Page 23 of Keeping Promises

I look up to find Lexi situated again in Ben’s lap, smiling at the images, and my brother resting his chin on her shoulder, admiring them as well. “Did you hear what I asked?”

I shake my head. “Sorry, I zoned out for a second.”

My brother sighs. “I said, forget about getting lost in work. We should go out and celebrate. How about dinner? My treat. Plus, we can talk about the Abrams Jewelers benefit on Friday.”

“Yeah, sure. Sounds good.” I’m glad he reminded me of that event because I totally forgot. Maritime Media is one of the VIP sponsors for a gala the largest jewelry store downtown is hosting. When guests arrive, they will select jewelry pieces from the store to wear for the evening and return them before they leave.

“We should call Hadley,” Lexi says as she sets the images down on the desk.

“Umm, she mentioned that she was tired or something, so she was headed home to lie down.”

“Oh, okay.” Lexi twists her lips together as if she is processing what I just said or trying to act as a human lie detector, but she doesn’t press for more information. “I’ve got some emails to respond to, and then I’ll be ready to go.” She hops off Ben’s lap and leans down, pressing her lips to his in a quick kiss before heading for the door. Lexi pauses once in the doorway and turns to face us. I feel her gaze on me and look up just in time to see her open her mouth to say something, but she quickly shuts it and leaves from view.

I don’t know what she was planning to say, but if I’ve learned anything about my soon-to-be sister-in-law, it’s that she doesn’t have much of a filter around me. She calls me out on my shit. I wonder how she really feels, though, about Hadley and me having a baby. She claims to have been on “Team Asher” from the beginning, but I also know that she is fiercely loyal to her best friends, and if it came down to it, I would hate to put her in the middle between having to choose between the two of us, because I know she would choose Hadley. And I’m not sure what that would do to her and Ben’s relationship.

“So, you want to tell me the real reason you came back to the office when you had an afternoon of freedom?”

Ben stands and walks around his desk, taking a seat next to me, crossing his ankle over his knee. Seeing him like this in his suit and tie reminds me so much of Dad. It’s crazy how much they resemble each other. Of course, colorful ink lines Ben’s arms, whereas our father didn’t have any tattoos.

He bellows out a loud laugh that I’m sure Lexi could hear in her office down the hall. “Come on, Asher, do you think I don’t know when you’re lying? I did raise you through your rebellious teenage years, right?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Come on, talk to me,” Ben says in a calm tone. “Did something happen at the appointment? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, no, everything went great at the appointment.”

“Is Hadley okay?”

“Yeah, well, I guess. I don’t know. I asked her to get some food afterward, and it was like she couldn’t get away fast enough. Things were going great during the actual appointment, but then it was like she flipped a switch.”

“Well, it had to have been something.” Ben leans forward on his elbows.

I scrub my hands down my face, “It might have been the nurse at the front desk scheduling our next appointment who hit on me and gave me her number.”

“The fuck? She did that in front of Hadley? Wow.”

“I mean, Hadley didn’t exactly help the situation that led to that.” I fill Ben in on the events that took place, and by the time I finish, he’s scratching his head.

“That’s quite a predicament you’re in.”

I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, you’re telling me.”

“So Hadley never heard you turn her down?”

I shake my head. “Nope. She ran out of the office so fast I’m surprised she didn’t leave smoke marks in her wake.”

“Well, first things first, communication is key. I know this is a weird and new situation for both of you, but you guys have to talk about things—even the small stuff. It’s only going to get more complicated and harder from here.”

“Do you think she’ll ever be able to see me as something other than the arrogant playboy?”

As soon as those words hit my lips, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth—arrogant playboy. Looking back at my life over the past few years, that’s the only way to describe me. In my eyes, men wanted to be me, and women wanted to be with me.Who exactly is Asher Harrington, if he’s not that?

“I’ll be honest, Asher, it may take her some time. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but you also have to remember, there’s only one version of you that Hadley has ever known. The one with a different woman on his arm every night, sleeping his way through the city.”

I get up and begin to pace back and forth in his office. “I’m trying, man. I showed up today. I want to do right by this baby.”

He stands. “I know that, and I’m proud of you for making that decision. But you have to remember, Hadley’s scared.”

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