"My parents are going to Vegas this weekend for some influencer convention," Kael said casually during their tutoring session. "Want to come over Saturday? We could watch movies, order food, just hang out without worrying about curfews or being interrupted."
Asher's heart skipped. They'd been dating—actually dating—for almost a month now, but they'd never been completely alone. There were always people around, time limits, interruptions.
"Your house? Just the two of us?"
"Yeah." Kael's smile was soft, but something flickered in his eyes that Asher couldn't quite read. "Unless you're not comfortable with that. We can do something else—"
"No! I mean, yes. I'm comfortable. I'd love to." Asher's face heated. "Should I bring anything?"
"Just yourself." Kael reached across the library table, linking their fingers together. "I'll take care of everything else."
The gesture was sweet, but Asher noticed Kael's hand was trembling slightly.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Perfect. Just tired from practice." Kael squeezed his hand. "Saturday at six?"
"It's a date."
Elliot cornered Asher the next day at lunch.
"So. Kael's house. Alone. This weekend."
"How did you—"
"You have exactly zero poker face. You've been smiling like an idiot since yesterday." Elliot set down his tray. "Please tell me you understand what this invitation means."
Asher's face burned. "We're just going to watch movies—"
"Ash. Come on. Empty house. Romantic evening. He's setting the scene for your first time."
"You don't know that!"
"I absolutely know that. And more importantly, you know that." Elliot's expression softened. "Are you ready for that?"
Am I?
Asher had thought about it, of course. Late at night when he couldn't sleep, when Kael's goodnight texts made his heart race, when their kisses—which had progressed from gentle pecks to something more heated—left him wanting more.
He'd never done anything like that before. Never even come close.
But with Kael, he wanted to. Wanted to take that step. Wanted to show Kael how much he meant to him.
"I think so," Asher said quietly. "I trust him."
"That's what worries me."
"El, please. Not today. Can't you just be happy for me?"
Elliot sighed. "I am happy for you. I just..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Promise me you'll be careful. Physically and emotionally. And promise that if anything feels wrong, you'll stop. No matter what."
"I promise."
"And promise you'll call me if you need me. Any time, any reason."
"I promise." Asher reached across the table to squeeze his friend's hand. "Thank you for caring."
"Always." Elliot managed a smile. "Now, do you have something nice to wear, or do we need to go shopping?"
"I don't have money for—"
"My treat. Consider it a 'please don't get your heart broken' gift."
Saturday arrived too quickly.
Asher changed outfits four times before settling on dark jeans and a soft blue sweater that Kael had once said made his eyes look "like the ocean." He'd borrowed some of Elliot's nicer cologne—nothing too strong.
His hands shook as he texted Kael that he was ready.
KAEL: On my way. Can't wait to see you ❤️
The heart emoji made Asher's stomach flutter.
I felt significant.
His fer father intercepted him at the door. "Where are you going dressed so nice?"
"Kael's house. Movie night."
"Will his parents be home?"
Asher hesitated. He'd never been a good liar. "Um..."
"Asher." His mer dad appeared, arms crossed. "Answer the question."
"They're going to be out of town. But we're just watching movies! Nothing else!"
His parents exchanged a look—one of those wordless conversations that only people married for twenty years could have.
"You're seventeen," his mer dad said finally. "Almost eighteen. We trust your judgment."
"But," his fer father added firmly, "you need to be smart. And safe. And if anything happens that you're not comfortable with—"
"I know, I know. I'll call you. I promise."
Another exchanged look.
"Midnight curfew," his mer dad said. "And keep your location sharing on."
"Deal."
Kael's car pulled up outside, and Asher practically ran to the door.
"Have fun," his fer father called. "But not too much fun!"
"Dad!"
He escaped to Kael's car, mortified.
"Your parents are cute," Kael said, laughing at Asher's embarrassment.
"They're mortifying."
"They care about you. That's nice." Something wistful crossed Kael's face. "My parents barely remember I exist unless I'm needed for content."
Asher reached over to squeeze his hand. "Well, I remember you exist."
"Yeah?" Kael brought Asher's hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles. "That's all that matters then."
The drive to Kael's house took twenty minutes. Asher had seen glimpses of it on Instagram, but nothing prepared him for the reality.
It wasn't a house. It was an estate.
Gated entrance. Sprawling mansion. Perfectly manicured grounds. The kind of place that appeared in architectural magazines.
"This is where you live?" Asher.
"Unfortunately." Kael parked in a garage that held four other luxury cars. "I know it's a lot."
"It's like a palace."
"It's empty." Kael killed the engine. "Come on. I'll give you the tour."
The interior was somehow even more impressive—all marble and crystal and designer furniture that looked like it had never been sat on. Everything was pristine, perfect, and utterly devoid of warmth.
"My mom's an interior designer slash lifestyle influencer," Kael explained as Asher gaped. "Everything has to be camera-ready at all times."
"Where do you actually live? Like, where's your stuff?"
"My room. It's the only place I'm allowed to make a mess." Kael led him upstairs, down a hallway lined with family photos that looked more like professional photoshoots than actual memories.
Kael's bedroom was massive—easily the size of Asher's entire upstairs. But unlike the rest of the house, it actually looked lived in. Basketball trophies on shelves, clothes draped over a chair, textbooks scattered on a desk, posters on the walls.
"This is more like it," Asher said, relaxing slightly.
"Yeah. This is actually mine." Kael kicked off his shoes. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll order food. What are you in the mood for?"
"I don't care. Whatever you want."
They settled on Thai food and queued up a movie—some action thing that Asher would normally never watch, but Kael seemed excited about it.
The food arrived quickly. They ate on Kael's bed—an enormous thing that could fit five people—making fun of the movie's terrible dialogue and stealing bites from each other's plates.
It was comfortable.
But as the evening wore on, Asher noticed Kael getting quieter. More tense.
"Hey." Asher paused the movie during a particularly dull scene. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"You just seem... I don't know. Distracted?"
Kael was quiet for a moment. Then he turned to face Asher fully, his expression serious.
"Can I tell you something?"
Asher's heart rate picked up. "Of course."
"I've never felt this way about anyone before." Kael's hand found Asher's, their fingers intertwining. "Like, ever. You make me want to be better. You make me actually care about things beyond basketball and followers and maintaining the perfect image."
"Kael—"
"Let me finish." Kael took a shaky breath. "I know we haven't been together that long, but I need you to know... I'm falling for you. Hard. And it terrifies me because I've never let myself be this vulnerable with anyone."
Asher's chest felt too tight. "I'm falling for you too. I have been since that first day at my locker."
"Really?"
"Really. You're... you're everything I never thought I could have."
Kael's expression crumpled slightly. "Don't say that. You deserve everything."
"I have everything. I have you."
The words seemed to break something in Kael. He pulled Asher close, kissing him .
Asher kissed back, his hands finding their way into Kael's hair. The movie played on, forgotten, as they got lost in each other.
Kael's hands slipped under Asher's sweater, and Asher gasped against his mouth.
"Is this okay?" Kael asked, his voice rough.
"Yes." Asher's answer came without hesitation.
Kael pulled Asher's sweater over his head, then his own shirt. Asher's hands explored the planes of Kael's chest, all those muscles he'd only seen through clothing.
"You're beautiful," Kael murmured against his neck. "So beautiful."
"So are you."
They shed more layers. Asher felt exposed, vulnerable, but Kael's hands were gentle.
"Have you done this before?" Kael asked.
"No." Asher's voice was barely a whisper. "Have you?"
"Yeah. But never with someone I actually cared about."
The admission made Asher's heart soar. "I care about you too. So much."
"I know." Kael's eyes were dark, unreadable. "That's what makes this so—"
He cut himself off, kissing Asher again before he could ask what he meant.
Things progressed. Kael reached into his nightstand, pulling out supplies.
"If you want to stop at any point, we stop," Kael said. "Promise me you'll tell me."
"I promise. But I don't want to stop."
"You're sure?"
"I've never been more sure of anything."
It should have been perfect. It should have been everything Asher dreamed of.
And at first, it was.
Kael was gentle at first, patient with Asher's inexperience. But then something shifted. His touches became rougher, more impersonal. Like he was going through motions rather than being present.
"Kael—" Asher tried to slow things down, but Kael wasn't listening.
It hurt more than Asher expected—physically and emotionally. This wasn't the tender first time he'd imagined. It felt rushed.
When it was over, Kael rolled away almost immediately, staring at the ceiling with an expression Asher couldn't read.
"That was..." Asher started, trying to find the right words.
"Yeah." Kael's voice was flat. Empty.
Something cold settled in Asher's stomach. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. Just tired."
"Kael, what's wrong? Did I do something—"
"You didn't do anything wrong." Kael still wouldn't look at him. "I just need... I need some space."
"Space? But I thought—"
"Can you just go? Please?" Kael's voice cracked. "I'll drive you home. I just can't—I can't do this right now."
Asher felt tears burning behind his eyes. "What's happening? Talk to me."
"There's nothing to talk about." Kael finally sat up, but he still wouldn't meet Asher's gaze. "I'll take you home."
"It's only nine. My curfew isn't until midnight—"
"I said I'll take you home."
The ride back was silent and awful. Kael's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Asher sat pressed against the passenger door, trying not to cry.
When they pulled up to Asher's house, Kael kept the car running.
"I'll text you," he said, his voice hollow.
"Okay." Asher's voice was small. "Kael, did I do something wrong? Please tell me."
"You didn't. I just... I need to think."
"About us?"
"About everything."
Asher wanted to push. Wanted to demand answers. But the look on Kael's face—devastated and closed-off simultaneously—stopped him.
"Okay," he whispered. "Goodnight."
He got out of the car. Kael drove away before Asher even reached his front door.
Inside, his parents were already asleep. Asher went straight to his room, stripped off his clothes, and stood in the shower until the water ran cold.
His body ached. His heart ached more.
What just happened? What did I do wrong?
He checked his phone obsessively, waiting for Kael's promised text.
It never came.
Kael made it home and immediately vomited.
He'd done it. He'd actually done it. He'd slept with Asher and won the bet.
And he'd never hated himself more.
The look on Asher's face as Kael had pushed him away—confused, hurt, desperately trying to understand what he'd done wrong—
He didn't do anything wrong. I did. I did everything wrong.
Kael's phone buzzed. The group chat.
JAX: So? Did you close?
RIVER: Please tell me you finally sealed the deal
JAX: It's been five hours. That's either really good or really bad
Kael stared at the messages, his hands shaking.
KAEL: It's done.
JAX: FINALLY
RIVER: My man! I knew you had it in you
JAX: Bali here we come! We'll finalize the details tomorrow
RIVER: Victory tastes sweet. Congrats bro
Victory.
Kael had never felt less victorious in his life.
He blocked out their continued messages and opened his texts with Asher. The last message was from this afternoon—Asher sending him a funny meme about their literature homework, complete with a string of laughing emojis.
Kael turned off his phone and lay in bed, staring at the ceiling where, hours ago, Asher had looked at him with love.
He'd won the bet.
Author's Note: I'M SO SORRY. This chapter hurt to write. Kael is the WORST and he knows it. Poor Asher thinks he did something wrong when really Kael is just a coward dealing with his guilt in the worst way possible. Next chapter: the ghosting begins, and Asher's world starts to fall apart. And soon... the pregnancy discovery. Get your tissues ready because it's about to get SO MUCH WORSE. 😭💔 -AzureSkies