Page 39 of If the Stars Align
One month later, Asher and I are planning our fourth date. He offers to cook me dinner at his apartment off campus on Saturday evening. His roommate will be out of town the whole weekend.
“You’re having sex tonight!” Sam squeals when we’re hanging out that afternoon.
Claire laughs at her roommate’s outburst, but must notice me biting my lip. “Okay, let’s not jump to any conclusions, Sam. We don’t even know if Sunny’s ready to have sex with Asheryet.” She turns to face me again. “Areyou?”
“I’m not sure,” I say as I take a seat at their kitchen table. We just got back from a yoga class, and Sam is making us lunch. “It’s been nice taking things slowly.”
“Do you feel like he’s putting pressure on you?” Claire asks as Sam hands us each a plate with her signature tofu “egg” salad sandwich on sprouted whole grain bread.
“No, not at all. He’s been such a gentleman,” I say as I take a tentative bite of my sandwich. “Mmm, this is surprisingly good!” I exclaim before taking a bigger bite.
“Surprisingly?” says Sam.
“I guess I’m just scared,” I continue, steering the conversation back to my dilemma. “It’s been so easy and fun with Asher, and I’m afraid having sex might…complicate things.”
“You’re afraid you forgot how to do it?” Sam teases.
I laugh and shake my head. “I really like Asher. And I’m afraid that if we have sex, I’ll just start comparing him…you know…to Dex.
And how could sex with anyone elseevercompare?
Sam tilts her head. “Well, itwillbe different. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be amazing. Plus, you’ll never know unless you try.”
“Just remember, there’s no rush,” Claire adds. “When you’re ready, you’ll know.”
“Thanks, ladies,” I say as I inhale the last bite of my sandwich. “Well, I hate to eat and run, but I want to squeeze in a nap before my date tonight. That should help settle my nerves.”
Sam jumps up from the table. “Or you could meditate withus!” she exclaims, pointing to the meditation space she recently created in a corner of their living room. “I just got some new cushions, want to try one?”
“Thanks, I’m good,” I say, smiling as I hug her first, then Claire. They walk me to the door. “Wish me luck!” I shout as I start to head down the stairwell.
“Good luck getting laid!” I hear Sam yell from the doorframe, just as their eighty-year-old neighbor leaves her apartment and meets my sheepish grin with stern disapproval.
When I get back to my dorm room, I check my voicemail and listen to a new message from Mia. “Just calling to check in and say hi! I miss you. It’s been awhile.”
It’s been four weeks. I haven’t told her about Asher yet.
I can’t fathom her reaction. She’ll remember him from middle school. He was quiet, but nice. Tall and lanky. He’s hot now. Sexy, even. Will she be happy for me? Will she ask me if I’m over Dex?
It’s been 280 days since I last saw him. Not that anyone’s counting.
I play out the conversation with Mia in my mind, and I get totally overwhelmed.
So instead of calling her back, I nap.
Asher knew exactly what he was doing when he invited me over for dinner. If I didn’t already think he was incredibly sexy, tonight has sealed the deal. Tall, handsome, Asher—in anapron—making a delicious meal forme. It’s intoxicating.
“The chicken smells amazing,” I say, closing my eyes and inhaling the sultry scent of cumin, lime, and something spicy. “Can I help with anything?”
“Nah, I’ve got this,” Asher says with a wink as he turns the heat down under the sizzling pan. “Here. Try a bite.”
I smile as he brings a spoonful to my lips, his other hand hovering under my chin. I knew I would like it based on the smell of his kitchen alone, but as soon as the flavors hit my taste buds, my eyes widen in disbelief. “Oh my god, Asher…this might be the best chicken I’ve ever tasted! I’m worried you missed your calling. Are you absolutelysureyou want to be a therapist?”
He laughs. “I’m glad you like it. I can’t take all the credit, though. My mom’s a chefanda great teacher. Unfortunately I’m way too into my psychology classes to even consider a different career.”
I lean against the counter, my shoulders rounding. “That’s incredible. I wish I felt that way about poli sci. Honestly, it’s just a means to an end. I could have majored in pretty much anything, but I read that poli sci majors have high law school acceptance rates.”
“Sounds like you have it all figured out,” Asher says as he squeezes lime into two bottles of beer and hands one to me. “Do you know what kind of law you want to practice?”
