Page 59 of From Asher, With Love

“What do you mean?” I stop buckling my belt and, with a shaky hand, I hold the phone to my ear.

“We can talk about it later, Asher. Okay?”

“You don’t want me to come back when you’re released?” I ask him, panic in my voice. “I feel like I should be there when you come home.”

“No,” he says quickly. “I know you’re busy with clients and meetings. Your work is important. I just don’t want you to become a stranger. I know you’re an adult, but check in every once in a while, yeah?”

I smile, but there’s no joy behind it. A dull ache swells in my chest and, shit, I hate it. “I will. I promise. Are you sure you’re going to be all right?” A feeling of dread and uneasiness works its way into my stomach.

“We’ll talk later, okay, Ash? I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. If you need anything, give me a call,” I say, finishing up the tie around my neck. “I promise I’ll be better about getting back to you.”

“Sounds good.” He sputters out another cough before he says goodbye, ending our phone call.

I’m digesting my father’s words when Charleigh meets me where I’m standing in her bedroom near the foot of her bed. She gives me a worried smile.

“Everything okay?” Her eyes move to my phone slipped into my pocket.

I wince, unsure of how to answer her because I don’t know what to make of that phone call. What did my father mean? I have half a mind to drop everything and call the airport to prepare my private jet for a flight out to L.A. But then I remember how my dad insisted I didn’t.

“I’m not sure.” I rake my hand through my hair, stress taking me over.

“We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want.” She traces her finger down the length of my face. “I should get going.” She stands on her toes and gives me a quick kiss. She’s half turning to leave when I grab her wrist, pulling her back to me.

“I just—” I stop, swallowing the dry air coating the roof of my mouth. Her body is pressed against mine. “I just wanted to make sure you stand firm on your decision.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “You mean, did I change my mind about firing you?”

Again, a weight presses into my body. I know what thoughts are running through Charleigh’s mind, but I can’t help it. Iattempt to give her a reassuring smile, ignoring the ridiculous pit in my stomach. “Yeah.”

She gives me a teasing smile in return—one that wants me to drag her back to the bed and call out sick for the rest of the day, but I have meetings, and Charleigh needs to tend to her emergency.

She twists my tie around her hand, pulling me down to meet her. A heavy groan rumbles up my throat when my hands slide across her lower back. Her eyes sparkle in the early morning sun when she brushes her mouth above mine, not completely giving in to kissing me. “Consider me officially reconsidering.”

EIGHTEEN

CHARLEIGH

I’ve never felt so overwhelmed in my life, and I’m not just talking about how my ten-thousand-dollar refrigerator decided to crap out on me in the middle of the night, ruining an incredibly expensive client’s order. I’m talking about Asher.

Every feeling I’ve ever had for him has been set on fire. My body is still humming from his touch, and when I take the subway to work, I can still feel his mouth between my legs. I sit cross legged the entire way, hoping no one could sense the heat still coming off my body.

The subway is nearly at my stop when I get a text from Julianna in our group chat.

Julianna: Bringing coffees and maybe a bit of vodka to sneak in them. I have a feeling we might need it.

Selene: You are a saint.

Me: You don’t have to do that, Jules. I know you’re busy with your own work.

Julianna: I know I don’t, but I am. When my best friends are in trouble, I’m there. And please… I’m my own boss, so I work whenever I feel like it. Count me in!

Selene: I love you both.

Me: Love you both, too. Hopping off the subway now. Be there in a few!

Once the doors slide open, I push my way through the morning crowd and run up the stairs and down the two blocks to my shop. When I push through the front door, Selene is already meeting me. Her hair flies behind her, and her arms wrap around me.

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