Page 229 of The Sidekick

“Oh,” Max deflates quickly. “What’s up?”

“I know you said I’m welcome any time but would you guys mind if Asher stayed here sometimes too?”

They both stare between us for a second and then look at each other.

“Angel,” Asher protests and I put a hand over his mouth before he can say anything else. I don’t want demands right this second. I want some assurances not just for my sake but for his too.

If they can’t accept that Asher is in my life this won’t work. I know they’ve all talked about it but the reality of the situation has been thrown at us all much faster than we thought it would. Or, at least faster than I thought it would.

“I want to be open and honest,” I tell them with a wince. It still bothers me that they talked about me before all of this. I also feel guilty that I messed around with Asher before I knew any of that. None of us were really official at that point but we should have talked to each other more.

“I don’t have a problem with it,” Max says thoughtfully.

“I don’t want him in our room,” Trevor snaps back.

Maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up. He’s still angry and I don’t think he’s going to calm down any time soon.

“No one is saying that,” Asher pulls my hand away gently. “I’m not interested in either one of you. I’m here for Tera. I have no plans on either Max or you.”

Trevor looks at him with disbelief.

“There isn’t a bi bone in his body, Trev. Give it up,” Max says and crosses his arms over his chest. “There’s also the fact that I, your boyfriend, am not interested in Asher. I don’t know which part of him I like less. The ice or the barbed wire. Either way I’ll lose my dick.”

“So Max and I are exclusive and Tera bounces around all three of us?”

“Watch your tone,” Asher says flatly.

I am a little hurt at the phrasing. He makes it sound like I’m using them all for a good time.

“M-maybe this isn’t a good idea,” I mutter helplessly.

“No!” Trevor barks at me, suddenly on his feet.

My eyes widen as Asher leaps up to meet him chest to chest.

“Shit,” Max panics and so do I.

“Please stop,” I beg. “I’m so sorry. We’ll just go.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Trevor shakes his head hard and backs away from Asher. “I need a second.”

He walks out the front door, his hands clenching and unclenching, and slams the door behind him.

“His anger management is teaching him-”

I cut off Max’s hurried explanation. “Walking away is the hardest part. You never know if it’s time until it’s almost too late.”

Max gapes at me for a second. “That’s actually the best explanation for this that I’ve heard. He’ll walk away at the most random times and I haven’t been able to get it.”

“He’s trying to calm down so he can talk without the anger getting in the way. I use breathing exercises so I don’t panic. You yell cuss words. We all have a method. It may sound dumb but I’m proud of him for taking a minute.”

“I’ve never had an issue with this,” Asher says with a frown. “Can you help me understand more, angel?”

“I think so?” I cringe. “I don’t want to tell you wrong though. I’ll bring it up to Dr. Robinson and see if she has any advice.”

“I’ll ask Trev if he can do the same with his doctor,” Max nods enthusiastically.

“There will always be bad days,” I say sadly. Trevor isn’t the only one that has issues to deal with.

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