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Prologue

Three years ago…

The first ti, I decided two things The first being that he was the most beautiful boy I’d ever seen in ? He was the kind of boy that I should never, under any circuet involved with But, even ladly reach insideheart if he’d only ask

What I didn’t know then was that would be the first of hts just like that one Turned out, Asher’s dad was a little bit of a drunk, and a lot of an asshole If it wasn’t his dad, it was so for trouble, it seemed Or maybe trouble just knehere to find him

My brother, Dashiell, was always quick to kick hts Asher snuck in It beca hih my brother’snever ceased to break my heart and make it beat faster all at once

Over the past three years, Asher has pretty much become a permanent fixture in our lives My parents are either oblivious or don’t care enough to question why he’s always here, or why he occasionally dons a black eye or a split lip Part of s on Asher clear They don’t like hi around, think he’s a bad influence But Dash is stubborn, and loyal to a fault So, they tolerate Asher at best

I’ Guitar Hero on his Xbox when I hear the telltale tapping on thethat signals Asher’s arrival, and I’m immediately uneasy Dash was supposed to meet Asher and their other friend, Adrian, at a party earlier Alar over to theon my knees I help him slide it open, and he hefts himself over the sill

“Asher? What happened? Where’s Dash?” I reach for the lamp on Dash’s bedside table, and when it illuasp,to my heart

“Asher!” I run to his side and help him to the bed He stu us both down

“Ohthe police

“Cal to wake up your pops”

“That’s exactly what I’ ona pretty powerful attorney, ripheart quickens at his touch

“Coravelly tone “It’s just a little cut You should see what he looks like,” he tacks on with a hint of a s at his full lips

“Is that supposed toto jerk rasp, to no avail “Because it doesn’t Not even a little” Tears start to fill ht

“I’m okay, Briar,” he pro out with ets back” Indecision swirls inmy next move

“Fine” I sigh “I’ll be right back” I tiptoe out into the kitchen, rab a washcloth and run it under the sink before snagging a bandage out of the cabinet I’ When I co on the bed with his elbows on his knees and his hands fixed on either side of his neck I drop to ently brush his dark hair off his forehead His eyes snap up to reen with yellow flecks, and the other a honey broith flecks of green He ss, his throat bobbing with thethe damp washcloth up to dab at the dried blood crusted near his eyebrow He clenches his jaw, but says nothing as I do my best to clean him up