Perfect for You (6 page)

“That’s our cue.” I grab my overnight bag and we head out, only to run directly into Dad at the bottom of the stairs.

“Tell me again why Asher is driving you girls to this sleepover.”

I kiss his cheek. “You’re giving yourself worry lines, Dad.”

“Night, Mr. Flannigan.” Grayson waves and walks out the front door, and I’m right behind her.

Mom smiles at me as I shut the door. She’s more than relieved that Grayson is tagging along.

I hop in the car and lean over to kiss Ash.

Grayson groans. “Please, tell me you two aren’t going to be doing that all night.”

“Not
all
night,” I say, giving her a devilish smile. “Besides, you’ll be cozying up with Tucker.”

Grayson smacks me. “Meg!”

Ash laughs. “So, you have a thing for Tucker, huh? I might be able to help you out with that.”

Grayson’s anger quickly fades.

The party is already in full swing when we pull up. Cars line the driveway and street. Several are even parked on the front lawn. The music is so loud I swear I can see the house shaking. Football players must know how to party.

“Wow,” Grayson says as we get out of the car. “Are all the team parties like this?”

“Nah. Jackson goes all out for this one. But if we win a big game, that party will probably top this one.” That was a big “if”. Last year they didn’t win a single game.

Ash slips his hand into mine and we walk inside, no knocking or announcing ourselves at all—not that anyone would hear us over the music and all the yelling. No way are Jackson’s parents home. Looks like I lied to Mom. Ash leads us to the kitchen where drinks of all sorts are lined up on the counter. I grab a bottle of water. Grayson goes for a beer, but I take it out of her hand. It’s not like I haven’t had a drink before, but she just made varsity. Alcohol is the quickest way to get booted off the team, and she knows it. I hand her a bottle of peach tea instead.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, yeah, just as good.”

“You’ll thank me when you’re still on the team on Monday.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Gray says in her little girl voice.

Ash laughs at us. “Anyone up for darts?” He’s a darts fanatic, mostly because he’s really good. I haven’t seen anyone beat him, ever.

“Lead the way.” I wrap my arm around his bicep. It’s his throwing arm, and he gives a small flex, wagging his eyebrows at me. Yes, he knows he’s in good shape. I reach up and kiss him, stopping him dead in his tracks. His arms wrap around me, and I can feel the coldness of his soda against my back.

“Is this what I’m going to be subjected to all night?” Grayson pretends to gag. “Because if so, I’m going to need a trashcan handy for spewing up my dinner.”

I wave a hand at her and keep kissing Ash. I don’t care that we have an audience or that we’re being rude to Grayson. This party is about the football team, and since Ash is the only player I care about, I’m giving him my attention. Breathless, I pull back a little and stare into his eyes.

“Remind me to take you to football parties more often.” He smiles at me and leans in for another kiss.

“Come on, really?” Grayson scoffs. “I’m out of here. I think I saw Tucker in the other room.”

Ash takes that as his cue to wrap his arms around me and lift me off the ground. I giggle in between kisses, and he gently sets me back down. A bunch of guys start cheering, and I can’t help wondering if it’s because Ash and I are making a scene in the middle of the living room. We pull away only enough to see what’s going on.

The new cheerleader I saw at the Football Challenge is at the pool table, bending over it in shorts that probably don’t even cover her ass when she’s standing up straight. Apparently she has a thing for letting her ass hang out. A crowd of guys huddles around her, and they’re all cheering her on. How ironic. Football players cheering for the cheerleader.

“What’s she doing here?” I ask.

“Who Liz?”

“You know her?” My insides form a knot.

“Not really. She’s a cheerleader though. I’ve seen her a few times with the rest of the squad.”

“I’m kind of surprised she’s already at parties and hanging out with the football players. She’s only a freshman.” “Freshman” comes off my tongue more like another F-word.

“Tryouts ended yesterday. She made the squad. Why wouldn’t she be here?”

I shrug. Liz makes another shot and looks up at Ash. “Hey, Ash.” She smiles and gives a flirtatious wave, completely ignoring me in Ash’s arms. This is so not good.

Chapter Seven

Suddenly, I’m sixteen again, watching Derrick and Stacy make out in front of my locker. God, I hate freshmen girls. Yet in this moment, I become one—at least maturity-wise. I reach up, grabbing Ash’s face, and kiss him. An all-out passionate kiss that makes the football team hoot at us. I don’t care. I’m staking my claim. Ash is mine.

“Damn it, Meg!” Grayson yanks my arm, pulling me away from Ash. “What has gotten into you?”

“What? Can’t a girl kiss her boyfriend?” My voice is loud, ensuring Liz hears the boyfriend part. I don’t want there to be any confusion in that pretty little head of hers.

“Sure you can, but have a little respect for those of us who don’t want to see how far down Ash’s throat your tongue can actually reach.”

I turn to Ash. “I think it’s time we introduce Grayson to Tucker, don’t you?”

He smiles, picking up on my end game: get Grayson with Tucker so we can go back to making out. We find Tucker in front of the TV playing some video game that involves shooting everyone and everything in sight. Ugh. Grayson hates video games. So much for my plan.

“Cool game,” Grayson says, shocking the hell out of me. I give her a look, but she shrugs and mouths, “He’s cute.”

I shake my head. Whatever. Let her have her fun.

Ash taps Tucker on the shoulder. “Hey, Tuck, hit pause for a sec.”

“What’s up?” Tucker tears his eyes away from the game to look at us. Immediately, he notices Grayson. She’s short, curvy in a good way, and has skin that looks tan year-round thanks to her biracial father. Most guys find her attractive. The ones with good taste anyway. “Hey.” Tucker slides over on the couch. “Want to give it a try?” He holds the controller out to Grayson, who smiles back at him.

“I’d love to.” Yeah, she’s so not talking about the video game.

Ash and I hold our laughter until we’re out of the room.

“That went well,” Ash says, pulling me into a secluded corner in the hallway leading to the kitchen.

“Very.” I slip my hands around his waist and tug him toward me.

“Hey, Ash,” Jackson says. “Come play pool with us.”

I’m sure Liz is still bent over the table.

“Maybe later.” Ash pulls me closer. “I’m good here.”

Jackson gives me a look. He doesn’t trust me not to hurt his friend again. I get it. He walks into the kitchen without saying a word.

Ash turns my face back to his. “Don’t worry about him. He’ll get over it.”

“I’m going to get another drink. I put my water down somewhere.” Ash doesn’t have his soda anymore either. We must have dropped them during our make-out session.

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, I’ll get it. You stay here.” He looks toward the kitchen where Jackson is standing by the counter. I lay a hand on his arm. “It’s just something I have to do. I won’t feel right until I talk to him.”

Ash kisses my forehead. “I’ll be right here.”

I smile and take a deep breath, preparing myself for Jackson’s disapproving glare. There are a few other players in the kitchen too, and I don’t really want an audience. “Jackson, could I talk to you for a second? Somewhere else, maybe?”

Jackson grabs a beer off the counter and points toward the back deck. I follow, wondering if he’s only drinking to make it easier to talk to me. He opens the deck door and motions for me to go out first. I can’t help thinking he’ll slam the door behind me, locking me out of the party.

“What?” His tone isn’t the least bit nice.

“I want to explain about what happened after the Football Challenge.”

“Why? You obviously made up with Ash. Why do you care what I think?” He takes a big gulp from his beer.

“Because you’re his friend. I don’t want you to hate me.”

“Didn’t say I did. I just don’t trust you.”

“Fair enough. But I want you to know that I didn’t cheat on Ash. I wouldn’t do that to him.”

“So, you weren’t hanging out with some other guy all day? That’s not why you were late to watch your boyfriend win the Football Challenge? ’Cause last time I checked, tennis players don’t wear bathing suits on the courts, and I’m pretty sure I saw you and Noah enter the stands together so you were definitely together before you showed up.”

Okay, it does look bad, but I turned down Noah’s challenge to kiss him and made it clear that I’m with Ash. “I was with Noah before I got to the Football Challenge, but we were in a group. It’s not like it was a date or anything. We went to the water park. I spent more time with Lindsey and Emma than Noah.”

“You’re hanging with that crowd now?” He takes another sip of beer. I guess I should be happy he’s not chugging it to get through our conversation.

“Not really. They invited me along, and I needed a break from all the court time. I’m sure you have times where you want to get away from the field,” I say, trying to appeal to his inner athlete. Of course the outing had also been about proving to myself that Noah and I can just be friends, but I’m not about to tell Jackson that.

“Ash was humiliated, you know. The guys gave him a hard time, and if he’d hit that guy, he would’ve been benched.”

“I know. I talked to Noah. It won’t happen again.”

“It better not. We have a real chance this season, but if Ash’s head isn’t in the game because he’s worried about you running around with some other guy…” He doesn’t need to finish the thought. I get the message: Jackson’s watching me.

“I know this is so not cool in guy world, but I love Ash.” Maybe admitting that will get me somewhere with Jackson.

“Then do Ash and everyone else a favor.” He leans toward me, his beer breath slamming into my face. “Act like it.”

I nod because I don’t know what else to do. He walks back inside, leaving me alone to think about the new football-player-sized shadow I’m going to have until I prove I’m worthy of Ash.

Ash steps out onto the deck. “I saw Jackson come back inside without you. Everything okay?”

“Yeah. He’s a good friend. He’s got your back.”

Ash moves toward me, placing his hands on my hips. “He gave you a hard time.”

Nothing I don’t deserve. “No.” I shake my head, but he’s not convinced.

“Meg.” He leans down, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“Really, I’m fine.” I wrap my arms around him. “Better than fine actually. I get to spend the night next to the most amazing guy I know.”

“Should I be flattered or worried about how many guys you know?” He’s only teasing, but my stomach clenches.

“You’re the only guy I know who matters right now.” Why did I say “right now”? Luckily, Ash doesn’t question it. He meets my lips with his.

The rest of the evening goes smoothly. We play darts with Grayson and Tucker who are getting along really well. Grayson even admits she likes video games—at least playing video games with Tucker. Around two in the morning, Jackson throws in some movie featuring an underdog football team—go figure. Of course the entire team wants to watch it, so the rest of us give in.

Ash and I cuddle up inside his sleeping bag. I left mine in the car, having no intention of using it. It’s strictly for show to appease my parents. Ash puts his arm around me, and I rest my head on his chest. Yes, I can get used to sleeping like this. I breathe in his scent and playfully run my fingers along his abs. He’s ticklish, so he laughs and laces his fingers though mine to stop me from doing it again.

“No fun,” I say, faking disappointment.

He rolls onto his side, cradling me in his arm to keep me from falling backward. “I think we can find another way to have fun.” He raises my chin, bringing my mouth to his. If most of the couples around us weren’t doing the exact same thing, we’d probably be getting pillows tossed at our heads. My left leg moves forward, settling between Ash’s legs, and my arms worm their way around him. I can’t get close enough.

“You’re killing me,” Ash says, pulling away slightly.

“Sorry, you seemed like you liked it.”

“I do. Too much. Believe me, if we weren’t in a room full of people I wouldn’t be stopping you. More like the opposite.”

I kiss him lightly before lowering my head back to his chest. I’ll behave. This is Ash’s night. I’m just happy to be with him.

Liz walks into the room and gives Ash a flirty wave. Seriously? I’m right here. I’m lying in his arms. Now I see the difference between Stacy and Liz. Stacy didn’t go after Derrick. Liz, on the other hand, definitely has her eye on Ash. This is war, freshman. I refuse to lose another guy to a younger girl.

I roll onto my side, grabbing Ash’s shirt in my fist and pulling him closer. My lips meet his, and my hands trail up his chest until my fingers are on the back of his head, making sure he can’t pull away—not that he’s trying to. My leg snakes between his again, and we’re so close I can feel his heart beating. There’s not a single part of him that wants to stop me now. So much for being good.

I have no idea if Liz is still watching us or if she found her sleeping bag, and I don’t care. She’s not worth thinking about. I put all my focus on Ash, on making him know he’s the most important person to me. When we finally pull away, I see Jackson staring at us. He gives me a slight nod, obviously approving of the way I’m giving Ash all my attention.

Ash turns to see who I’m looking at, but I take my finger and pull his face back to me. “It’s only Jackson. I think he and I have reached an agreement.”

“What kind of agreement?” Ash kisses my neck, making me moan.

“If you really want an answer, you should stop doing that. I can’t think when you kiss my neck.”

“Sorry.” But the smile on his face shows he’s not sorry at all, and neither am I.

“Jackson and I agree that you’re amazing.”