Graham leaned back, looking down at her. “They will see logic. I just have to pitch it the right way. They love you. And it’s more economical than paying for separate housing for both of us. The community college is only a few miles from TCU. It makes sense to get one place in between.”

Ash shifted on his feet. Part of him was thrilled for Kincaid. He knew better than anyone how distant a dream college had been for her until the Lowells and Graham had come into her life. When Graham’s family had offered to help her go to a community college near the university Graham had chosen, it was as if Kincaid had been given a golden ticket. But the thought of Graham and Kincaid being on their own in another town, sharing an apartment next year? Kincaid being uprooted from everyone she knew and depending on Graham and his family entirely? It left a bad taste in Ash’s mouth.

Maybe Ash needed to face that this was probably straight-up jealousy. For so long, it’d been him and Kincaid. Way before more complicated feelings had gotten involved, she’d been his closest friend. Now he had to share her with Graham and would soon be going to school in a completely different state from her while Graham got to be with her. He’d dreamt of getting out of this claustrophobic small town and away from his family for as long as he could remember. He could go somewhere else and not be the famous Coach Isaacs letdown of a son. He could be whoever he wanted to be. Start fresh. He still wanted that so much, his muscles ached. He’d worked so damn hard for his scholarship, worked all those long hours at the store in order to say Fuck you, I don’t need your money or your approval to his dad. But he’d never considered that leaving Long Acre also meant leaving Kincaid on her own with Graham.

“You okay, Ash?” Kincaid asked, eyeing him. “You look weird.”

Ash choked down the feeling of dread and forced a wry look onto his face. “Your girlfriend is way too obsessed with me, man. I mean, I feel outright objectified.”

Graham snorted and Kincaid rolled her eyes.

“And maybe I’m just weird,” Ash said, cocking a brow.

“Hell yes, you are,” Kincaid declared. She strode over and patted his cheek, almost dislodging his glasses. “That’s why I love you. Weirdo.”

Ash felt like a world-class dick for the image that floated through his mind, a fantasy where he looped his fingers around Kincaid’s wrist, dragged her against a locker, and kissed that watermelon-flavored gloss off her lips while Graham watched. Showed her that she had options beyond hitching a ride on Graham’s coattails. Ash curled his fingers into his palm. If he needed any more confirmation that all these bad feelings were rooted in jealousy, that was all he needed.

He was a horrible friend. To Graham. And to Kincaid. She’d never trust him again or be so at ease around him if she knew the things that went through his mind anytime she was around. He’d broken a promise they’d made to each other long ago when yet another boy had called her Bouncy Breslin and made lewd comments. Ash had promised that he’d never look at her that way, that they’d always be friends and not let the boy-girl stuff get in the way. His boy stuff was in serious breach of contract.