Page 88 of Flirt
Watching Luke rant over his extra-crispy French fries, waving his hands around in big, animated circles while he cursed a man he didn’t know, had been highly amusing. If nothing else, it had given Asher a reason to laugh for the first time in days.
“Don’t laugh.” Taking his straw out of his water glass, Luke jabbed it toward Asher. “I’ll do it. You know I will.”
Asher didn’t doubt it. “I know you will.”
“So, that’s it?” Luke dropped the straw into his cup and fell back in his chair with a huff. “We’re just supposed to do nothing? Just wait and see what happens?”
“From a legal standpoint, there’s not much that wecando. The PR rep has some ideas of how to get out in front of this disaster, though.”
“I don’t know, Ash. I know he gets paid big bucks for this stuff, but maybe it’s better to just keep your head down and not say anything.”
Asher had considered the same thing, but he’d been doing that for years, and look where it had gotten him. “I’m going to meet with this Talon Andrews and hear what he has to say. At this point, I’ll take all the help I can get.”
Reaching across the table, Luke held his hand out, palm up, and smiled when Asher grasped it. “I’m here. Whatever you need.”
“I know.” Luke wasn’t just his best friend. He was family, and they’d been looking out for each other for a long time. “I just hope you don’t hate me when this is all over.”
Luke snorted and rolled his eyes. “Not going to happen.”
“You say that now.” Once the media circus started and reporters began stalking him at the gym, he might change his mind. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this shit.”
Releasing his hand, Luke settled back in his seat and crossed his arms over his chest. “If I remember correctly, I’m the one who dragged you halfway across the country to—What did you call it?” He lifted one hand and snappedhis fingers. “That’s right. ‘Hell’s front porch.’ You always did have a gift for words.”
In Asher’s defense, they’d arrived in Dallas in the middle of August. For weeks, the highs had hovered in the upper nineties, with heat indexes soaring well over a hundred. It had been fucking miserable.
“Did I ever thank you for that?”
“No, and you don’t have to now. You’re my family, Ash. I take care of my family.”
Asher had heard those same words said in a number of different ways in books and movies. Once or twice, he’d even overheard it said by people on the street. He doubted many of them meant it the way Luke did. When he said he took care of his family, it wasn’t just a sentiment.
He’d moved back in with his parents a couple of years after coming back to Dallas to care for his father after the stroke. Every day until he’d passed, Luke had fed and cleaned him, read to him, moved him, turned him so he wouldn’t get bed sores, and he’d never complained once.
Despite his mother’s vocal opinion about his “lifestyle,” he still visited her twice a week like clockwork. Cooking, cleaning, repairing leaking faucets, driving her to doctor appointments, making sure she had groceries in the house and her utilities had been paid—he did it all, and he didn’t ask for anything in return.
Most people looked at Luke, and they saw loud and flashy. Asher looked at him and saw a man unashamed ofhis sexuality and unapologetically comfortable in his own skin. He saw a protector and a nurturer. He saw someone beautiful, both inside and out, and he hoped that someday, someone else would see it, too.
“I need to get back to work.” Pushing back from the table, he stood and brushed a few crumbs off his black scrubs. “I’m serious, though, whatever you need.”
Asher stood as well and pulled his friend into a tight hug. “Hey, Cameron wants to go out tomorrow night. You in?”
“Sure. Where are we going?”
“New club in Highland Park.”
Luke pulled away and clapped him on the shoulder with a grin. “Sounds kinky.” He wiggled his eyebrows and laughed. “I’ll be there, but I really do have to go.”
“Yeah, same here,” Asher said, dropping a couple of bills on the table. “I have to meet Cameron back at his place so we can talk to his family.”
“Did you knock him up?”
Rolling his eyes, Asher fell into step beside him as they wound through the tables to the exit. “You’re hilarious. Cameron thought it would be better if they hear it from me rather than find out on the news.”
“Oh, that sucks. He’s right, but it still sucks. I’m sorry, honey.” He gave Asher another pat on the shoulder. “Good luck.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it.”
~
