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I want him wrapped around me, protecting me, so fucking bad it hurts.
His eyes drag over me, more assessing than sexual, and it makes me want to hide. Asher fucking Vaughn doesn’t get to care about me anymore.
“Get out!” I yell, pointing toward the entryway. “This is my room! Find your own!”
“This is the one they gave me, wristband and all.” He lifts his arm to show me. He’s tired too. The deep, dark circles under his eyes and sag of his shoulders are dead giveaways. But he also has a split lip. What’s that about?
I don’t care.
Yes, you do.
I growl at myself and shove off the bed, marching past him toward the front door. The front door is next to a small kitchen-type area with white cabinets and a stone counter with a small sink. Across from the counter is a little table set up for dining and two chairs. The walls are a light blue, and the trim is a dark wood, which seems to follow through to the bedroom and bathroom. Not that I’ve looked around much.
I can’t look at him anymore. Why can’t I get away from him now? I didn’t see him for six fucking years, and now I can’t get away from him? This is fucked, and I can’t do it.
Asher catches my arm before I can yank open the door.
“Eli.” That name guts me. Forces me back to a time that hurts too much to remember.
“Don’t call me that.” My words tremble. Without looking at him, I pull my arm from his hand. “And don’t touch me.”
He leans a palm on the dark wood door next to my head to keep it closed and probably to bring our bodies closer together. I damn near vibrate with the need to lean back into him.
“Elliot, please.” His breath fans over my neck, and I shiver. How can he sound so fucking broken? How dare he try to play into my sympathy!
Spinning around to face him, I find him closer to me than I expected.
“Get the hell away from me,” I snap, and it carves another piece of my heart out. All I’ve ever wanted was to be loved by him, and I’m the one shoving him away. I can’t trust him. Not again. “You left me! Ignored me!” I scream, getting closer and closer to hysterics with every word. My chest rises and falls too quickly with the air raging in and out of my lungs. “My brother was dead, and I was all alone!” I shove at his chest, hit and smack at his big body. Furious when he just stands there and lets me.
He’s silent.
“Did you know he was dead when you threw me away? Huh?” I shove him again. “Was that your plan all summer? To fuck around with me, maybe convince me to let you fuck me, then walk away without a backward glance?”
Asher stares at me, absorbing everything I yell at him with tears once again streaming down my face. I fucking hate it.
“I’m sorry.” He shoves his hands in his pockets but doesn’t move back, just stands there and watches me.
“I’m so fucking tired of hearing you say that!” My nerves are shot, and my hands are trembling. I feel crazy. Why do I keep doing this? “Stay away from me. I may have needed you then, but I don’t need you now.”
I yank open the door, and this time he doesn’t stop me. The pain in his eyes at my words is another slice to my soul. He ruined me, crippled my heart, and now what? He wants to watch me suffer? Fuck him.
Running down the wooden deck toward the resort check-in, I wipe my face and swallow back the tears. Somewhere I find a bank of inner strength I didn’t know I had and square my shoulders before I step into the reception area. The gleaming floors and shining fixtures screaming privilege, paradise, and luxury.
I stomp my way to the front desk where a beautiful girl with perfectly applied makeup and styled hair smiles at me.
“Good evening, Mr. Cushings,” she says sweetly. Does she know everyone’s name or just mine? Was she here earlier and I just don’t remember because it didn’t matter?
“Yeah, hi. I was supposed to have my own villa, but someone else was also given the same one.” I’m trying really hard not to snap at this girl, I doubt it’s her fault, but I can’t spend the next month with him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry about that.” She starts clacking on her computer with her brow furrowed. “I’ve never seen this happen before, but we don’t have any rooms available.” Her face pales a little as her eyes meet mine.
“Then put him with someone else. I had that room first, and I’m not sharing it.” Every muscle in my body is tense. I want to stomp my foot like a fucking toddler and yell that it’s not fair. I want to destroy this stupid room and all its fancy, overpriced shit. My hands shake, so I clench them into fists and try to swallow back the wave of panic trying to take over at the very idea of spending time with him.
“Eli.” My name is almost a bark, and I jump, but I don’t turn to look at him.
“I told you not to call me that,” I snap, too overwhelmed to fake nonchalance.
Asher takes a deep breath, and I can feel the frustration radiating from him, but I don’t have the energy to care.
