Page 5 of Emergency Exit
“Asher!” Harper was both horrified and impressed by his quick thinking.
“Are we not telling that part yet?” asked Ash. He looked absolutely gleeful.
“Not in public,” said Harper, trying hard not to laugh at him.
“Probably wise,” said Mason, looking amused. “Here, let me get you some drinks.”
Mason stepped toward a waiter just as his wife approached.
“Ash, darling, Iamhappy to see you.”
Mrs. Richland was a slender blonde with a long neck and a graceful languid air as if she never hurried for anything. She leaned in and kissed Ash’s cheek, but he stiffened as if the touch wasn’t welcome. Her outfit was expensive, but it was the Balenciaga hair tie that caught Harper’s eye. The woman was wearing a scrunchy on her wrist that cost more than Harper’s gold earrings.
“But you didn’t have to bring a plus one,” she said, stepping back and turning slightly so that Harper was outside the conversation. “You really don’t have anything to prove to anyone.”
“I’m not trying to prove anything,” said Asher through a tight smile. “I’m trying to introduce Harper to my friends.” He stepped closer to Harper, forcing the woman to turn and face them. “Harper, this is Stephanie.”
“Well, I’m sure we’re always happy to meet one of your little friends,” said Stephanie, looking past Harper into the crowd. “But you know I can’t keep track of any of them.”
Harper had no idea how to react. Stephanie was a blatant bitch. Harper glanced up at Ash and thought he looked like he was trying not to explode.
“But now that you’re here, I really should bring it up.” Stephanie’s eyebrows almost rose in concern, but Harper suspected they couldn’t emote that much anymore.
“Bring what up?” Ash looked puzzled.
“The Trax event is coming up. And I just... I’m worried that you’re not going to get an invite. I really can’t guarantee anything. I’m not on the committee anymore, after all. But I know what high standards the girls have. They really do prefer that all the attendees be the right sort of person. I mean, Mason and I don’t mind, of course. We’re your friends.” Stephanie focused on Harper for the first time. “You can bring whoever.”
“Wow,” said Harper, genuinely awestruck. “That is some final boss-level bitchiness.”
Then she realized that thought had happened outside her head and looked up at Ash in horror.
“Here,” said Mason, returning and shoving cocktails at them. Harper took the drink. She didn’t know what else to do. Ash gave a sharp bark of laughter and then shook his head.
“Happy birthday, Mason. Come on, Harper, let’s get out of here.”
“But you just got here.” Mason clearly hadn’t heard his wife’s comments.
“I’ll catch you on Monday,” said Ash, ignoring the outstretched drink and pulling Harper away. Mason made a protesting noise, but Ash just kept moving.
Ash tugged her toward the elevator and Harper took a gulp of the cocktail, then handed it to someone. She wasn’t sure it was even a waiter, but they took it.
“I am so sorry,” said Harper. Feeling the horrible, heavy shame feeling in her chest. Why had she said that? Ash would hate her now. “I really didn’t mean to say that. I was just so…”
“Pissed?” he offered, moving around a knot of people who refused to give them space.
Harper might have replied, but the conversation around them felt too loud for a nuanced discussion of her feelings. Particularly when she wasn’t sure which emotion she was feeling. Her purse buzzed under her arm. Ash let go of her hand to better negotiate the press of people, and Harper took the opportunity to fumble with her clutch, opening it just as the call ended.
Ash stopped in front of an elevator, and Harper looked around in confusion. It wasn’t the same elevator they’d arrived in. This one was fancier and had a brass lattice-like folding grate across the front.
“That was way out of line. I can’t believe Stephanie said that to you!”
Harper laughed in surprise, realizing he was angryforher, not because of her.
“Mostly, I think I’m impressed. I don’t even know how to be that insulting without getting mad or turning bright pink. That was some serious shade.”
“Ash, are you leaving already?”
The Black man they’d talked to when they arrived waved to get Ash’s attention. Harper thought Ash had said his name was Colin. She didn’t know why she was trying to memorize the names. It wasn’t like she was dating Ash.
