"Oh." Ashton blinked. "Wait, so — can I see you again? If you're in town a few days for your conference, we should get together for dinner tonight. I’ll show you the sights, or I know a great club if you like dancing?"
"You're sweet." She smiled, smelling of designer perfume as she leaned in close to lay a kiss on his cheek.
It was no kind of answer at all, really. And yet it was obvious she felt it was a complete one; leaving Ashton rubbing absently at the hollowness in his chest, staring at the hotel room door even after she'd gone.
But it wasn’t as if this was the first time, was it? Actually, it was pretty common in Ashton's experience. Downside of dating older women, maybe. Not that he was complaining, not at all.Left him free to play the field, right? It's not as if Astonwantedto be tied down by just one woman, after all.
There was a…something in his mind about it. But to put a name to it would mean acknowledging that it existed at all; defining its edges into a shape he'd rather leave unexamined. Instead, he drifted over to the crumpled pair of bills she'd dropped on the little shelf, face heating to realize that she'd really just left the money on the dresser, hadn't she? Like he was some kind of wh—
Oh,hey! They're both hundreds. Holy shit.
Ashton hummed, looking around for his pants and phone. Maybe the guys would be up and in the mood to go get breakfast?
The last of the brandy sloshed promisingly as he snagged the bottle, whistling as he left.
CHAPTER 2
Trouble
The computer lab's wobbly chair bounced under Ashton as he dropped heavily into its seat. Whatever springs or hydraulics operated its adjustable mechanism, it was obviously no match for the hundreds of butts that must come through here each week to work on their assignments.
Not him; Ashton's laptop back in his room did everything he needed it to for his classes, all from the comfort of the frat house. And he knew for a fact that both Oz and Logan each had similar setups in the room they shared on the third floor, too. So why they'd decided to come to the university computer lab at — he checked his phone — nine thirty on a damned Saturday morning to use this ancient equipment, Ashton couldn't fathom.
But Noah wasn't replying to any of Ashton’s texts, nor had he been in his room when Ashton finally got back to the frat house. The entire house had been fairly dead — itwasSaturday morning, after all. So here he was, slumming it with the Freshies in the hope that they'd be done soon. Then they could finally all go grab breakfast at the coffee shop in the student union, like Logan had promised.
He sighed loudly, but neither Logan nor even Oz paid the forlorn sound or its maker any mind. Both were too busy arguing about… whatever it was on the computer screen, whileAshton stared glumly out the nearest, faux frosting-lined window.
He didn't get it. Not Oz following Logan around like a lost puppy — Ashton could understandthat. When he'd set the nerd up as a roommate to Minotaur House's very own football celebrity in the making, Ashton had assumed it'd provide some entertainment at the very least. Even better if Oz decided to do the decent thing and quit the fraternity. But hey — turns out that just because the guy was a nerd, didn't mean he wasn't also pretty stupid.
Just meant Ashton needed to work harder then, didn't it? Get Oz to leave Minotaur House, and leave Logan alone while he was at it. Then Logan would wise up and realize who was actuallyworthhaving as a friend, and —
"Ash," Logan drawled in a low voice, capturing Ashton's attention instantly. "What the fuck are you doing, man? Cut that shit out."
Ashton flushed, flinging down the pen he'd been tapping on the desk and sending it scattering, bouncing against the padded half-cubicle wall of his computer station.
"I'mbooooored," Ashton huffed, not bothering to keep his voice down as he spun around in his chair. "C'mon, let's go get some food. You two can come back to your little study date after."
Logan just stared at Ashton like a wet hen. Even Oz was glaring at him, as if Ashton was the third wheel intruding ontheirtime, and not the one whose presence was being suffered because…huh.
"Why is Wally here again?" Ashton asked Logan, tipping his chin at Oz and enjoying the way the old nickname madethe little nerd's gaze go flat and dull. He giggled, taking a celebratory swivel in the computer chair.
"The better question is, why are you? Wait — are…are youdrunk?" Logan asked suspiciously, leaning back as his eyes flicked quickly over Ashton's form.
Ashton grinned, pinching his fingers just enough to look through them at the hilariously unimpressed expression Logan was wearing.
"Oh, don't be that way,Mom," Ashton laughed. "Had a big night. S'fine. I'm not hurting anyone. Now c'mon, let's ditch Wally and go find something to eat."
Logan sighed. "Ozis helping me with my English essay so I don't flunk the class. I told you before: we're gonna be at it for a while. Don't feel like you have to stick around on our account."
Ashton rolled his eyes, ignoring the annoyed glances shot his way. But c’mon — if they got kicked out because he was being too loud, that just meant an earlier breakfast, which was okay by him.
"Whatever, it's fine," he said, looking around the lab again for what had to have been the eighty-seventh time. "Hey, did I tell you about the absolute babe I hooked up with last night? Full on smoke show. She had this little mole just above her — "
"Ashton!" Oz hissed, attention flicking nervously in the direction of the computer lab's help desk, and the losers working behind it. "You gotta — "
"Shut up, Pledge. The adults are talking," Ashton snapped at him, smirking at the frustrated pinch it put between his brows, before turning all his attention back to Logan. "Anyway, I'm just saying: I told ya you should've come out to the bar with me, instead of…" He paused, trying to remember the text Logan had sent him. "Wait, whatwereyou doing last night, actually?"
It hadn't been a game; it'd been a bye week, which was why Ashton had been hoping this would be the night he’d finally get the reclusive football player to be his wingman. Between Ashton's charm and Logan's…well,everything —the guy was stacked and a half — they were sure to have their pick of the place. Not that Ashton couldn't manage on his own, he just… It'd be more fun, alright?
