Page 25 of From Asher, With Love

“Have you found any promising locations for your shop yet?” Julianna asks me., throwing out a lifeline.

“Oh, um…” I frown, thinking of how to answer her with everyone at the table. Cyrus has yet to send me any listings. For now, I’m at a standstill until he emails me.

Before I can speak, Asher interrupts me.

“Charleigh decided to hire Cyrus Temper to help find her a place,” he interjects. “Didn’t she tell you?”

“What?” Both Holt and Julianna shift their focus on me, asking the same question at the same time, their voices blending. Holt darts his gaze to Asher, clearly expecting him to have a reaction after just telling us he lost a client to Cyrus. Now I’ve agreed to work with him.

I’m sure the rejection must sting. Especially to someone as driven as Asher.

“You hired Cyrus?” Holt asks, his eyebrows practically flying off his forehead.

“Yeah,” I squeak out, shrinking with the sudden attention. “Cyrus has a good track record for helping business owners like me.”

I wish I could smack the smug expression offAsher’s face right now. I can feel his gaze piercing me like a hot branding iron. He was waiting for the perfect opportunity to shine the spotlight on me, and I know he’s doing it to get back at me for refusing to hire him, for choosing Cyrus over him.

“He also has a reputation of ripping people off,” Holt adds.

“Oh, come on.” Julianna leans back, rolling her eyes at her brother. “He does not.”

“He does,” Holt insists. “I’ve heard stories from some of his clients.”

“What kind of stories?” Selene asks, clearly intrigued with where Holt is going with this. Whereas I am not. I couldn’t care less. Anyone is better than working with your ex.

“Holt’s telling the truth,” Asher chimes in. “Cyrus has a history of inflating his realtor fee. Some of his clients have also complained about his lack of negotiating.”

“Okay,” Selene says, holding out her hand. “Maybe the fee thing can be debated, but the negotiating? How can anyone prove he could have gotten them a better deal?”

“They can’t, and I trust him.” I take another gulp of my beer and look at Holt, making sure to direct my attention to him, not Asher. “I have my budget set, so I know he’ll find a place that will work for me.”

“I hope he will.” Holt’s eyes soften. I can tell he’s still slightly worried about my decision to work with Cyrus, but he doesn’t press any further.

Beside me, Asher lifts his glass to his lips, stifling a laugh against the rim, his shoulders bouncing.

“What?” I ask, annoyed. When did he become so arrogant?

“Nothing.” He frowns, three lines creasing his forehead. The small dimple in his cheek reappears with his smug grin.

“No,” I say. This time I turn my body completely toward him. The one beer I’ve had has already began to warm my body,emboldening me. “I know you want to say something, Asher. So, just say it.”

“My opinion doesn’t matter anymore, Charleigh. It hasn’t for a long time. Do what you want.”

“Fine.” I press my mouth firmly shut, clenching my teeth. The pressure I put on them makes my head pound. Asher’s words cut through me. This is not the man I knew when I was a teenager. This man is narcissistic and arrogant. “You’re right—I can do what I want.” I stand up, unwilling to take any more of Asher’s bitter words. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.” I look at my two best friends with watery eyes, unable to look at Holt. “I’m sorry.”

I step out from behind the bench and head toward the exit leading to the street. I’ve nearly made it there when Asher steps in front of me.

I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath, willing the tears to not spill. “Get out of my way, Asher.”

I open them to find he’s still standing in front of me. Only this time, he’s closer, and I track his body all the way from his feet to his chest.

Dammit. Why does he look so fucking good?

I take a step to my right to walk around him and push through the gate, staying close to the building as I make my way to the sidewalk to hail a cab, since Julianna’s driver was the one who dropped us off.

“I know you’re an adult and you’re smart, Charleigh,” Asher yells behind me. “That’s the only reason I keep warning you about Cyrus.”

“Well, just stop.” I spin around. My voice has intensified, rising out of my chest with more force than I intend it to. “It’s not helping, and I’m not yours to protect. I’ve gotten this far without you or your help. You can’t just suddenly reappear in my life and pretend to be this white knight coming to rescue me.I don’t need rescuing from some billionaire. And just in these few days since running into you, you’re proving to me why it’s not a good idea to hire you over Cyrus. It’s too complicated and messy.We’retoo complicated and messy.”

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