His gabbing gave me the distraction I needed to get my shit together. Pushing off the wall with everything I had, he fell backward onto the floor. Looking at him with disgust, I growled, “Do something with your fucking self instead of always picking on me. It isn’t my damn fault this happened to you. Grow the fuck up Jason and stop mooching off mom and dad!”
This was why I was the joker of the group. I hid behind my mask of always being funny and joyous to everyone around. It made me feel better if I could help others feel better about themselves, or at least make them laugh.
Sprinting up the stairs to my room, I tried to hurry up and put everything on my bed, so I could get back to Malia. I really didn’t want her to know about my life. Feeling ashamed and trying to put my mask back in place, I jogged down the steps and out the front door without a second thought.
Malia was out of the car in a heartbeat and wrapped her arms around me. I froze, and for a second I had to clear my throat because it had been so long since I actually felt some kind of love and sincerity from someone. When I got myself together I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, since she was so tiny.
“Hey gorgeous what’s wrong?” I said, with what I hoped was a happy voice.
“Asher, you don’t have to hide anything. I can see it plain as day on your face that something is wrong. I won't pry because I wouldn’t want anyone to be all in my business, but I hope one day you can open up and tell me. That mask that you hide behind, I have one of my own, and I know what it’s like to pretend that everything is okay. Whenever you’re ready, I will be here,” she whispered looking right into my eyes.
At that moment, I knew I wanted this woman in my life, anyway I could have her. She had only been here for a day and she was already getting under my skin.
We said goodbye to the guys and I opened the door to my BMW M4. It was charcoal, with black rims and tinted windows. This car was my baby. Mom and Dad got it for me for my seventeenth birthday and it was everything to me. As I was shutting her door I got a sense of calmness that I always had when I would drive. When I got the car started I asked Malia where we needed to go.
“Well, I need a job, so I just need to hand in these applications. Then you can take me home. I really appreciate this. Thank you,” she said with sparkling eyes and what looked to be embarrassment.
Our first stop was The Blue Star Diner, the local hot spot for the kids to hang out. After that, we headed towards the Inn, which was the local bar, and not a good place to hang around. “So what position are you applying for at the Inn?” I tried asking, nonchalantly.
I was really hoping she didn’t say the bartender position because I knew of the people that went into the bar and they weren’t always pleasant. Sure enough, my worries were confirmed when she told me that was what she was applying for.
She turned her head to look out the window and I didn’t think she was going to answer me. She took a breath and with the most confident look on her face, she said, “It makes the most money and unfortunately, I have to support myself and my Dad. My money goes to almost all of the bills and the food, Asher. If I don’t work, I can’t eat. I will be fine.” I honestly couldn’t even imagine what she went through every day. To have to support yourself at this age when there was a parent in the house. Malia was something else entirely and I planned on being there for her through whatever happened from now on.
Forty-five minutes later, we made a stop to get ice cream before I took Malia home. I chose to get a cone with vanilla and chocolate swirl. Malia got chocolate chip cookie dough on her cone. Unfortunately, I was still thinking about the job she applied for. Most of the time when I got a gut feeling about something it tended to be right. Right now my gut was screaming at me that her taking the bartender job would be bad. I couldn’t seem to shake the feeling either. The feeling just wouldn’t go away.
“Asher, what’s got your face screwed up like that?” Malia asked me with a weird look on her face.
“Oh, uh, nothing. I’m just thinking about a few things.” I answered while eating the rest of my cone, so I didn’t have to say anymore. Normally, I wouldn’t care this much unless it had to do with Ryder or Grayson. Malia was different and I really couldn’t figure out why.
“Asher, if it’s about the job, I’ll be fine. I have been doing this a while. Believe me. I’m used to it.” Malia mumbled with a smile on her face, that was supposed to be reassuring but really, just looked sad.
“I believe you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you.” I reached over and grabbed her hand so I could comfort her, or myself, I’m not sure. “Since we are done you wanna head home?”
“Yeah, you can take me home. Thanks, Asher, for everything.” Malia looked at me sincerely. Girls usually never look at me like she did.
I was expecting Malia to tell me to drive her to the park, but instead, she gave me her address. She had a look of wariness on her face that immediately made me want to give her a hug. Arriving at the address Malia gave to me, I parked the car in her
