The Four Beta Brothers
Chapter 37

MOIRA

I nearly dropped my phone when I saw Juniper walking through the mall with Axel Burrell. Then I wanted to scream and throw my phone at her head. She was relentless. It wasn't enough for her to snatch Asher. Now she was going after Axel. They walked next to each other with pretzels in their hands, laughing and smiling. Juniper touched Axel's arm, and I hit record.

It was bad enough that Juniper jumped into the arms of Asher Burrell the moment he showed up. He was just one of the brothers, though. I was hoping to still get in with one of the other brothers, since Juniper clearly poisoned Asher against me. Ethan was the most desirable, Axel was the most likely with his playboy status, and Nathan was my last resort.

I had been trying to find a way to show the brothers I was a good person. I even showed up to Asher's party, hoping the alcohol would make me seem more desirable, but before I even showed up, Axel had already gotten into a fight with Josh.

Josh was supposed to get Juniper to cheat with him to ruin her relationship. He failed like the i***t he was. I didn't know how else to ruin Juniper's relationship, but now I didn't have to do anything. Juniper was ruining things herself, and I just happened to be lucky enough that I caught her in the act.

"Moira, what are you doing?" Ashley asked, sipping her coffee.

"I'm winning," I said, gleaming as I filmed Juniper and Axel being chummy with one another. When Asher saw this video, it would make him doubt Juniper. It'd make him question her loyalty and destroy their relationship. "Winning at what?" Ashley asked.

I shot her a death glare. "Shut up. You're being too loud. I'll explain it later for your simple brain."

Ashley quickly shut her mouth. She was the perfect friend, unlike Juniper. Ashley did whatever I asked without question. Juniper always questioned my morals, telling me I took advantage of people or I was too mean. She thought she was doing me a favor by trying to make me a better person. Her high horse was irritating, which would only make it that much sweeter when she fell down.

***

JUNIPER

My phone buzzed with a new message as I walked through the door. When I checked it, I smiled, seeing Asher's name.

Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

I messaged him back immediately, letting him know I'd come over in a bit. I hung my dress on the back of my door inside my room. I sat on my bed and stared at the dress, smiling. I couldn't believe Axel managed to find the perfect dress for me, and I couldn' wait to wear it with my hair and makeup done. I especially couldn't wait for Asher to see me in the dress.

I hurried over to Asher's dorm after putting away all of my stuff. I was eager to see him. I had a fun day at the mall with Axel, and, for once, I felt normal again. Hanging out with Axel as a friend reminded me what it was like to have friends again, only it was so much better. I never laughed with Moira the way I laughed with Axel.

Moira always wanted me to follow her around like a puppy, and for the most part, I did. She was the only friend I really knew growing up. She was there for me when I had no one else, and for a long time, I thought that meant I had to put up with her not so nice ways.

I thought friendship was putting up with the good and the bad, but hanging out with Axel today reaffirmed that friendship wasn't supposed to be so hard. Nobody was perfect, but Moira never treated me like a genuine friend. It was always about what I could do for her. It was a one-sided friendship, and the rumors she spread were a blessing in disguise. It only showed me that I was better off without her and everyone who followed her terrible lead.

I knocked on Asher's dorm room, eager to see him because I wanted to tell him about the good day I had. He was the first person I wanted to talk about this to, and I was thrilled he invited me over.

"Just a sec!" Asher said from the other side of the door.

I heard shuffling around, and then the door opened. Asher looked a little out of breath as he poked his head out of the door. "You got here faster than I expected."

"Should I leave?" I asked as a joke.

"Of course not. This just means more time with you." Asher slid his hand around my waist and pulled me into a kiss.

When he released me, I realized the lights in the dorm were off for the first time, and the room was lit by candles. I pulled away from Asher and walked into the room, needing to get a better look at everything. Candles lined the room, and there was a tray of snacks on the coffee table. "What is this?" I asked, surprised by the set. When he asked me to come over, I had expected something simple.

Asher wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and rested his head on my shoulder. "I wanted to surprise you. I assure you my brothers will be gone all evening, so we have the place to ourselves." He stroked his thumbs over my hip bones, making my body shudder in response.

I felt his intention throughout my entire body, and my breathing quickened thinking about it. "How did you manage to get the place to yourself the entire night?" I asked, slightly in disbelief. It was difficult to get true alone time with Asher, because either Axel or Nathan were home, or Moira was at my place.

"Nathan has a late night practice in preparation for the Homecoming game. Axel told me he had a date tonight and assured me he'd be gone all evening."

I sucked in my lips, knowing Axel's date had stood him up. It was clear Axel hadn't passed along the information.

"Are you sure they'll both be gone?" I asked. The last thing I wanted was for Axel to walk in on Asher and me doing anything intimate.

"I'm positive. It's just you and me for the next couple of hours." He pressed a kiss against the side of my neck, sending even more shivers down my spine.

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against his shoulders, leaving my neck completely exposed to him.

"This is a good surprise," I said, reaching behind me to run my fingers through Asher's hair. "And it's a good end to an already good day."

"Oh?" Asher said between kisses. "What made today a good day?"

I opened my mouth to tell Asher about my day, but as his hands explored my body, I couldn't bring myself to tell him about everything that had happened. I wanted to tell him about the good day I had with Axel, but bringing up his brother's name as he kissed my neck felt wrong.

"I found the dress I want to wear for Homecoming," I said. It wasn't a lie, but I was excluding major details.

"You did? Did you go shopping by yourself?" Asher pulled back, leaving my skin aching for more of his touch.

I twisted in his arms and hooked my hands around his neck. "I went to the mall by myself." This wasn't a lie, but once again, it wasn't the full truth. I fully intended to tell Asher I was hanging out with Axel. I didn't do anything wrong. I was just hanging out with a friend. However, I still couldn't find the words to tell him about the details.

"Why didn't you ask me to go with you?" Asher frowned, and the excitement from a moment before was quickly dwindling.

"I wanted my dress to be a surprise," I said. Asher didn't seem satisfied with my answer, so I lifted onto my toes and pressed a kiss against his mouth. "I thought it'd be more exciting if you saw me for the first time when I'm all dolled up." I jutted my lower lip out, hoping it would be enough to satisfy Asher.

"You're already irresistible. I don't know what I'll do when I see you." Asher brushed his nose against mine, his lips hovering dangerously close to mine.

"You'll dance with me all night until our feet hurt." The idea of being in Asher's arms all night thrilled me. I pressed my body against his, not wanting to wait any longer.

"And then I'll take you to my bed and kiss you all night long." His breath was shallow as his hands lowered down my body.

"Why don't you take me to bed tonight?" I whispered. My body was on fire, and it felt like giving into my desires with Asher was the only way to quench the insatiable thirst. Asher grabbed my butt and lifted me up. My legs automatically wrapped around his waist, and he started carrying me to his bedroom. "As you wish."