Chapter 82

Asher

For far too long, Elena had been allowed to make Cynthia’s life miserable. With rumor after terrible rumor, this girl had spread poison into the world, causing Cynthia pain and suffering.

I still felt shame for almost believing her once, when my jealousy had blinded me into think Cynthia had other lovers she kept from me.

By believing that rumor, I had hurt Cynthia myself. A mistake I would never repeat.

Yet, though my outrage insisted I act, now that I was on my feet, my body swayed dangerously.

The team had been right not to let me practice just yet. I still wasn’t at one hundred percent. Whatever drug Joseph had spiked my water bottle with had been potent.

Cynthia noticed my unsteadiness and stood, grabbing my arm. “Sit. Please. Elena can wait.”

I hated giving into this weakness, but Cynthia’s pleading eyes soothed the harshest feelings of defeat. So, following her urging, I returned to my seat.

Cynthia pressed the back of her hand to my forehead, checking for a fever. “You look flush. I’ll get you a water.”

She went to move away from me, but I quickly reached out and caught her hand.

“Stay,” I said.

Her abject worry softened around the edges, and she sat. I didn’t release her hand. Instead, I laced my fingers with hers and pressed them against my knee.

“You have to take it easy,” Cynthia said. “You have no idea how frail you were last night. You can’t just bounce back from that.”

I hated her using that word to describe me: frail. But it wasn’t wrong.

Last night had been the weakest I’d ever felt in my life. Not just physically.

Cynthia believed I didn’t remember, but I could recall every too-honest word out of my mouth.

The drugs had lowered my guard. My usual walls – the ones I built to keep my true desire for Cynthia firmly hidden from her – had become perilously thin. In the end, it had been a miracle that the tiredness won out over my eager mouth, and I fell asleep before I could reveal too much.

I didn’t just remember all that I said and did, I remembered her actions too. Like the soft kiss she had placed onto my forehead. Her lips were plush and soft. I wanted to feel them against mine.

But I would never act on that desire, not for her body or for her heart. I wanted both. I could have neither.

My role as her protector came above all else. I could handle any amount of frustration and heartache if it meant keeping her and her baby safe.

More and more, I wished she had accepted my offer to be the baby’s godfather. Maybe she would consider it now that her fantasies of Joseph had been thoroughly quashed.

Though perhaps it would be unkind to bring it up now, so soon after. She likely needed time to grieve that broken dream.

Joseph could have killed me in the challenge, if he’d been a better fighter. That I’d won the fight should have been impossible.

Except I had heard Cynthia call to me, and reacted.

If she hadn’t shouted…

I squeezed her hand, grateful I didn’t have to face that reality.

A blush spread attractively over her face. I watched her quietly for a while, ever amazed by this beautiful, strong woman.

I would protect her from anyone who meant her harm. This time, that meant Elena.

By the evening, I felt infinitely better. Cynthia had left to go about with the rest of her day.

Good. I didn’t want her to know what I had planned.

I had asked my contacts to keep an eye on Elena, and one of them texted now that she was at the popular nightclub near campus. I knew the place well, from my days before Cynthia. The loud music and sweaty, dancing bodies held little appeal now.

Still, for Cynthia, I would brave the flashing lights and drunken patrons once more.

I changed into my standard club clothes, a button-up black shirt, a size too small to show off my muscles, and a pair of tight designer jeans. I styled my hair back away from my face.

Arriving at the club, I tensed in trepidation. The music had changed, but the overall environment had not.

Drinks flowed like water. Couples made out in every corner. Bodies swayed in erotic rhythm on the dance floor.

Elena and her entourage were at the corner of the bar closest to the dance floor. She wore a shimmering dress with the v-neck down to her navel and a short skirt that only-just covered her ass.

She spotted me the second I entered the building, eyeing me like I was the main course for dinner. With the crook of her finger, she beckoned me closer.

Every instinct begged me to blow her off, but I had to obey her this time. She was, after all, the only reason I was here.

When I neared, she sent her entourage away and patted the newly empty bar stool beside hers.

“No Cynthia-shaped shadow tonight, Asher?” she asked, blood-red lips quirking into a smile.

“She doesn’t follow me everywhere I go.”

“True. Most of the time, you follow her.”

I stared at Elena, blank-faced.

“Don’t give me that look, darling.” Elena leaned forward, showcasing her breasts on display. “There’s no shame in liking who you like, but we both know you could do better.”

I kept my voice carefully bland as I said, “Like you?”

There was no one better than Cynthia.

“And why not? I don’t have nearly as much baggage as she does.” Elena traced the edge of her top, tugging it further back to reveal the entire length of her collarbone and the top swell of her breast. One careless slip and she’d flash me her nipple.

I kept my gaze firmly on her face.

“You spend so much time with her, you must know about her and Coach,” Elena said.

“A rumor only. Started by you.” My façade began to crack in my growing anger. “One that you will rescind.”

Elena’s flirtatious mask cracked too, and her brows lowered in annoyance. “Why else would Cynthia receive such special treatment? Even you must admit that the breaks Coach cuts her and not the rest of us reek of favoritism. Neither of us are so naïve to believe such favors come for free.”

“That proves nothing.”

I knew the truth of it, that Coach knew Cynthia was pregnant and was trying to help her. But those were secrets I would take to the grave before sharing with this snake in front of me.

“It proves everything,” Elena said. “If theirs was an innocent relationship, then Cynthia would have a better explanation for everything than…” She forced her voice higher, an insulting, whining mimicry of Cynthia’s soothing tone. “It’s just not true!”

“People are usually innocent until proven guilty,” I said. “The burden of proof is on the accuser.”

Elena rolled her eyes. “Asher, this isn’t court. It’s cheerleading.”

“Regardless,” I griped, now frustrated and annoyed. “Without proof, you need to stop spreading this bullshit.”

She rested her elbow on the bar top. Touching her finger to her chin, she leveled me a new, appraising look.

“You want me to drop the rumors? Fine, I suppose Cynthia and Coach aren’t truly harming anyone but themselves. But I want something in return.”

I had seen that look before, in the eyes of my many hookups right before they grabbed my dick through my pants.

I forced myself to keep very still to hide my revulsion.

“What do you want?” I asked her, dreading the answer I knew was to come.

“I won’t ask for much. Just one night of pleasure – with you.”