Dump and Chase: Nashville Assassins: Next Generation Read online

  I shake my head. “No way.”

  “Guest room, then.”

  “Don’t have one. I have an office. I don’t want guests.”

  “Where will I go, then?”

  “The couch.”

  “You’re gonna put your favorite brother on the couch?”

  “You’re my only brother.”

  “Exactly, so scoot your big ass over and let me in the bed.”

  I scoff. “What if Shelli is over?”

  “You can sleep in the middle.”

  I pause. “I’m done with this conversation, but yes, you can stay.”

  “You’re right. We can discuss this when I get there.” He laughs at my groan, and I roll my eyes. “So, what’s the issue? I assume it has something to do with Shelli.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “’Cause you don’t call unless it does.”

  I shrug. “While that’s untrue, in this case, your assumption is right. I think we’re in a relationship. Actually, I know we are, I just don’t want to think of it that way. But I think I miss her. That’s weird, right?”

  I’m met with silence. “You really need help. Go see Emery’s therapist. Please.”

  “Ash, come on. Tell me what to do.”

  “About what?”

  “This. These feelings. What do I do?”

  “Embrace them?”

  “How?”

  More silence. “I don’t know what you want me to say here. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. I honestly didn’t realize how fucked up our parents made you. Or was this Audrey’s fault? We all know she wasn’t normal until she got with Uncle Tate.”

  “It’s no one’s fault. I’m just… It’s weird.”

  “Whatever, dude. Do you want to be with Shelli?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then shut up and be with her.”

  “I appreciate our meaningful conversations,” I say dryly.

  “Me too. Very productive. Listen, my girl just walked in. I gotta go.”

  I pause. “So, you just let it happen with her? You aren’t freaked out by her?”

  Asher groans loudly. “Of course, I’m freaked out by her, but I’d rather be with her than without.”

  That makes sense, but before I can say that, the asshole hangs up on me.

  Boon sits down on the bed across from me and lets out a long breath. “I think we should go out, find some lady friends tonight. Wes is down.”

  I shake my head as I lie back on the bed. “I’m good.”

  He gives me an incredulous look. “Really? We’re single dudes with the night off. I don’t want to go to dinner with the married or in-relationship folks. They’re boring.”

  I chew on my lip as I look up at my phone, seeing my lock screen of Shelli in my shirt. She has the goofiest grin on her face, but I still find her beautiful. “Yeah, I’m good.”

  “Why? Come on. It will be fun. I’ll even let you have this room, and I’ll go back to whoever’s place.”

  As I stare at Shelli, her blue eyes shining, I know I don’t want to do that. “I’m actually with someone.”

  “What? How? When were you dating?”

  “Huh?”

  “If you’re with her, that means you’re done with dating. I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”

  I look back down at my phone and text Asher.

  Me: I moved past dating already!

  Asher: Yes, because you’ve known her for her whole life. Jesus, loosen the man bun and think here.

  Me: Do you even love me?

  Asher: Eh. That’s still up for debate.

  “Oh yeah, I guess I am.”

  “Really?” Boon asks, and I nod before looking over at him.

  “Yeah.”

  There is a knock on the adjoining door, and Wes comes in. Boon looks at him and announces, “BB is with someone.”

  Wes’s eyes widen. “No way.”

  “That’s what I said. He’s famous for his whoring ways,” Boon teases, and I flip him the bird.

  “I am not.”

  He ignores me. “Did you even know he was dating?”

  “I think you might, in fact, be famous for those whoring ways,” Wes says with a shrug. “And no, I hadn’t. But that’s cool. Who is she? Do I know her?”

  “No,” I say quickly, shaking my head and shutting off my phone.

  “When can we meet her?”

  “I don’t know.” I don’t want to share her with them. I don’t want them judging us or making fun of us. I like us.

  Boon makes a face. “Well, whoever it is has stolen our wingman, and he is now boring.”

  I glare at him. “What do you mean? I’m not boring.”

  Boon gets up, picking up his phone from the side table. “When you’re in a relationship, you don’t want to do anything fun unless you’re with that person.”

  Hm, so that’s what a relationship is? “That’s not true. I’ll go to dinner with you guys.”

  “Boring. I want to find someone to go home with.”

  “You can go home with the waitress.”

  Wes shakes his head. “Don’t listen to him, BB. He’s still bitter because his girl left him.”

  “I am not!”

  “You are,” Wes says, shaking his head. “I think it’s cool. I’d rather be with someone than trolling for females.”

  “Because you’re into that relationship shit!”

  Wes sets him with a look. “And you were too until what’s her name left you.”

  Boon rolls his eyes. “Fuck off. Trolling is fun,” Boon insists. At one time, I agreed. I don’t want to troll when I know there is a girl who’s thinking of me. Only me.

  Wes looks back at me. “Sure, but knowing there is that one girl who wants only you feels way better.”

  “Until she leaves you and breaks your heart.”

  It’s as if I am watching the angel and devil argue on my shoulder.

  Wes looks back at me. “And this is why we don’t listen to Boon. Bitter.”

  “Fuck off!”

  Wes laughs, but I feel what Boon is saying. Crazy thing is, I feel Wes too. Jesus, I’m a mess.

  “Do you, bro. We’re gonna go out, though,” Wes says as he stands up.

  “We sure are,” Boon agrees, and then he goes to the door as Wes pats my shoulder.

  “Wanna go?”

  “No, I’m gonna order in.”

  “Cool. See ya.”

  “Have fun,” I call at them as they walk out.

  A part of me wants to go. I don’t want to be boring, but I don’t think Shelli would appreciate that. I wouldn’t want her going out to troll for guys, and I sure as hell didn’t like seeing her out with that fucker, Merryweather. I’m doing the right thing. I’m not boring. Especially when I know I can call Shelli. When my stomach rumbles, I sit up and order some food. It’s going to be a while, so I sit back in the bed, opening my text thread with Shelli.

  Me: wyd

  Shelli: Nothing. Just sitting around. I’m hungry, but Mom isn’t cooking, and I’m lazy.

  Me: LOL. I just ordered food.

  Shelli: Don’t y’all go out on no-game nights? You didn’t want to go?

  Me: The guys are going to the club. I didn’t think it was appropriate.

  Shelli: Why?

  Me: Cause they’re going to find women.

  Shelli: So? Doesn’t mean you have to. Unless you want to.

  Me: I don’t, which is why I didn’t go.

  Shelli: Don’t trust yourself?

  Me: No, it’s not that at all. I just didn’t want to upset you.

  Shelli: While I appreciate that, I trust you. You haven’t done anything to make me think otherwise.

  We shouldn’t have skipped the dating thing. Or did we?

  Me: Did we skip dating?

  Shelli: I mean, I guess. We have known each other my whole life.

  Me: Okay, true. So thinking I was doing the right thing is right, then?

  Shelli: Did you want to go?