Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112701 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
“Don’t keep the man in suspense, love,” Charles says, making his way toward us.
I grimace at the look in Asher’s eyes.
“What about the date we went on?”
Asher sounds hurt, and it’s breaking my heart.
“What date?” Charles asks, pulling me into his side.
“It wasn’t a date,” I say to Charles and turn to Asher. “It wasn’t a date.”
When I repeat the words, Asher looks like I’ve struck him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he snaps.
“Asher, I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you.”
“That’s why you agreed to meet up? You wanted to explain to me that you’re seeing your boss? Fuck, Raven. Fuck!” he yells, raising the bottle of wine to his forehead. “I can’t believe you.”
“Ash, please. You’re my best friend. I—”
“You’re sleeping with your boss,” he bites. “Who are you even?”
Charles takes a threatening step forward, and my hand flies out, hitting his chest to halt his progression.
“I don’t bloody care who you are. You won’t speak to Raven like that. Not while I’m here.”
“And who the fuck do you think you are?” Asher says through his teeth.
Charles takes a deep breath. “Listen, mate, go home. When you've calmed down, you two can have this conversation peacefully.”
“Don’t fucking order me around, mate,” Asher barks, moving closer to Charles.
Charles is at least two inches taller than Asher, but Ash isn’t letting that stop him. He stands in defiance, looking up at him. “You’ll just fuck her and then fuck her over, and I’ll be left to pick up the pieces.”
“You don’t know anything about me. I’d never hurt her.”
“Oh, yeah? I know what you guys are like. You think you’re all big shots with your fancy job and your big paychecks. You think you can have any woman you want. You think the whole world needs to bow down for you.”
“Asher. Please,” I beg.
“Raven wants you to leave. Best be on your way,” Charles says calmly.
“Why should I leave? Why don’t you leave?” He turns to me, looking half-crazed. “Raven, tell him. Tell him to leave.”
I look at Asher and sigh. “Just leave, Ash.”
The look of despair on Asher’s face right before he turns to walk away will haunt me for a long time.
36
Raven
“Care to explain what that was about, love?”
My lip quivers, and I lose the battle, falling apart. Charles’s eyes widen as his arms dart out to pull me against his solid chest, cocooning me in his warmth while a torrent of tears cascade down my cheeks.
“Shh. It will be all right, Rae,” he coos into the top of my head.
Charles directs us toward the couch, placing me down and taking the seat next to me, keeping me tucked into his side while I work to get my crying hiccups under control.
After several minutes, I’m finally together enough that the tears have slowed to a trickle, but my heart hurts.
The look on Asher’s face.
His defeated posture as he walked away.
I broke him.
I broke us.
“Would you like to talk about it?” Charles says, and I take a deep breath, blowing it out with a whoosh.
“Not really, but I suppose I owe you some answers.”
He doesn’t say anything, and I know I have to give him something.
I scoot out of his embrace, turning my body to look at him. I’m sure my face is puffy and red, but he doesn’t seem to notice. His eyes are kind as they stare into mine.
“Asher and I met freshman year in the dorms. We became fast friends,” I start, trying to determine how much I want to tell Charles.
I’m not trying to hide anything, but Ash and I have a long history. I didn’t want tonight to be spent like this.
“We’ve been inseparable since.”
“Did you have a relationship at one point?”
I shake my head. “Never. It was never like that with us.”
Charles’s eyes narrow.
“It truly wasn’t . . . until recently.”
His posture stiffens, and my hand darts out to land on his chest. “Nothing has happened between us, and it wouldn’t as far as I’m concerned. I don’t have feelings for him like that. He’s like my brother. Our other best friend, Lily, is in love with him. Has been for a long time.”
“Why do I get the feeling that his affections for you are entirely different?”
“My mom and Lily have been saying for some time that they thought Asher’s feelings had shifted. I’ve been avoiding it because the thought of that nearly destroyed me. It would ruin everything.”
“It appears it’s too late for that. The man looked utterly gutted.”
I wince, closing my eyes. “I know.”
I sigh. “The last thing I want to do is upset you more, but I must ask, what date was he referring to?”
My stomach drops. This is the one thing I did not want Charles to find out. I messed up when I told Asher about the account. It’s my fault we lost Summer. But I can’t lie to him. I need to own up to it.