Page 74 of Addiction

He takes my jaw in his hand, my body now trembling with want as my erection presses against the zip of my pants.

“Kiss me, Asher. You know you want to. Kiss me.”

Kiss me…

“Asher?”

I’m jolted out of my daze by a slap on my back from Grayson. We’ve been at Hot Tuna for about thirty minutes, and in that time I’ve hardly heard a word he’s been saying because my mind is drowning in past thoughts and memories I don’t wish to reencounter.

“Sorry. What have I missed?”

“It’s what I’ve missed I’m more concerned about.”

I frown. “I don’t understand.”

“You. You’ve not registered anything I’ve said.”

I feel bad because it’s been a while since Grayson has had a night off from running the bar and being a dad. And here I am suffocating in my issues and ignoring my best friend. “You were talking about Ava.”

“Yeah. And I knew you weren’t listening so to check I was right, I mentioned your sister fucking me in the living room.”

I screw my face up. “Dude. Why would you tell me that?”

“To see if I got a reaction. Which I didn’t. So what’s up?”

Ever since I left Wade’s the other night, the past has haunted me like it’s the only life I have, and my feelings are all over the place. How can someone consume you so damn hard?

“Nothing is up. I’m fine.”

He raises his eyebrows, and I know I have to drag myself out of this rabbit hole before any more questions are asked. “Honestly. I’m fine. I was just thinking about the gym that’s all. I can’t remember if I put the trash out.”

He holds my gaze for a split second, and I can see in his features he doesn’t believe a word I’ve said. But I’m thankful he doesn’t push me into talking. The last thing I want right now are questions because I’m struggling to find answers myself. So to stop them, I shake off my thoughts and channel them in a different direction.

“So when are you going to make an honest woman of my sister?” I ask, grabbing a handful of peanuts from the bowl on the bar and shoving them into my mouth.

“Well, the wedding is set for the summer, but Nora mentioned putting it on hold.”

I shoot him a look. “Really? Why?”

“She wants Ava to be walking when she’s a flower girl. She believes it will be a lot cuter if she’s totting around.”

“But if you get married when she can’t walk it will be easier to keep her in the stroller so she can’t escape anywhere. Have you seen how fast kids move when they want something they can’t have?”

“I already said this, but you will be on uncle duty.”

“And let me guess, that’s because I’ll be the only sober one there.” I huff out a laugh. It sounds like typical Nora, getting all her plans laid out in advance. I should be grateful that she has so much faith in me. If only she knew what has been running through my thoughts these last few days.

“So I’m assuming you don’t want the wedding to be pushed back?”

“I’d marry her tomorrow in nothing but our ordinary clothes if she’d let me. But at the same time, she deserves so much, and if she wants the perfect wedding then I’m happy to give her that, too.”

Love and happiness shine from him, and I welcome the pride that hits my chest unexpectedly. Best friends for years, I’d never for one moment thought Grayson would end up with my baby sister, but after overcoming the outrage I’d originally felt, I could see why. The two of them are perfect for each other, and I’m so grateful that it’s Grayson who keeps her safe. He’s a good man, a great friend, and it’s a privilege to have him in my life.

“She’s lucky to have you, man.”

“I’m the lucky one.” He takes a swig of his beer. “Speaking of luck, it’s about time you got a woman in your life.”

My chest tightens with his words and the relaxed state I was starting to get used to is snatched from me like a tornado ripping up trees from the ground. My heart kicks up a notch, and I can feel my temples pulsing.