her, which Terrell thinks is the funniest thing in the world.

“Take it!” she screams, holding the piglet out. “Or I’m gonna drop him!”

Terrell takes it, or tries to. It’s still pooping all over him. “It’s shitting, ya’ll.”

I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in my life than I do at the scene before me. Chuckling himself, Asa slings his arm around my shoulder, the baby pig swimming at his feet now. “We can’t take them anywhere.”

I laugh and pick my adorable piglet up. “I’m gonna keep him. He can be our baby.”

“Or I can put a real baby in you,” Asa whispers, his lips on my shoulder.

“Yeah, right.” I laugh it off, but there’s something about the way he’s looking at me. Like it wouldn’t be the worst idea yet.

AT THE BAR, it’s unlike anything I’ve been to before. Not only am I constantly thinking about Asa’s baby comment, it’s hard to keep up with the amount of attention the guys receive. It seems people know exactly who Asa is. We’re nowhere close to home so it seems unreal he’d have a following here. Apparently, college football is a thing though.

Have you heard of Exuma Cays? It’s a playground for the rich and famous. We end up at Chat ‘n’ Chill. There’s live music, amazing food, and tons of women. Not once does Asa look at any of them, despite them gawking at him and Terrell both. One in particular hands me a drink. “Here, sweetie.” I’m gathering she’s probably a waitress, maybe, but her eyes are on Asa as she slides the drink toward me. “It’s on the house.”

Panic floods through me, but I don’t let it take over. “No, thank you. I don’t drink.” I haven’t since that night, and I doubt I ever will again. I never want to feel that vulnerable again.

Asa leans into me, his nose brushing my jaw. “If you want a drink, have one. I wouldn’t let you overdo it.”

I know he wouldn’t, but it’s a trigger for me. “I even smell alcohol and it brings me back to that night,” I tell him. “I don’t want any.”

His expression shifts and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. “It’s fine. If you’re not comfortable with drinking, I respect that.”

Why is he always so sweet to me?I touch his warm cheek. He got a little sun today. It makes his eyes look more golden. Like rich honey with spots of chocolate. I sink against his side. “Thank you.”

Conversation flows around the table, Terrell and Asa talking about the upcoming draft and who they think will get picked up from UW. It’s then I realize, watching them relax at the table, this is the first time in a while I’ve seen them this laid-back. Our lives since the trial ended haven’t been easy. Asa’s career is exploding since winning the Heisman Trophy and I know it’s just going to get worse. Pretty soon he’s going to be starting his senior year of college football. He’ll graduate in May, and then his plan is to enter the draft the following year. Terrell has the same plan.

Asa leans in, his shoulder pressing to mine. “Dance with me?”

I drift my stare to the dance floor where he leads me. Before I know it, we’re dancing, our bodies pulled tightly together. To our left, I notice Joey and Terrell are doing shots with an elderly man who keeps yelling, “It’s my birthday!”

“He’s like a hundred,” Asa says, laughing. “I’d be doing shots if I lived that long too.”

I stare at him. “What makes you think you won’t live long?”

The corner of his mouth dips down, carefully watching my reaction when he says, “Concussions.”

I hate that injuries like this are a reality now. I pick at the ruffles on my dress. “Are you worried?”

“No,” he tells me, and I know it’s a lie. “I’m not worried.” And then suddenly his lips are on mine. His mouth devours my mouth, kissing me like he’s never kissed me before. I think maybe it’s because he’s trying to change the subject away from injuries, but I’ll take it. It’s dominating, but not forceful. He’s giving me no room to question his intentions. I’ve never understood the term “he makes me weak in the knees,” but I do now. It’s aggressive and controlling, like he can’t get enough. I’m entirely lost in the kiss, forgetting everything around me. His tongue sweeps my lips, a warm, coconut-flavor from the rum he’d been drinking earlier. I open my mouth all the way and allow him access again. He tilts his head, deepening the connection. It’s everything I need it to be, and then some. Soon my thoughts drift back to what Joey and I talked about. My breathing picks up and Asa notices, chuckling against my lips.

Before I’m ready, he breaks the kiss, sighing against my lips and holding me tight against his body. “This isn’t easy.”

“What? Dancing? Or how awkward of a dancer I am when you make me weak in the knees?” Not that I was thinking about putting your penis in my mouth. Nope. That’s not why.

Resting his forehead to mine, Asa rolls his eyes. “No, seeing you half naked and other guys gawking at you.” His eyes shift to behind me. “I want to yank their fucking eyes out for even looking at you, let alone thinking they have a chance.”

I look at him like he’s lost his mind. “They don’t.”

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