Page 6 of Emergency Exit
With a sinking feeling, Harper replayed some of the comments from previous conversations and realized that everyone in the room probably thought Ash was her boyfriend. The worst part was that she would have liked a date with Ash and now her chances were probably ruined. This Harper Moment kept getting better and better.
The elevator arrived with a sharp ding, and Ash turned to look at it. Harper’s phone gave a single buzz in her hand. She looked down and saw Cooper’s face next to a text message.
Stop ducking my calls. This is your reminder message that it’salmost the fifteenth. Don’t forget to put your check in the mail.
Harper felt the now familiar burn of shame and anger. She had put a reminder on her calendar. She didn’t need him to call her. Also, who wrote checks anymore? The fact that he wouldn’t accept any of her online payment options pissed her off. She’d had to order checks because of him.
Why couldn’t she have dated someone like Ash? Ash seemed like a great boyfriend. He’d been so supportive and kind.
“Elevator’s here. See you, Colin,” she heard Ash say and tucked her phone away without responding.
“Asher, my darling,” said a sweet voice, and Harper looked up to see a woman in a caramel-colored Vera Wang that was to die for. “I’msohappy to see you.” She sounded like Stephanie and had a similar long-limbed body and blonde hair, but the languid air was replaced by a sharp energy and quick movements. Next to her, Harper felt Ash freeze in place, stiffening all over as the woman stepped close to him and planted a kiss on his lips. His hands flailed out sideways as if he didn’t even want to touch her to get rid of her.
“What are you doing to my boyfriend?”
The words shot out of Harper’s mouth, and she had never wanted to un-say something so much in her life.
The woman jerked back and looked at Harper in fury.
This Harper Moment was quickly climbing to number two in the all-time worst rankings. Why had she said that?
“Who the hell are you?” demanded the woman. “I’m his girlfriend!”
“Not anymore, Emma,” snapped Ash. “I believe I have made that perfectly clear!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ash,” said Emma. “We’re on a break.”
“It’s a break-up,”said Ash, grabbing Harper’s hand. “I’m with Harper now. Excuse us. I don’t want to hold up the elevator.”
The elevator was operated by an actual person, just like ablack and white movie, and the operator studiously stared at the handle and wheel that marked the floors as they passed. She looked anxiously up at Ash, hoping he wasn’t angry at her.
Then he looked down at her, his eyes narrowing, and he seemed to take stock of her seriously for the first time.
“Want to go get a drink?” he asked.
“God, yes,” Harper said. Maybe alcohol could make this situation better.
“Great. I know a place down the block.”
He was silent on the walk. When they entered the bar, despite a sign sayingwait to be seated, he merely waved at the bartender, and went directly to a booth at the back of the room. Harper waited for someone to yell at them, but a waiter left a table and came directly to them with a smile. Harper stammered out her standard cocktail order. She always ordered a gin and tonic. She liked other things, but sometimes deciding took too long for whoever she was with, and a gin and tonic could be relied on to taste the same across a spectrum of establishments. Ash just nodded when the waitress asked if he wanted his usual.
It was a quiet bar with low lighting and velvet banquets that helped soften the noise. Harper found the atmosphere soothing after the press of people at Mason’s party. She tried to gauge how Ash was feeling. His expression seemed set to frown, but a frown could go so many ways.
Although other patrons were still waiting on their orders, the waitress returned promptly with their drinks. Harper took a sip and dove in. She might as well start her apologies now.
“I amsosorry,” said Harper.
“For what?” asked Ash, taking a healthy drink of his Scotch.
“Umm…” she nervously swirled the swizzle stick in her drink. “I kind of… I insulted your friend’s wife. To her face. And then I said you were my boyfriend. Really loudly. In front of everyone.” Harper thought over the moment again. “I was looking aroundthe party and thinking that everyone probably thought you were my boyfriend and then I turned around and—bam! It just came out of my mouth!”
Ash grinned and gave a half-laugh.
“Emma is my ex, and Stephanie is her sister. I’ve always thought Steph was a bit on the bitchy side, but you were right, that was next level. Mason swore that Emma wasn’t going to be there tonight. All I wanted to do was pop in and say hello. I can’t believe she kissed me. I completely froze. Honestly, you were brilliant.”
“Ash! I called Stephanie a bitch, lied really loudly, and, last but not least, I went to the wrong damn party.”
Ash burst out laughing. “Oh, my God. Seriously, when I tell this story, I’m not sure which part will be my favorite.”
