Page 17 of Asher

“Beautiful. I was ready to get home, though.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels. I resisted the urge to smooth out the crease between his brows. “I would’ve picked you up from the airport.”

I waved him off. “Eh, that’s okay. You had to get stuff ready here, and Gray didn’t have anything going on.” Grayson chose that moment to slide up to my side. He handed me a drink and threw an arm around my shoulder. “Right, Gray?”

“Right.” He deadpanned. “I live to serve this one.”

I slapped his hard stomach with the back of my hand. There was zero doubt Grayson was ripped under his shirt. I’d seen it from my own two eyes on more than one occasion at the river. It was just too bad I couldn’t get on board with it. “Of course, you do. I give you a purpose.” I fluttered my eyes dramatically as he chuckled, shaking his head.

Asher stared at the hand around my shoulder, and I didn’t miss the glare he shot in Gray’s direction before focusing on me. “Are you staying after the party for pizza? I can take you home.”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I wish I could, but I need to go home and get some edits done. And I’m going to my brother’s tomorrow. I promised the boys I would visit them. Rain check?”

I wasn’t going to my brothers.

“Of course.” He gave a small, stiff nod and waved at someone behind me. “I need to grab the cake from the kitchen.”

“You need any help?” I offered.

“Nah. I got it.” He walked off without turning around.

Gray whistled, dropping his arm from around my shoulder. “Well, that was awkward.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Say it three more times and I might believe you.” He smirked.

“Believe what?” Stephanie asked as she and Rylie walked up to join us. Well, Rylie walked. Stephanie, being seven months pregnant, basically waddled at this point.

“Where’s Knox?” I asked, searching for Rylie’s perfect baby boy. I needed some snuggles.

Rylie snorted like it was a silly question. “Mason has him.”

“Damn, baby hog. I’m gonna go steal him.”

Rylie’s hand gripped my arm as I started off in that direction, stopping me in my tracks. “No, no, no, missy. You need to explain what Gray is trying to believe. What are you hiding?” Rylie’s eyes narrowed.

“Nothing.”

Gray chuckled from beside me. Traitor. “Haley was trying to deny that we didn’t just have an awkward interaction with Asher.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Stephanie cut me off. “Why was it awkward?” Stephanie asked, her hand resting perfectly on the top of her stomach.

“Hales just blew off his invitation to hang out.” Gray filled in.

I rolled my eyes. “I did not. I have to work.”

“Bullshit. We both know you started editing on that plane.” He cocked a brow, daring me to argue.

Son of a biscuit knew I couldn’t.

I huffed. “That’s not the point. I have things to do.”

“Like visit your brother? Let’s call a spade a spade. You’re avoiding him.” Gray held my stare. I should’ve known when he dropped the subject in the truck earlier that it would come back to bite me in the ass. Anytime feelings got involved, he left it up to Rylie and Stephanie.

Damn traitor.

“I’m not avoiding him,” I said at the same time Rylie asked, “Why are you avoiding him?”

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