Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 291(@200wpm)___ 233(@250wpm)___ 194(@300wpm)
Derek mumbles something.
“What?” Asher yells, shaking him.
People stop and glance over.
“Asher,” I hiss. “You’re making a scene.”
He looks at me. “I don’t give a damn. This motherfucker thinks he can bully you, blackmail you? Nobody has that right. Nobody.”
“P-please,” Derek stutters.
“Asher,” I whisper as if that will make this spectacle less obvious.
I like that he’s standing up for me. I’ve dealt with Derek’s crap alone for so long; it’s a relief to have somebody stand between us. But not here, not like this. Can I deny having a knight in shining armor is nice, though? Heck no.
Asher lets him go. “Cell phone. Now.”
Derek reaches into his pocket and hands the phone to Asher.
“I was just kidding,” Derek says, laughing weakly.
“Just kidding,” Asher repeats, putting the phone in his pocket. “So if Holly had arrived today with a Polaroid, you sick bastard, and shown it to you, you would’ve told her you didn’t want to see it? You would’ve told her it was all a big joke, hmm? I should knock your head off.”
“I’ll just go, okay?” Derek squeaks.
Asher steps forward, towering over him. The difference between the two men—size, demeanor, everything—couldn’t be more apparent. “Not until you apologize, you won’t.”
“Asher, it’s fine,” I whisper.
“No, it’s not,” he snarled. “He’s not leaving until he gives you the bare minimum of an apology. Now, Derek.”
He shudders, turning to me, fear painted across his face. At least nobody’s watching us now that Asher has let him go. “I’m sorry,” Derek says. “I shouldn’t have done this.”
“Just get lost, Derek.”
He hurries away, but then, once he’s out of Asher’s reach, he calls over, “You two are fucked. I recorded that whole thing. How do you think the boss would feel about you calling his baby sister your woman, huh, tough guy? Stop! If you take one step, I’ll send it to him!”
I touch Asher’s arm. He’s burning with rage.
Taking out my cell, I snap, “Ditto, asshole. How’d you think he’d feel about you admitting to blackmailing an employee for naked photos?”
“Fuck,” Derek hisses.
“You bastard,” Asher yells, trembling.
“I guess this is what they call a Mexican standoff, huh?” I shout.
Derek jogs away, probably knowing that Asher is on the verge of completely losing his patience. Asher clenches his fists. I take my hand from his arm, knowing that people from the office might see or might’ve seen the whole thing.
“Now what?” I ask.
Asher bites down. “We need to tell Dan.”
“No, Asher.”
“We have to get ahead of this. If Dan is going to find out, it can’t be like this.”
I think for a moment. “Derek won’t do anything. He knows it’ll be terrible for him, too. He won't risk that.”
“How sure are we about that?” Asher retorts. “I can’t have my best friend find out like this. Not only will we have betrayed him, we will have done it twice. Dan will appreciate it if we go to him with the truth upfront.”
“We’re not telling him,” I persist. “We’ll have to meet with Derek and delete the videos.”
“So he can just get away with what he did?”
“Telling Dan isn’t just your choice to make,” I hiss. “Don’t touch me, Asher.”
He lowers his hand, looking hurt. I meant don’t touch me, as in, people might see, and it’s too risky. It comes out sounding like the very idea of him laying a hand on me is repulsive on some fundamental level, as if I’m sickened by the concept of contact with my best friend’s brother.
I should be, but that’s never been the case.
“It’s time to shatter this fantasy,” he growls. “Don’t make me do this without your blessing.”
“I’d never forgive you if you did that,” I tell him. “You need to let me try to get Derek to back down. I should’ve guessed he’d try something like this.”
“None of this is your fault,” Asher says. “It’s mine. I should’ve known better.”
“Don’t say that. I’m not some naïve kid.”
“You’re a girl with a crush,” he says. “I’m older, more mature, experienced. I should’ve known better. I mean, hell, you’re a virgin.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I demand.
“It’s just an indicator of how much less experienced you are than me. I should’ve been mature from the beginning, but I made the mistake of not doing that. Now, I need to make a mature decision.”
I almost slam my hand against his chest. It’s only being in public that stops me. Only? Am I sure it doesn’t have something to do with how tempting he is, even now?
“Don’t tell Dan,” I plead. “Derek has tried to add me on socials several times. I’ll message him on there and ask to meet. We’ll both agree to delete the recordings. There’s a way out of this without ruining my brother’s life.”
“I can’t make any promises.”
“You can. You have to.”
Asher walks away. I almost scream at him. Suddenly, all the Christmas lights and the wintery atmosphere are out of my place.