Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-Nine

Lila was once again next to April in Japanese, but today neither of them spoke. Studying was becoming rather intense, and Lila was glad for the time she could spend on her work and think about the things Asher had said to her at morning tea.

Lila was tempted to talk to Asher about Elise and Isaac on the way to Modern History, but he didn't seem to be in a talking mood. He dropped her off with a smile and a swift exit, which meant she was able to sit inside her classroom and prepare her desk before Elise and Grace's arrival.

Elise was acting rather shifty with Lila when she did arrive, her body language clearly indicating that something was quite different now. How had Elise's secret relationship managed to fly under Lila's nose with behaviour like this?

In saying that though, Grace was knuckling down and not looking at either of them throughout the entire class. In fact, she'd almost escaped having not said a word at all when Elise clutched Grace's pencil case at the end of class.

Grace blinked down at Elise. "What's up?"

"Um…" Elise glanced at Lila, her expression conflicted. "I… can we talk? At morning tea tomorrow?"

"Morning tea?" Grace glanced at Lila as well. Lila was tempted to ask why they were looking at her when Grace continued. "I can see… as you know, I have my vocal lesson since it's a Tuesday."

"It's, um, important," Elise responded quietly.

"Important?" Grace's curious expression changed to worry. "Did something happen?"

"Ladies, don't you all have homes to get to?" Mrs Popovic asked, causing all three to look at her. She had the classroom keys in one hand, her laptop and a stack of papers in the other. "Studying for the exam to do?"

"R-Right," Elise nodded, standing and collecting her things. Lila and Grace followed suit and headed outside, blinking in the afternoon sun.

"See you all tomorrow afternoon," Mrs Popovic said, her voice undercut with a no-nonsense tone as she locked the classroom door.

"Yes, ma'am," the trio responded.

Asher was watching them all with a tinge of concern and Lila made to wave goodbye at Grace and Elise when Elise spoke again.

"L-Lila and Asher will be there too," she said, tightening her hold on her belongings. "A-And, um, Isaac. I asked them to."

Now Grace looked alarmed. "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine but I'm nervous."

"Nervous?" The alarm didn't dissipate. "Why?"

"It'll be explained tomorrow. I just… need a minute to… not be so nervous," Elise mumbled. Grace looked at Lila again.

"Tomorrow," Lila said firmly.

"O-Okay…" Grace replied, her eyebrows knitting together with confusion. "I'll just tell my vocal coach that we'll need to reschedule. She's understanding like that since it's exam week."

'And 'cause you're dating her,' Lila added internally, meeting Asher's gaze across the path. He hadn't approached, his hands in his pockets, and Lila looked back at her friends.

"Asher's been waiting for a bit and I'm going to his tonight, so see you guys tomorrow," Lila said, heading towards him without waiting for a response.

"What was all that about?" Asher asked in bemusement, looking back at Elise and Grace. Lila turned, seeing that Elise and Grace were now walking in opposite directions – Grace towards the Performing Arts area, and Elise the locker room. The musical was coming up… but… Lila was slightly suspicious that Grace was heading that way to meet up with Ms Alexander privately, rather than for rehearsing.

"Elise was just setting up a meeting for tomorrow with Grace," Lila replied, curling her arm around his. "Morning tea."

"Ah, righto. Time to go home?"

"Yes, please."

He gave her a sharp look which she returned with a grin.

"I know what I said."

He chuckled, his face pink. "Definitely shouldn't have told you I like it."

"I'm just being polite," Lila replied loftily, though her heart was starting to race, betraying her attempt at innocence. "No harm in that."

"Uh huh," Asher said doubtfully, his smile broad, "sure, sure."

Lila's head was beginning to be filled with vast amounts of fluff as they hurried off to the locker room, bumping into Isaac and Elise at the entrance. They looked to be leaving together and Lila couldn't help but raise her eyebrow at them both.

"You guys going to Maccas?" she asked.

They both turned red.

"Y-Yeah," Elise replied, her tone unconvincing.

"Legit or-"

"We're going to very quickly run away before you two can think any more about this," Isaac insisted, cutting Asher off and pulling Elise along by her blazer sleeve.

Lila snorted, watching them go with amusement.

"C'mon, George's waiting," Asher said after the door closed behind Isaac and Elise. "Unless you don't want to go back to mine?"

She gave Asher an offended look and he laughed. "I'll be back in a sec."

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Being back in Asher's rumpus room after their long weekend of intimacy made Lila feel a certain type of way, though articulating it was beyond her for the moment. Asher's wing of the house now held memories of so many important moments that she'd shared with him – including milestones in their relationship – that she wasn't sure how many more it could hold. She was quite happy to test the limit, though.

She compulsively smoothed her hair as she sat on his couch, listening to him pour drinks for them.

"Welcome back," he smiled, passing her a cup. She accepted it with her own smile, though was surprised to see his fingers shake as he sat next to her.

"Uh, so… we could do a couple things this afternoon," he said bashfully. "We could… study for English, or relax a bit with some games-" he swallowed, looking at his coffee table before taking a swig of his juice and setting it down, "-or… s-something else. Uh, what we… mentioned before."

Lila put her juice down, her heart beating furiously against her ribs. "Third one. Please."

He looked at her, clearly suppressing a smile. "You sure?"

She nodded. "I won't be able to do anything else until we do that."

He seemed relieved. He leaned towards her until his face just above hers. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for that choice."

She gripped his school tie, pulling him down by it until his ear was next to her lips. "You promised I'd be the mushy one when we got back here. Do you know how wild that little sentence drove me, all day? It was so unfair."

He laughed, pulling away and looking deeply into her eyes. "Sorry, my love. You were unfair, too. Calling out my weakness for your tongue so candidly. Then just so easily calling yourself my one and only. I had to compartmentalise everything to have even a small hope of getting study done."

They gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments until Asher lowered himself, brushing his lips against hers. In an instant, the desperation and pure lust that she'd been holding back since morning tea let itself out, to the point that she almost broke the buttons on his school shirt as they scrambled to take it off. They didn't make it to his room, instead remaining on his couch throughout their warm-up, Asher's previous hesitation to not let anyone else in the house know what they were up to fell completely by the wayside.

She just barely registered that Asher pulled a condom out of his blazer, her mind entirely elsewhere as she gleefully readied herself for him to use it. Gradually, they reached the end, their smiles brilliant, faces flushed, legs trembling and chests heaving.

"Lila, I don't think I can let you go home like that," he said quietly after taking a few moments to get his breath back, bringing his forehead to hers.

"Well, I'd hope to have clothes on," she replied playfully, running her fingernails lightly across his chest, brushing his 'L' along the way.

"Of course," he replied just as playfully. He kissed her cheek before collecting her in his arms. "What I mean is that you smell too much like me."

"What if I like it?" she challenged, letting herself be picked up by him.

"You can like it, but somehow I don't think your parents would."

She made a begrudging sound as he took them to his bathroom. He was right – she should have a shower. Besides, she enjoyed this part of their new routine – a warm, calm shower after something so hot and heavy reset her focus quite efficiently.

Once they were done with the shower, Asher dressed himself in comfortable-looking house clothes and offered to grab Lila's clothes that she'd left behind.

"If you thought me not having a shower would be suspicious, me leaving your house in other clothes would definitely be suspicious," she replied, smiling at the offer. "Thanks, though. I love you."

"I love you too, Lila," he said, tentatively closing his drawer. "You do know that you can change back into your uniform when you're about to go, right?"

"I'll be fine. Wearing my uniform isn't so bad."

"If you say so."

She was about to leave when he stopped her.

"I'll grab your clothes," he said, glancing through the doorway. "Just in case someone comes in."

"No one ever comes in without announcing themselves," Lila replied, though she stayed put.

"I know," he said upon returning and passing her clothes over.

"Plus, we kinda did just… did all that on your couch. If someone opened the door to the rumpus room, they would've seen us," she reminded him as she put her underwear back on. His face turned red.

"Just last week, you were telling me off for being so candid," he muttered, unable to meet her gaze. She laughed.

"That's true, but… I've decided I enjoy acknowledging it," she said coyly.

"Well, in the spirit of acknowledging it… I'm not sure if we should've done that there," he said, running his hand through his freshly washed hair.

"Why?" she asked, zipping herself into her uniform.

"Well… that's where we normally study, right? Now… that's all I'm going to remember when I sit down there."

She smiled. "I happen to think it's a great memory," she replied flirtatiously.

"You're right. It is," he grinned, taking her by the hand now that she was decent. "Just not sure if we'll get any work done now, though."

After setting themselves up again, Asher was proven wrong – Lila's focus seemed to have been sharpened by her release, which helped with her study notes for English. He seemed just as focused and they carried on in this regard until the intercom sounded and Gabriel called them down for dinner.

"I should tie up my hair," Lila said, pursing her lips as she stood. She'd made far more progress than she would've at home, which honestly surprised her. She was sure that she would hardly be able to think but perhaps he'd knocked her brain into her with how vigorous it'd been, or it might've been down to how satisfying it was.

He smiled at her as she tied up her hair and placed a hand on the doorknob to leave once she was all set when a question occurred to her, halting him.

"Asher, why did you have a condom in your blazer?"

He turned back to the door. "… Just… making sure I'm prepared."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Prepared?"

"Well… I mean. It came in handy, didn't it?" he replied somewhat awkwardly.

"Sure, but… are you thinking we might do it at school?"

He glanced at her before shaking his head. "N-Not at all." He paused. "… But we might. So… I thought to keep at least one in there, just in case."

Lila pursed her lips. She didn't want to, consciously – if only because of the risk of getting caught. It… did sound a little bit alluring, though. Plus, she knew a few spots now…

"Is that why you seemed really keen in the library?" she asked softly.

He looked away from her once again. "Might've been."

"… Considering that I almost gave in, it's probably a good idea to keep some on you, just in case. Like your lockpicks," she said shyly.

"Y-You did?"

"Yeah. I still think doing it at school is a bad idea, but… well, Elise and Isaac seem to be going for it on campus."

He took a deep breath. "Maybe… maybe I shouldn't. It might invite trouble."

"I'm already in trouble."

He laughed, shaking his head. "Same here, but that's exactly what I mean."

"Asher, if we're really desperate, we can just go for it without one," Lila reminded him pointedly. "Since I'm on the Pill."

He bit his lower lip and swung open the door. "Alright. I'll be responsible."

"Good."

Gabriel didn't join them for dinner, despite the delicious orange chicken and accompaniments which Lila wanted to compliment him for. Dessert was a simple ice cream and sticky date pudding combination, which they accepted, evidently shocking Gabriel into providing some larger-than-usual portions. After that, they were once again in Asher's rumpus room, looking at their study materials.

"Would you like to watch me practise tomorrow?" Asher asked lightly as he picked up his laptop.

"That's right," Lila smiled, "you would have practice tomorrow since the semi-final is this weekend."

"Yeah."

"Of course I will, if you'd like me to."

He beamed at her. "I'll have Marlene drop you off."

"Sounds good."

Lila wrapped up her English notes soon after when Asher spoke again. "Do you reckon Elise would want to watch too?"

"I reckon Elise has been dying to watch since the term started," Lila replied thoughtfully. "She looked really nervous when I saw her in the stands for that St Peters game and tried to pretend she was watching me, then she never watched another game again. I wonder what else she's missed out on 'cause they wanted to keep it a secret."

Asher shook his head. "Those two knuckleheads."

Lila chuckled. "Still, though, I'm surprised Isaac fought with Elise about hiding it."

"You're right to be surprised. Isaac… doesn't fight very often," Asher replied. "He's generally happy enough to go with the flow. He must've been itching to tell me – enough so to start a fight. Camp would've been torture since we stayed in the same tent for a week, too."

Lila sat up. "Speaking of camp, what did he mean? About you stressing every night?"

Asher reluctantly closed his laptop and balanced it on his textbooks on the coffee table. "He's not wrong. I… I just couldn't help myself from rambling. It would've really helped if he could've given me that advice he mentioned at the time."

"I'm pretty surprised you talked to him about it."

"He's my best mate and… I hated myself every time I gave you mixed signals. I know that if I'd talked to you about it all back then, before I decided that I was ready to let go, then when I inevitably freaked myself out about it, it would've been yet more mixed signals. But I had to let it out somehow, otherwise I would've imploded. Isaac was happy enough to listen at camp until it dragged on – his words, not mine. I hadn't noticed at all that it had been."

"I was actually going to tell you I love you back then," Lila murmured. "Before Cecelia took me away."

"Really?" Asher's face was flabbergasted. "All the way back then?"

"Yeah. Then when Cecelia showed up, I was pretty relieved. I… was hesitant to tell you too early since I didn't want to make you feel guilty for holding back and giving in 'cause I said I love you."

He paused. Then, he smiled. "Lila, I would've loved to have known back then."

"Would it have made you feel guilty and give in before you were ready?"

Asher didn't respond.

"I knew it," Lila sighed. "I'm glad I listened to my instinct to hold it in."

He reached out a hand, caressing her cheek. "Sorry, my love."

"Don't be. It's been worth the wait so far."

"Really?"

"Of course. Did you not see how much I trembled?"

He snickered, brushing his thumb across her lips. "There wasn't anything else on my mind when I saw that. I'm glad I can make you feel that good."

"Wanna do it again?"

His eyes flickered down her body, his expression conflicted. "I do… but I think I'll have to say no this time. We've got studying to do."

Lila pouted, though she acquiesced. "Alright."

They studied for a little while longer before Asher lowered his laptop lid once again.

"Lila, it's time for a break."

"The kind of break that I want?" she asked mischievously.

He shook his head with a slight smile. "My love, your sister will be here at any moment. Somehow, I think being interrupted will be a mood-killer."

She begrudgingly accepted this. "You're right but… just so you know, I'm down."

He chuckled. "I know. Sorry, but I've got a list of things I'd like to do to you and I'd like to take my time with them. Another reason for declining."

That piqued Lila's interest. "Like what?"

"I'd rather you find out in the moment."

She pressed her lips together, her eyes taking in his body, her curiosity about how he'd next use it on hers running wild. He laughed, his tone bright with amusement.

"My love, it feels like I can read your mind," he said, his lips twitching into a smirk. "In fact, it looks like you're going crazy in there." She blushed.

"You can't just say something like that and then not elaborate," she whined, shaking his arm. "Now I don't think I'd be able to sleep."

"Hmm…" he adjusted the collar of her uniform, his fingers trailing then down it to her button-on tie. He straightened it, the closeness of his hands to where she wanted them to be teasing her even more than his words.

"Your sleep is very important," he whispered after a few moments of checking her over. "Care to wear this while we go at it?"

"Why, do you like me in my uniform that much?"

He smiled, pulling her collar down just a touch. "Not sure. I think I need to evaluate how you look in it in all situations to make a fair judgement."

She swallowed, taking a moment to ever so slightly lift the skirt of her dress as a silent invitation to find out, making her way to straddle him on the couch. He gently pulled her hips, helping her sit just above him.

"Are you going to send me home smelling like you anyway?" she asked quietly. He chuckled again, low and husky – the type of chuckle she'd replayed over and over again last night when she went home.

"Looks like I am," he said, grazing his lips against her neck. "Sorry that I'm not sorry."

"No need," she responded, gripping his shoulders as his lips explored what they could of her neck and clavicles. "I told you I like it."

"Good. A souvenir to remember me by."

"Like I'd ever forget you, my love."

He grinned at her, his face flushed. "That makes me happier than ever to know."

"Asher," she whimpered as he continued his kisses just enough to cause her mind to go blank. "Please stop teasing me."

"But how else am I supposed to get you going?"

"Please."

If her mind wasn't as distracted as it was, she would've laughed when he pulled out a second condom from his blazer, which was still lying discarded on the floor. They managed to finish what they started minutes before Lila's phone buzzed, letting her know Clare was outside, whilst she was packing away her things.

"You know, it didn't take much to change your mind after you said no," Lila commented as he put her bag over his shoulder. His face was flushed as he took a moment to respond.

"Lila, when it comes to you, I'm really weak," he said quietly, almost looking shameful. "Something about you makes me lose all sense, especially now that we've started… being so intimate."

Lila intertwined his fingers with hers, squeezing them gently. "I love you, Asher. I feel the exact same."

"Damn, we really are in trouble, aren't we?"

They exchanged a tender smile.

"As long as we're in trouble together, it's okay, isn't it?" Lila asked, the tentativeness behind her question surprising her. For some reason, despite how secure she felt now with Asher, a sense of dread weighed on her stomach, knocking her butterflies down as she waited for an answer.

He lightly kissed her on the cheek. "Of course, my love. Why wouldn't it be okay?"

She smiled, pressing herself into his shoulder. There wasn't any reason for it to not be okay, so she said, "As long as you think so."

Then, her memory returned with a particular observation she'd made and she smirked at Asher, who looked back at her with a hint of apprehensiveness. "A second condom? Do you also have endless handkerchiefs in there too?"

His face was red enough to match the paint of a fire hydrant. "Like I said, I just want to be prepared. Plus, it's not like we've only left it at 'one and done' since we started. C-C'mon, we can't keep Clare waiting."

With each step they took, still hand-in-hand, the dread she'd felt earlier lightened – enough so that it had entirely disappeared, releasing the butterflies back into flight, by the time she put her shoes on and Asher opened the front door. The only feeling left behind now was amusement by the preparedness of two condoms, which Asher seemed to pick up on as the door closed behind them.

"Stop it, Lila."

She couldn't hold in her giggles now that they were outside. "I mean, two?"

"They came in handy!"

"You still consciously decided on two."

"Three, actually."

"Three?!"

"Shhhh," Asher looked totally beyond mortified, his finger pressed against her lips. "Marlene will hear you."

That settled her giggling enough. After taking a moment to breathe deeply, they slowly made their way to Clare's car, the reluctance clear as their pace slowed into a dawdle.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Lila said softly as Asher opened the back passenger door and placed her bag inside.

He turned to face her. "Yeah, see you tomorrow. Don't forget you're coming to watch me practise."

"I'd never forget," Lila smiled, putting her arms around Asher's neck. He held on to her waist as she added, "I'm glad I don't have hockey so I can have my full attention on you."

The glow of the streetlamp beside them was just enough for Lila to see his cheeks turn pink. "I hope I don't get nervous."

"Why would you?" Lila giggled, swaying slightly in his grasp. "I've given you my full attention plenty these past few days. Surely the nervousness has gone by now."

"Not as quickly as you'd think," he smiled. "One day, I'm sure. Maybe in a few years."

She laughed, the idea of spending years like this with Asher making her feel light enough to float home. "I'll check again in a few years, then."

He flashed her a wide smile, leaning in for a goodnight kiss, which she returned with as much love as she could transfer in that single connection. He pulled away, his cheeks flushed again.

"I love you, Lila. See you tomorrow."

"I love you too. See you tomorrow, Asher."

She slid into the front passenger seat, keeping her eyes on Asher, who ruffled his hair, seeming contemplative now that she had left his side.

"I hope you're keeping up with your school work," Clare said as Lila buckled herself in, her expression disapproving. Lila compulsively readjusted her uniform before turning her face towards the window and returning Asher's wave as they drove away.

"Of course I am. Asher's the Dux. It's hard to escape from studying with him."

"Evidently not impossible, though."

Lila felt her face redden. "… Yeah."

"Look, I'm really glad that we don't have to go through any more crying sessions about Asher not touching you, but maybe you should think about slowing it down."

"Neither of us want to."

Clare sighed. "I was afraid of that."

"We love each other."

"I know that. Heard it the last time I picked you up, which I'm also really glad for by the way."

"So why should we slow down?"

"Well, you also need to make time for couple-y activities that don't involve sex. Bond more, and all that. You don't want to make the relationship just devolve into a physical one."

"We do."

Lila could almost feel Clare pursing her lips in disbelief though she didn't want to turn and check. "Alright. Fix your hair, at least. There's deodorant in the glove box, too."

Lila obediently followed her sister's suggestions, though Clare evidently didn't appreciate Lila spraying herself right next to her with the immense hacking fit she had. All four windows were hurriedly rolled down, the scent of apples being immediately sucked out by the force of the wind.

Eventually, the windows were wound up again and Clare turned her music back up. Lila glanced at Clare, finding that her expression was in a permanent frown. Hopefully it wasn't about Lila and Asher, right?

"What's up with you?" Lila asked, her voice barely louder than the music. Clare turned it down, giving Lila a sideways glance.

"Wondering what happened to my sweet, innocent little sister."

"Doubt it," Lila replied frankly. "You're the one who got me on the Pill and was kinda encouraging it."

Clare eyed Lila again. "I wasn't encouraging it to this extent. Though I suppose if there'd been more waiting, it might've been worse than it is now."

Lila turned her eyes to her window. "It's obvious something was up with you before you figured out what I've been up to with Asher."

Clare sighed. "I guess it was a bit." She tapped her fingers along the steering wheel before sighing again. "Even though Melody and I have been separated in the club, it really feels like she's trying to fuck with me still."

Lila faced her sister. "How so?"

"I… don't have any proof of this, but stuff's going missing and I think she's the cause," Clare said, her eyes narrowed. "Just from the girls. Yet it all ends up in my locker."

"You guys have lockers?"

"Well, it's not like we walk around in the city in dancing gear," Clare replied as if it were obvious. "That's a recipe for disaster."

"I suppose."

"Anyway, it always happens after Melody's on shift. It hasn't yet happened on a day she wasn't working."

"Is your locker easy to open?"

"I hadn't thought so, but it must be," Clare tapped the steering wheel again. "I think I'll grab a new lock tomorrow before I head in."

"You're going to work on a Tuesday?"

"Bartending."

"She's not working?"

"Nope. Perfect opportunity to switch out my lock."

"Maybe you should also switch your locker. I'm guessing the other girls haven't complained about their stuff in your locker?"

Clare shook her head. "The girls know me. They all think it's Melody too, but it's, like, inconsequential stuff. A lipstick here, hairbrush there and I give it back straight away. No one's complained to the Manager about it yet."

"Maybe you should."

Clare pursed her lips. "I think I'll just see how it goes after changing my lock. We don't have a spare locker at the moment for me to go to, so I'd need to switch with someone but I'm not up for that just yet."

"You're sure it's Melody? You're not just biased because you don't like her, right?"

Clare clenched her jaw. "I… don't know."

"Then-"

"Alex mentioned she keeps flirting with him. He shuts her down, but I think she's trying it on with him."

"She could be, but that doesn't mean she's stealing stuff and putting it in your locker. Is there CCTV footage or something?"

Clare shook her head. "Not where the lockers are, since everyone gets changed there. Privacy rules and all that."

"But outside the locker room?"

"Well, yeah, but she's allowed to be in the locker room."

"Are you just borrowing stuff and accidentally keeping it in your locker?"

Clare looked offended. "You think I'm that stupid?"

"No, but it's a legitimate question."

"Definitely not."

Lila fell quiet, thinking deeply about Clare's responses. It seemed like a bit of a leap to blame Melody, but what did Lila know?

"Have you found Melody's stuff in your locker?"

"Yeah."

"Then could it really be her? I mean, why would she trap her own stuff in your locker? Sounds pretty inconvenient."

Clare sighed. "I dunno."

"What do your lockers look like? Is it possible she's mistaken your locker for hers?"

"We've got nameplates with our stage names on them," Clare explained. "Unless she can't read, there's no way she'd mistake my locker for hers. Besides, our lockers are on opposite ends of the locker room."

"Should you put a camera up and see what's going on?"

Clare paused. "No, no, that's going a bit too far. Look, maybe I'm just being a bit too suspicious of her. I'll ask one of the girls to talk to her if they see her doing it and I'll change my lock. At the very least, changing my lock should stop it."

"Don't get the ones that the school uses," Lila said sagely. "Those are easy to break into."

"Are you breaking into people's lockers?"

"I'm not, but Piper broke into mine when she was still at Forestglade College, remember? Elise tested it and just dropping it on the floor or giving it a sharp hit burst it open."

"Jesus. Send me a pic of one and I'll make sure to avoid it."

"Will do."

Clare still seemed annoyed for the rest of the car ride home, but Lila left her to it. There wasn't anything else that she could think of to help Clare and she had a plan moving forward anyway.

Even still, though… was someone targeting Clare? Why? As far as Lila knew, Clare was still the top performer at Coolisimo – was that why? Was Melody – or someone else, even – trying to take Clare's spot at the top? Or was Melody trying to get with Alex by driving Clare away from Coolisimo?

As Lila headed up to bed, she hoped that Clare would figure it out soon. It didn't sound like a workplace environment that was healthy and, after all that emotional turmoil Clare went through to stay, was a bit of a shame.

'Clare's smart,' Lila thought as she tucked herself into bed, 'she'll resolve it.'

She drifted off, her mind now replaying her visit with Asher – and not just the sex. Parts outside of it were to be cherished and remembered just as much too – especially the warmth from the love she felt from him, even in innocent moments. It felt like the air around him was full of it, pulling her in and wrapping her in it whenever they touched or even simply looked at each other. She'd never felt something so intensely yet so right before.

She was, without a doubt, in love with Asher and his love. Just how hard she'd fallen was something she never anticipated at the beginning of this year, but, damn, was she lucky to have experienced this rollercoaster.