Page 83 of Be Your Forever
“Fuck off,” Asher retorts while flipping him off. Our time slot is coming to a close, and I’m beaming with pride. I did it. I took charge of something my trauma tried to take away from me. I’m still glowing as we say our goodbyes, and Amber and I make plans to have dinner with Avery. I have a feeling those two are gonna hit it off.
“Hey, Asher, can you drive? I just want to relax.”
“Sure. You did good today.”
My eyes flutter closed, and I feel the corners of my mouth pulling into a soft smile. The car's vibration purrs beneath me and soft, soothing sounds from my go-to playlist bathe my body in serenity. I did it. I took something that nearly destroyed me and, in Asher’s words, made it my bitch.
The rough, almost sandpaper feel of a thumb rubbing soothing circles along my hand has a contented sigh slipping past my lips.
Asher.
He’s a huge reason I was able to do this today. True, I’ve rediscovered my strength, but without an anchor, I’d be lost at sea. His presence alone is a balm to my soul. He’s your favorite hoodie fresh out the dryer. He’s my everything.
I turn my hand so that our fingers interlock before bringing our joint hands to my lips and pressing a soft kiss against his wrist.
“Thank you for today.”
“Bear, you don’t have to thank me. I’d do anything for you, always.”
“I know, but it means a lot to me. You knew today would be hard given who I was supposed to do this with. Yet, you helped take a tainted memory and turn it into something beautiful.”
Everything around me halts, the words a reality slap in the face. I wasn’t tainted, but I felt broken, lost. Energy was wasted searching for pieces of me that were never missing. They were tucked away waiting to be set free. Waiting for the right person to set them ablaze.
Asher.
Somehow, my soul knew it was always meant to be him. He saw me—all of me—and cherished every inch like a precious gem.
“You’re worth going above and beyond for, Bri.”
Asher squeezes my hand a few times before I feel the softness of his lips linger at the pulse point on my wrist.
We spend the rest of the drive home, hands interlocked, silence blanketing us in what could only be described as the purest love that’s ever caressed my skin.
We’re pulling into my driveway, and just as I’m stepping out of the car, Asher tosses me over his shoulder, speed walking to the front door.
“Asher! What are you doing?”
“You did a hard thing today. I think that deserves a reward.”
He slaps my ass, which has me squealing and laughing all the way to the bedroom. All humor slips off my face as I see the intensity of his gaze locked on mine. Asher scans my body like a man starved.
“It’s time to play.”
Asher
We pulled an uno reverse
October2026
“Will you go on a date with me?” I blurt out the words when she’s in the middle of washing her face. The question lingers in the air. Bri blinks up at me, the steady stream of water filling the space while suds still effervesce on her skin. After our evening out with my brother and his wife, I realized we haven’t been on an official date.
“Huh?” Bri asks as she lathers her face in some sort of cream.
“A date. Will you go on a date with me? I realized we’ve done pretty much everything but go out on a date. So, I was asking if you want to.”
Bri looks me up and down before laughing. “You’ve already gotten in my pants, Asher. Why do you want to go out on a date?”
“Because you’re too beautiful not to show off. We kind of went about things differently. Normally, you date for a while before hooking up. We pulled an Uno reverse card, so now I want to take you out. I want us to dress up and go somewhere fancy. I want us to eat, laugh, and maybe dance together. I want the world to know I’m with you. So, Bri, will you go on a date with me?”
