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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Melody
I hated finding Asher on the sofa this morning. God, how inconsiderate of him. I knew he’d made plans with Lisa in the bar, but did he have to act so casual about everything? He didn’t need to brag about his conquest by sleeping on the sofa the night before we were leaving for a trip together. I knew what it meant when he slept on the sofa. It meant he’d had sex the night before and didn’t want to get into his own sheets afterwards. He’d told me that a long time ago one night during one of our sessions. He’d told me there were usually two reasons why he’d sleep on his couch. It was either because the sheets were soiled with the so-called “wet spot,” or he’d had too much to drink and just crashed on the sofa. I knew he hadn’t had much to drink, not when he knew we’d be heading out the next day for a four-hour drive to meet his two brothers who I’m sure he wanted to make a good impression on.
I sat on the couch, in the opposite corner from the one Ash had slept on last night and drank my coffee, waiting for him to finish in the shower. He was taking longer than the fifteen minutes he’d promised. I felt like barging in on him and hurrying his ass up. Shit, it was his idea to leave at nine o’clock, not mine. But the thought of seeing him in the shower embarrassed me. I knew what he looked like. The firm muscles of his pecs, his hard, rippled abs, and the indented v-shape leading down to his…wonderfully, beautifully large penis.
“Are you all packed and ready?” Ash asked. I jumped, spilling coffee all over myself.
“Fuck, Asher, you made me spill my coffee. You scared the crap out of me. Now I’ll need to change.”
He laughed. “Sorry.” He stood inside his bedroom doorway in his jeans that were zipped but unbuttoned. He was shirtless and barefoot, towel drying his hair. Sexy as hell.
I wanted to run to him, wrap my arms around him and kiss him. Then I remembered Lisa and decided that I didn’t want to touch him ever, ever again. It was going to be a long trip.
“Yeah, I’m ready and packed.” I pointed to the two large suitcases on wheels by the door.
“Christ, woman. We’re not moving up there.”
“Well, I wasn’t sure what I’d need. I like to be prepared.”
“Okay. Give me another five minutes and we can go.”
“That will give me time to change. I’ll be right back.”
The ride started out sort of quiet. I was still a little pissed off that he’d had sex with Lisa the night before we were supposed to leave. I didn’t mention it, and neither had he, but I felt the sting of his silence. I was beginning to think I’d made a mistake by coming along. But I wanted to be there for support. Asher was my best friend. Just because he’d helped me lose my virginity didn’t mean anything. I had to remember that. Asher wasn’t interested in me that way. I needed to get over this stupid crush I had on him before I ended up really getting hurt when he found that someone special he’d want to spend the rest of his life with.
We stopped at a little café for lunch. I wasn’t very hungry so I just ordered a small salad and a glass of water.
“Mel, you need to eat more than just a salad. You’re getting too thin.”
I gave him a blank stare. “You’re really going to comment on my figure?”
“No. God forbid. I’m not a fool.”
I giggled. I couldn’t help it.
“I’m just worried about you. You haven’t been taking very good care of yourself.”
“I just don’t feel all that well, that’s all. My stomach is still feeling queasy. It started last night, remember? Maybe that cheeseburger I ate yesterday was tainted.”
“Maybe. But I think if it had been, you’d be sicker than this.”
I shrugged. “How would you know? Have you ever had food poisoning?”
“Yep. Don’t you remember? It was after the three of us went to the county fair back in fifth grade. I ate some chicken on a stick and puked all over the backseat of your mom’s car.”
I laughed. “That was gross. My mom was pretty calm about it, though. If it had been my car, I would have screamed holy hell. It took two months for that stench to go away. But I thought you just got sick because of all the whirly-rides we went on after you ate the chicken on a stick.”
“Whatever. I just remember feeling like crap.”
My abdomen clenched again and it felt like my stomach was in a war with my esophagus. “Please. Let’s change the subject.”
I drank some water and ate the crackers that came with my salad. I felt a little better. I took mini bites of lettuce and cheese, but mostly ate the croutons.
It was two more hours to Turtle Lake. I just hoped my stomach settled down for the car ride ahead of us.
A little while into the ride, Asher poked me with his finger in the side. “Wake up, we’re almost there.”
