My Brother's Bad Boy Best Friend

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The second we got home I ran out of the car, needing to talk to Hannah.  I don't know what got into me.  We had decided we'd slow down the physical torture with Asher for right now but I had completely forgetten.  And - God, how I hate to admit this - I had liked being that close to him.  I liked the way his eyes clouded over and his fingers tightened around me, pulling me closer.  

I shook my head, trying to get my head out of the gutter as I ran upstairs to my room.  My parents were both gone so it was just Petey, Asher, and I in the house.  

When I got into my room I slammed the door shut and flopped down on my bed, ignoring the fact that I still was only wearing shorts and a bikini top.  I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and called Hannah.  

"Hey, baby girl," Hannah answered on the second ring.  She sounded muffled.  

"Hey, what's up?"  I asked breathlessly.  

"Stuffing my face with ice cream."  And so explains the muffledness. . . 

"Sounds exciting.  Look, Hannah I broke the rule."  

"Oh God, Jazz.  Please tell me you didn't grope him.  I saw you looking at his package in this pants . . ."  

I gasped, sitting straight up in my bed and holding the phone to my ear.  "I would never check out his package, Hannah!  That's weird!"  

"Oh, please.  As if every teenage girl doesn't do it to attractive guys."  I could practically hear her eyes rolling over the phone.  

"I just teased him a bit."  I craddled my phone between my ear and my shoulder and quickly wiggled out of my shorts.  I was in my full bikini now and ready to get my swim on.  

"How'd he react?"  Hannah asked.  

"LIke he totally wanted it," I admitted.  

Hannah squealed over the line, making me cringe and drop the phone.  I quickly picked it back up, grateful we hadn't been disconnected.  "God, you two have so much romantic tension building even I can feel it.  It's driving me nuts!  I can't wait till you guys finally do it!"  

I held the phone away from me and gaped at it.  "Hannah, we're not going to do it!"

"Sure you aren't Jazz.  Keep telling yourself that."  

"Hannah!"  I said, getting a little worked up.  The thought of Asher and me like that, embarrassingly, excited me a bit.  Okay, a lot.  "This is just a game!  I won't let it get that far!"  

"Whatever, Jazz!"  Hannah cackled crazily.  

I sighed angrily.  "Look, I'm gonna go swim.  I'll talk to you later."  

"Bye, my lover!"  

I flipped my phone shut and threw it on the bed, shaking my head.  Hannah was crazy.  

I walked out of my room and down stairs, just wanting to be in the cool water after the stressful day I had.  I wondered if Asher and Pete would be in there.  

My question was answered the minute I stepped outside.  Asher was alone in the pool in a pair of Pete's swim trunks.  His eyes were closed and he was floating on his back, his arms and legs spread.  My heart twinged.  Something about the innocence and peace etched on his face made me smile.  

I shook my head.  This was Asher!  The boy who'd tormented me for most of my life!  Who was still trying to torment me.  I couldn't let him win this game!  I wasn't a little girl anymore.  I could dish it out just as well as he could!

Silently, I stepped into the pool, thankful Zara was asleep and hadn't barked when I'd walked out.  The water was the perfect temperature.  

I swam quietly over to where Asher was floating.  I throat tightened when I saw how absolutely perfect he actually was.  Hard chest, flat abs, toned biceps.  He wasn't overly buff with was a good thing.  He was just the right size.  

Biting my lip, I paused.  What was I going to do?  Continue the game?  Get physical?  

I decided to do niether.  

"Hey," I whispered softly, treading water a few feet from him.