Chapter 60
by’s pow
Asher rose to his feet, a wide smile on his face. “Shall we?” he asked, grabbing a bottle of wine and popping it open
Kat cheered, batting her eyelashes at him like he’d done something extraordinary–other than just opening a wine bottle. At this point, she was outright fawning over him.
I couldn’t keep the disdain from my face when he poured her a glass first. I gulped down my own wine every single time he handed her an item from the table first. The rational part of me understood it was because she was closer to him, but the fiercer part–the part that was insanely jealous wanted to lunge at her.
The silence that stretched between us was awkward. I guessed they were holding back because I was at the table. You’d think that would have been my cue to leave–there was no need to make everyone uncomfortable but I didn’t.
Asher refilled my glass as soon as I set it down on the table.
“You two were old friends, I see. If no one else was going to invite conversation, then I would.
Kat’s smile was off–putting, and she stole a couple of glances at him, “Yes, we were friends,” she said, her tone far too suggestive
“We were really good friends,” Asher added with a smirk in her direction.
My grip on the glass tightened, and laverted my gaze. “That’s really nice.”
She nodded. “Wi’ve been going strong-
I almost choked on my food and took a moment to get myself together.
Asher placed his hand over mine. “Are you okay?”
It took everything in me not to pull away immediately, I nodded. “Yes.” I took another large sip of my wine and dabbed my lips with a napkin.
“Are you sure?” His brown eyes were filled with nothing but concern,
res,
I am. I took yet another sip from my glass. The wine had become my companion, and I could feel the alcohol kicking in. It was the only way I’d get through tonight, I’d brought this upon myself, and now I had to deal with it.
He didn’t look convinced. He glanced at my wine glass and then back at me. “Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes, Lam”
We resumed eating, making casual talk. Well, technically, they were making casual talk while I just smiled at anything funny. As they talked about everything and nothing, I realized how much I wanted this with Asher. But there was a tall wall of distrust between us, one that had us or at least me on edge. I couldn’t relax or enjoy being around him, even just as friends. I was too scared to open up, too scared of getting hurt.
“So how did you two meat?” I cut in
They both turned to look at me.
“You said you two were great friends…“I emphasized the word, making it clear I wasn’t a fool or oblivious.
They exchanged glances before Asher cleared his throat. “I met her at
“Asher, I’d like to hear it from Kat,” interrupted with a chirp
She smiled. “Of course. Asher and I go way back…”
1/2
11:37 Tue, 1 Jul 3
Chapter 60
That damned look between them again. I cursed under my breath. This was all my fault. thad pushed him away at the last another woman’s arms Host him before I even had the chance to have him. And now, he was having dinner at our house with
glances.
“We met at the club, I was dancing
Asher’s eyes lit up, like
hadn’t expected her to divulge that detail,
I nodded, urging her to continue. This was why I wanted to hear it from her, I didn’t need Asher’s watered down version of how they met. I needed the truth, even though it hurt.
“Well, it was a really slow night that day, which was uncommon because the club I worked at never had slow nights Asher was my only” She glanced at me nervously. “Client…”
I smiled, trying to ease the tension. This was a story from before we met. Even if it wasn’t, we didn’t owe each other anything
“I ended up dancing for only him.
That look between them again. Asher rested his hand under his jaw, listening with rapt attention.
I took a large sip of my wine and reached for the bottle.
Asher gave me a worried look.
“Don’t hold out, Asher.
- r. I’m fine…”
He hesitated but eventually poured me more wine.
“I made so much money that night from him alone. I stopped, and we talked a lot, and we realized just how much alike we were. We became good friends, and anytime he came by the club, we’d stop to chat…”
Another large gulp. Chat, really? Was that code for tearing each other’s clothes off? Because right now, they were eyeing each other hard.
“Ivy, I think you’ve had too much wine,” Asher protested as I reached for the bottle again.
I frowned. “There’s no such thing as too much wine, Asher, especially on a Friday night.”
“Well, there is, by. You’ve had too much…”
“Pfft!” I rolled my eyes at him. “You’re such a party pooper,” I turned to Kat and pointed at him. “He’s such a party pooper Standing, I grabbed the bottle from the table.
I staggered a bit as i rose to my feet. He reached for me, butt backed away from his touch
“You two have a great night,” I said. “Have a chat, just like old times. Il be in the room…”
“Ivy, you’re drunk, Let me help you up,” he offered.
Ishc
G
