Page 18 of Asher

“I’m not.”

“Right,” Stephanie said, unconvinced.

Rylie slapped me on the arm. “Tell us.”

“Ow.” I rubbed the skin.

“That didn’t hurt.” She chuckled.

I dropped my hand. “Not even a little sorry that you could’ve hurt me. Having a baby made you hard.”

“You make it sound like I went to jail,” Rylie said.

Stephanie yawned. “Jail might be easier than growing a child and getting zero sleep.”

“Still can’t get comfortable?” I winced.

“No. I swear every time I fall asleep, she stretches and puts her head in my damn vag and her foot in my ribcage.”

I cringed because that sounded awful.

“And I’m out.” Grayson strode away without looking back.

“Pansy.” Stephanie called to his retreating back. I couldn’t help but laugh. Stephanie was feisty while pregnant.

“You know he just didn’t want to hear about his sister lady parts,” I said.

“Lady parts?” Rylie asked. “That was tame for you.”

“Excuse me, there are children present. What do you want me to call it?” Even I have filters… Occasionally.

“Fair point. Now tell us what really is going on between you and Ash. I thought things were getting back to normal?” She tossed her braid over her shoulder. I knew she was referring to the normal that we used to have. The normal that existed before Asher decided to announce it to the world that he wasn’t in love with me.

Okay, so not the entire world, but it felt that way when my heart crumbled. I knew it was hard moving past losing Carrie, but I’m a damn catch.

He would be lucky to love me.

Or for me to love him. Tomato, potato.

I sighed, seriously contemplating a way to get out of this conversation.

I could lie.

I could fake a heart attack.

But neither of those would get me out of this conversation. Rylie and Stephanie weren’t going to give up that easily.

“They were getting back to normal.” My shoulders deflated. I had started letting go of my crush. Because the crush was my problem, not his. It wasn’t Asher’s fault that these feelings developed. I knew he wasn’t looking for anything other than friendship. He’d made that more than clear on multiple occasions.

Even when he didn’t say it out loud.

“So?” Stephanie prodded.

“He kissed me.”

“What!” Rylie shrieked, turning several heads in our direction. My cheeks heated from the attention. “Are you guys together now? Are you working things out?”

“Not together. Not even a little.” I twisted my lips, gazing across the yard to where Asher held Knox. He met my eyes and smiled. A real Asher smile. Not the half-assed one he usually gave people. My heart ached. “I’m not even sure he remembers it.” It hurt to say the words aloud, but it was the real fear. Over the past week, I’ve sort of let go of the fear we wouldn’t get back to normal, because I knew we would.

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