“Are you sure about this Malia? We don’t have to go with you if it would make you uncomfortable.”
“Honestly, my dad has never hit me. I don’t really know what happened. I am thinking, maybe it is best if Asher just comes with me. My dad has already seen him while we were outside and since he was rambling about whores, I don’t need him to say anything else if I show up with someone else. I will try and deal with this tomorrow when he is sober,” she insisted with such a strong voice that I would have thought nothing happened to her a few hours ago. Her face was now slightly bruised and I could only imagine what Skylar was going to do with this at school.
After we got everything settled, Malia and Asher went downstairs. Ryder and I followed but I had this nagging feeling in my gut that Ryder had seen Malia kiss me and with the way he looked at her, I had to make sure we were good. I stopped him at the door to his bedroom before he walked out.
“Ryder, are we good?” he stopped, and before turning to look at me, he sighed and put his head down. If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought he was sighing in defeat. I was wrong.
When he turned around and looked at me, his eyes were full of honesty as he confessed, “Don’t worry Grayson. I will get my chance when she is ready. It might be a while before she is ready because of all the bullshit Skylar is doing, but she will get there. We are good bro.”
The relief I felt from that statement should have made me angry because I wasn’t into sharing. Thinking about Ryder and Malia kissing didn’t bother me at all.
With that, I rubbed my hand over my stubble and we went downstairs to a sight that shouldn’t have been surprising to us.
9.
Damn Giant
Malia
Going downstairs, I noticed that Ryder and Grayson stayed in his room. Weird guys. I sat down on the couch to wait for them. Asher sat next to me and was looking at me funny. His gaze felt heavy on me.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Asher?” Guessing I startled him because he flinched.
He mumbled, “I am so sorry Malia.”
Looking back at him like he had two heads, I grabbed his hand and made him look at me.
“Asher, there is nothing you could’ve done. He would’ve hit me regardless of you being there. He was wasted, Asher. If anything, I am happy you didn’t interfere. Otherwise, he might have messed up your pretty face.” This made him smile, such a bright smile, it lit up the room.
He put his hand on my cheek and I winced at the sting, but he used his thumb to rub lightly. It felt nice, so nice, I started to close my eyes again.
“Malia, do you want me to get you anything? Ice or any medicine before we leave?” Asher asked so softly and I swore I could feel his breath right at my lips.
Opening my eyes, I realized that he was in fact as close as I thought.
“No, I am fine, thank you.” Seeing his blue eyes glittering made me want to pull him into a hug and never let go. He pulled me closer to get rid of the space between us. Instead of kissing me like I thought he would, he kissed me right on my cheek. Something I thought was cold and dead to the world, twinged a little bit.
Hearing footsteps come down the steps, I went to pull away from Asher because I really didn’t want to make things awkward for the three of them. However, it didn’t happen because he didn’t let me go, so I just pulled him in and hugged him harder. I haven’t been hugged like this in what feels like my whole life.
Ryder was first coming down the steps and when he looked at us he stopped dead in his tracks. This caused Grayson, the damn giant, to run right into the back of him and he fell into the wall at the bottom of the steps.
Grayson grunted, “What the fuck Ryder? Move your damn feet, asshole.” There wasn’t anything I could do but laugh. I laughed so hard, Asher let go of me and tears were streaming down my face. I haven’t laughed like this in ages.
“Thanks, Ryder. I really needed that.”
After the stairs incident, Asher and I decided it was time to go back to my house. I was not excited about this. Sighing, I said, “Thanks for everything Ryder. I guess we will see you tomorrow morning.”
While giving him a hug, I saw Grayson looking at us with hungry eyes. So intense that it made my skin heat instantly. As he winked at me, Ryder let me go, but not without kissing my forehead first.
“Bye Grayson,” I muttered feeling a little bummed about having to leave at all. I liked this little bubble that we were in, if only for a little while.
“Let’s go, Asher. I am sorry for anything that happens tonight and it is very likely that something will happen.” I pointed out, hoping he would just want to come back here or go home. It wasn’t that I didn’t want him there. I did. I just didn’t want him to have to witness what I went through on a daily and nightly basis.
It took us fifteen minutes to get back to the place I dreaded. The drive was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. I texted Ryder and Grayson that we were here just like they asked, before we walked out the door. Looking over at Asher, I noticed that he was looking at the house with a clenched jaw as if the house insulted him. Grabbing his hand, I got his attention and said, “Asher, you can still go home.
