Page 59 of Filthy Commitments
The damn wedding wasn’t making things any easier, either. Holding Asia’s hand, we watched the bride go to meet her groom, and my heart ached that Asia and I’d never get that moment.
She gave my hand a squeeze. “She looks amazing.”
I leaned in to whisper. “You’d look better.”
Taking her eyes off my cousin to look at me, she smiled. I couldn’t take my eyes off hers. Our connection was deep and true. And I was a fool for what I’d done. But nothing could change it.
The music stopped, and we all sat back down. I ran my arm around Asia. She rested her head on my shoulder, and we watched the rest of the wedding play out.
There was a dinner that was held elsewhere then it would be back to The Plaza for the reception. Asia and I rode with my parents in their limo to that part of the event. Mom chatted away after we all got into the car, “Wasn’t that lovely? How I wish we could’ve done something like that for you two.”
Asia sighed. “As lovely as that was, I’d never want anything that large anyway. All this seems like a lot of trouble to go through to me.”
I wrapped my arm around her and kissed the side of her head. “I agree. I think it would’ve been nice to have had our families with us when we got married, but no one else.”
“Yes, keeping it informal and small would’ve been good.” Asia leaned her head on my shoulder. “Plus, I’m worn out just by attending. What must the bride and groom feel like?”
Mom’s expression grew to one of concern. “Asia, dear, have you been doing okay? I only ask because you seem to have lost weight since I saw you last.”
“She’s been a little under the weather,” I answered for her.
Asia nodded. “Although living with your son has been the best, I have a lot of worry over school. I failed two classes last semester and that has me worried about retaking them. I think the stress of that has my tummy upset often.”
“You know you could hire a tutor to help you out, Asia. I’m sure with extra help you could pass those classes,” Mom said, trying to be helpful.
I knew Asia was a little worried about those classes. Her real worries were about us though. Our contract would be ending the very next day. We’d be free then. And as far as she knew, we still hadn’t come up with a way to make the lies disappear so we could move forward as a real couple.
“I didn’t think about that. Thanks.” Asia smiled at my mother then looked up at me. “Maybe I should see about that then. In the next day or so, I’ll do that. Remind me, would you?”
With a nod, I pulled her close, leaning my chin on top of her head. “I’ll do that for you. No need to worry so much, Asia.”
My father shifted in the seat. “You two need to understand one thing. Worry never solved anything. It’s a wasteful emotion. Better to figure out what you can do to fix things, rather than worry about them. You have a problem, do something about it. Don’t just worry and accomplish nothing but making yourself sick.”
Dad was right, but Dad didn’t know everything. Asia and I had a mountain of things to worry about. And what was worse, each and every way there was to fix it would cost both of us some kind of mental anguish.
At least with my idea, we’d both be hurt, but Asia would come out with her dignity intact. Only I’d be despised. A thing I wasn’t looking forward to, but it had to be done.
“You’re right, Dad. Worry has never solved a thing. Action will be taken so Asia can stop worrying.”
Dad gave a nod of approval. “See to that, son. And I talked to Angie in human resources. Now, she told me that you’ve yet to go in and fill out the paperwork to put your wife on the insurance plans. Why is that? You’ve had nothing but time to get that done. You’re going to start working with me in just a couple of weeks to learn the CEO role. You’ll be very busy then. Best to get that out of the way before then.”
“I’ll get down there, Dad. It may seem like I’ve been free as a bird, but Asia and I have been doing all sorts of things.”
Asia nodded. “We’ve been going and going. It seems like we hardly ever just sit around. But we should take the next couple of weeks and do just that. We both have work and school looming ahead of us.”
I wondered if Asia would be too devastated to go back to school after I left her. I wondered how my parents would react to my going back to Los Angeles and picking up where I left off. Dad would have to maintain his role as CEO. I’d be deemed unworthy, and frankly, I didn’t want to be in New York where I might run into Asia or her family.
It’d be best for me to be far away from them all. I knew my parents would get over things, eventually. But I doubted Asia ever would. Not entirely. She wouldn’t die or anything, but there’d be a part of her that would remain broken forever. She trusted me. It was bound to leave a deep scar.
My leaving would leave its mark on me too. I’d never love anyone the way I loved Asia. I knew that. I’d never done anything so selfless in my life. I knew our love was true. If it wasn’t, I’d feel just fine letting everyone think bad things about Asia.
I couldn’t let that happen, though.
“Oh, before I forget,” Mom added. “The Petersons are having a dinner party next week. They asked me to extend the invitation to you two.”
“Tell them, thank you, but we can’t go.”
Asia turned her head to look at me. “Don’t say no on my account. I’m game, Jett.”
