“Yeah.” He threaded fingers through his hair and studied the empty parking lot around the station. We were the only two around. It had been a quieter night for a change. The traffic on the highway was a constant drone in the background, and Asher focused on the headlights, zooming along in the distance.

“I’m just gonna say it.”

Here we go.

“Come practice one more night with me. Tonight. I can’t this weekend because I have a date Friday night, and I promised I’d play football with some guys at school on Saturday. We’re going bar hopping after. Sunday is reserved for a wicked hangover.”

What did it say about me that the part I focused on in all his weekend plans was his mention of a date Friday night? With who? Where? Why? Was she special? He hadn’t mentioned a girl? Were they dating? Was it serious?

My insides pulled into a tighter knot. I’d never cared about his girlfriends before. Why now?

“We can’t,” I sputtered. “You just said there’s a dinner party going on at home, and you can’t come to the Santiagos’. Not for this. Privacy is a frail thing there. Aaron has a bad habit of walking into my room unannounced.”

Asher paused then ducked his head, staring at the asphalt underfoot.

“I rented a hotel room.”

The pump clicked, but I didn’t remove the nozzle. I couldn’t. My joints seized. “W-what?”

“It will give us privacy and time. I’ll buy food. You can stay there tonight, if you want. Have a night off living at Aaron’s. I know you hate it there. I’ll go home when we’re done.”

“A hotel room?”

He stayed quiet.

Finding control again, I removed the nozzle and fit it on its holder on the side of the pump. Ash handed me a credit card. Dad’s credit card. It was him who’d get the bill for the hotel room too.

I laughed under my breath. Dad had no idea what his money was paying for.

“What’s so funny?” Asher asked, his voice low. When did he get so close?”

“I was just thinking that Dad would have a coronary if he knew he was paying for a hotel for his two sons to get it on.”

Asher laughed too, which made mine come out with more force. It was so many levels of crazy and insane there was no way to count them.

“So is that a yes?”

I sighed and took the card from his hand. “All you have to do to get in my pants is wine and dine me. In this case, I want gyros and beer. Lots of beer.”

“I can handle that.”

“All right. Fine. Might as well.”