Chapter 213

“I’m not a cheater,” I said adamantly. I was annoyed at her for having even suggested it. I did not work so hard just to have someone try to take that away from me by accusing me of something so low.

“I know what I saw,” the cheerleader said, eyes narrowing. “You definitely had a cheat sheet.”

“A cheat sheet? Where?”

“I don’t know where you hid it, but I saw it.”

She was lying then. I had nothing on my desk during the exam except the test itself and my pen. But why would she lie? Was she really so jealous of Asher and my relationship that she would try to personally tear me down?

And a cheerleader, too. We’d been through the wringer together already. All those competitions and practices, they meant nothing to this girl.

“I wasn’t cheating,” I said, firm.

“No? Then prove it,” the cheerleader said.

“Ladies, please,” the professor said, trying to regain control of the situation.

The cheerleader wouldn’t let him have it. She scoffed. “If you can somehow manage to prove that you weren’t cheating beyond just your word, then I’ll apologize in front of the whole school.”

“Is that a promise?”

“What, do you want to shake on it? Why does it matter? You’ll never be able to prove it.”

I had an idea, but I needed her to commit to her deal. If she did so, then I could win and, with her public apology, potentially scare off any other jealous girls who meant me harm.

I’d let them see that if they come after me, they themselves would end up embarrassed.

Asher wasn’t my boyfriend but he was something close. If they tried to split us up, they would face my wrath.

“Promise,” I said.

“I don’t know why you are so insistent, since proving it is impossible, but sure.”

I turned back to look at the professor, who was watching us both with a frowning curiosity.

“Professor,” I said. “Tomorrow, would it be alright if I take the quiz right in front of you so you can watch me. Then you can see I can ace the test without needing to cheat.”

“That is fine with me,” the Professor said.

I looked back at the cheerleader again. She seemed annoyed.

“Do those terms work for you?” I asked her.

She rolled her eyes. “Fine. But we all know you won’t do as well.”

“Just wait,” I said, feeling confident.

Later, I studied with Asher in his dorm room. He’d been different since I’d accepted him as the baby’s godfather, more openly affectionate.

He’d hold my hand as he showed me a section of his notes. He’d lean in and kiss me when I got an answer right. He’d thoroughly distract me by pressing a kiss to the inside of my wrist.

“I couldn’t help myself,” he’d say.

When I told him about the cheating accusation, he’d been worried but I assured him that I had it well in hand. “I’m really doing well in the class. I understand it well. I’m not sure how she thinks she’ll be able to win against me.”

“Does she really think you are cheating?” Asher asked.

I didn’t know for sure. “You think she was so sure about our deal because she genuinely thinks I’m cheating?”

He shrugged. “She obviously didn’t see you cheat, but she’s still confident you did. She underestimates you. I only wish I was in your class so I could see her face when you prove her wrong.”

I smiled, warmed by his belief in me. “You could always come to the public apology. It’s supposed to be in front of the whole school.”

“It’s a date, then.”

We continued studying until my brain felt full, then we made out on the bed for a time. Asher was such a good kisser, I so easily lost myself and any sense of time.

As evening set in, I frowned as I realized I had to go back to my own dorm room for clean clothes for the night and the next day.

Asher, holding me, quickly noticed my change of mood. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to go back to my room.” I meant only temporarily, to get more clothes, but when the words came out, I realized how they sounded and I couldn’t take them back.

We hadn’t really talked about how I basically moved in with Asher. At first, it had been out of necessity. I’d been too frightened to be alone.

I wasn’t quite so scared anymore.

If I wanted, I could probably return to my own room and only see Asher when we both had time.

But I didn’t want that. I liked staying here, with Asher always by my side. Just existing in his space was so comforting. If I went back to my room, I’d be all alone.

I didn’t want to be without him anymore.

His hands tightened on my waist. “Why do you have to?”

I pushed myself up to my elbows to look down at him. Surely he wasn’t suggesting what I thought he was. Was it possible that I could move in more permanently?

“I’m serious,” he said. “If you want to stay here, you can.”

“For how long?”

He didn’t answer right away. I could have sworn I saw the answer in the summer sky depths of his eyes. Forever.

But he said, “For as long as you want.”

The two were the same.

Butterflies took flight inside of me. I felt lighter than I had in a long time. Happy, too.

“Okay,” I said.

His smile mirrored my own. “Yeah?”

I nodded.

He tugged me toward him and we kissed. I was too excited to make it last. I couldn’t wait to empty my drawers and slide my clothes into Asher’s dresser beside his own.

He chuckled as I bounced to my feet. “When should we go get my stuff? Now?”

“If that’s what you want.”

“Why wait? The sooner I move in here, the sooner I don’t have to ever leave again.”

He came up behind me, snaked his arms around my waist, and placed a quick kiss to my cheek. “I like the sound of that.”

It took me another ten minutes to unfold myself from Asher’s strong arms. I might have only put in a weak effort for a while. He was just so warm.

Eventually though, I forced myself to pull away. “We should go before it gets too dark.”

Asher agreed.

Hand in hand, we walked across campus to my old dorm building. I remembered all the nights Asher walked me home. I never thought I would be leaving again with him when he was done. This time, we would get to go home together.

I couldn’t keep the excitement out of my pace, walking quickly at times. Asher had to hold me back.

“Remember, you aren’t supposed to overexert yourself.”

I knew that, but it was just too much happiness to contain.

“Don’t make me carry you,” Asher said.

“That’s no threat,” I told him.

He moved toward me then like he intended to lift me, and I skirted away.

“Okay, okay! I’ll be good!” I really didn’t mind him holding me but I was too excited to sit still, even in his arms.

He laughed once, loud and carefree, a sound so rare it startled me. When I recovered, I wanted to hear it again and again.

I really loved this man.

We rode the elevator to my floor, then walked down the hallway. At the sight of my door, Asher stopped and tugged me behind him.

“What is it?” I tried to peer over his shoulder. What I saw made my blood run cold.

The door to my room was open.

“Stay here,” he said.

Like hell I would be doing that! “That’s my room.”

Asher didn’t seem to like it, but he didn’t argue further as we inched toward my door.

Once there, Asher reached out one arm and pushed it further open.

Inside, the investigator was snooping through the notebooks on my desk.

“It’s you!” I gasped.