Page 74 of Exactly What I Needed
Suddenly, two massive figures shoved through the crowd and hovered over me. I looked up, pausing my movement to see two familiar faces. I didn’t know their names, but I’d seen them before. Almost always near Asher and his friends, but never too close. Always inconspicuous. Except for at the concert and when Asher punched Danny. Relief flooded me, driving my panic down as one of them picked up the bike and the other helped me to my feet.
The screams and squeals were louder than ever as I nodded, silently thanking them. The one who had lifted the bike, grabbed Asher’s helmet,and shoved his way back through the crowd to Asher, who was now in the middle of the road. My eyes tracked him with worry as a set of massive hands suddenly plopped me down on the back of the bike.
“Don’t remove the shaded portion of your full-face visor. No matter what. In a minute, when the only light is the bike’s headlight, you’ll hardly be able to see. Unlike now, but trust Asher. You got it?” the security man said.
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn’t happening. My first day spent as his girlfriend, with him, and we might get caught.
“In just a moment, we are going to part the crowd, and he will have a straight shot here. Hang on tightly. Don’t speak. Don’t move, or you will be exposed,” he explained again, trying to help calm my nerves.
But I couldn’t shake the confusion about how so many people found us and got here so quickly.
Once again, I nodded rapidly and slid my gaze to Asher. He was signing something and then taking a picture with another girl. The other security guard slipped his helmet subtly into one hand, and my eyes drifted around the massive crowd. That’s when I saw it. Sticking out amongst the girls were random men. Larger, taller, moving silently like a wave all toward the rockstar of the hour.
Another minute ticked past, and they converged. Once they were face-to-face with each other, with a single nod, they all stepped back.
Asher took off like a bat out of hell, running toward me through the newly made gap while slamming the helmet on his head. Every set of eyes followed him, confused and still screaming. Until he swung a leg over the bike, and I wrapped my arms around his waist.
And the crowd went deathly silent.
He kicked the stand up, and the engine roared to life. Piercing sharply through the quiet and stuffy air. Gasps sounded as realization settled in, and I closed my eyes as the flashes from cameras began.
Asher gunned it, speeding through the path his security had made and back out onto the road.
I didn’t open my eyes even after all I could hear was the engine.
I didn’t open my eyes even after we’d rounded countless corners, weaved through innumerable roads and little subdivisions.
It wasn’t until I felt us begin to slow and Asher pat my leg that I cracked one eye open. We were slowly rolling between my car and the other one parked in the driveway. The garage door groaned, rising higher before we slipped under, and he killed the engine. As soon as possible, he pressed the button, and the hinges creaked before the door began to descend once more.
I stared at it, watching the space become smaller and smaller, waiting until it bumped against the ground before I breathed in relief. Leaning forward, my helmet pressed against Asher’s back as he pulled his off his head.
“You all right, Princess?” he asked.
I slowly nodded, feeling safe once more, and then shot up. “Asher, what time is it?”
“Uh.” He dug his phone from his pocket and glanced at it. “Nearly one in the morning, why?”
“I’m not home. I should be home,” I gasped, ripping the helmet off my head and jumping down from the bike. I winced as a zing shot up my legfrom my newly bruised ankle. “Where’s my phone? What am I going to say to Sydney?” I hobbled up the steps and into the house.
“Cosette!” Asher shouted, but I didn’t stop as the door swung shut behind me.
Limping quickly through the living room, I didn’t even bother to say hi to the others as I slid toward the kitchen counter and snatched my phone up.
“No,” I whined, staring at it. Seven missed calls and thirteen missed texts from Sydney.
“What’s wrong?” Kieron shouted from the living room. Jaxon strummed the guitar, and Drake mumbled something quietly.
I didn’t answer as Asher walked inside and I began reading her messages.
I’m headed to a party, I’ll need you to pick me up later.
I called but you didn’t answer.
I need a ride soon.
I’m drunk, the party is lame. Come get me.
I’ve called, why aren’t you answering?
