Page 172 of The Influencer

“Oh, yeah… that’s right. Guess you’re stuck with me then.”

“Poor me,” I say.

“I can’t believe you skipped your brother’s bachelor party for me.”

“I can’t believe I ever let you think I wouldn’t.”

“Ash,” he whimpers. “Don’t make me cry again. You’re turning me into an ugly puddle.”

“I can talk tough, too. If you want.”

“Oh, I know that, Officer Haas.”

With that, I burst into a full laugh. I won’t be fully relaxed until he makes a decision tomorrow, but I get a feeling which direction he’s leaning, at least right this second while we’re naked together with cum everywhere. It’s hard to picture either of us being anywhere else.

“I love you,” I say softly.

He blinks once and his lips curve. “I love that for me.”

I push a stray wave of hair off his cheek and tuck it behind his ear. Jade-green eyes stare back at me all innocent and hopeful, which, I’ve discovered, despite all the shit he’s had to deal with in his life, is who he is at his core. A shining light that can’t be dimmed. The light that led me out of the tunnel and now guides my heart.

Long story short, he stays.

epilogue

Jade

Belinda stares up at me, a sliver of pink tongue visible, and her unusually large brown eyes pleading for understanding. “No,” I tell her. “It’s too soon. You’re not forgiven. That was my favorite bag.”

She shifts her weight back and forth, making an anxious noise.

I glance from her to the stain on my Balenciaga backpack and then back to her. It’s pathetic really, how easily she gets forgiven. I sigh, bending down to pick up the four-pound Yorkie. “It’s fine. I’m sorry I got mad. It’s probably my fault anyway.”

I hug her to my neck and kiss her tiny head that houses her undoubtedly smooth, almond-sized brain. She licks at my fresh hickey until I’m giggling, and we’re friends again.

My one-year-old baby is the second-best thing to come from dropping out of Gideon’s tour at the last minute. Obviously the first best thing was not having to leave my big sexy boyfriend who was so grateful he bought me a puppy.

Hashtag no regrets.

Asher walks into the living room, loaded up with all our baggage. We’re going to our first orgy—I mean holiday—with “the guys.”

Now that Gideon’s U.S. tour has wrapped up, and another baseball season has come and gone, Asher and I have found ourselves in the position of being an established couple who apparently need “to get out more.”

It will be the group’s third “Friendsgiving” together. We were invited last year, but Asher and I took that time to meet each other’s families, and I’m pleased to say I was a smash in Houston. Asher and Adam’s mom might not have been Sawyer’s biggest fan right off the bat (lol), but we think it was more because of Adam’s status as Golden boy major league baller and all that. Also, the age gap.

But whether Asher thinks they love him as much as they love Adam or not, his parents would not keep quiet about how happy they were to see him so settled and in love. His mother and I text more often now than Aven and I do. I actually can’t wait for their visit next week, but first—Utah.

I’ve never been to Utah, and I hate snow because it reminds me of where I grew up, but I’m trying to keep an open mind because supposedly Park City is very posh, and I like posh places.

Asher manages the bags while I carry Belinda in her chest pouch. We catch our ride to the airport where Sawyer’s private jet awaits. Adam waves us aboard. They’ve just celebrated their first anniversary with a trip to Hawaii, so they’re both relaxed and tan, all smiles and obviously grabby hands for the dog. I share her because I’m not selfish, but she really prefers me to anyone, and I enjoy watching other people realize that.

It’s photo time when I get settled on board. I take the obligatory personal photos with me and Asher, Asher and Adam, a group selfie, etc., but then it’s all about me and how hot and expensive I look on a private jet in my white illusion top and wide-legged gray pin-striped slacks. While I lounge in another row getting a series of great shots, Asher catches up with Sawyer and Adam until Asher inevitably loses patience with me being out of his sight for too long.

So needy.

But I wouldn’t have him any other way.

For the rest of the flight, I sit up straight and try not to act as intimidated as I am for this trip. I’m dealing with family ties here, a unique friendship bond, and couples that have made national and international headlines, including the one sitting across from us. Not to mention Sawyer has no idea how to deal with me. He can’t tell when I’m joking or being serious, and more than once when I’ve been around him and Adam, I’ve noticed the white-knuckle grip he gets on Adam’s hand before he turns to his husband with a please-help-me look so he doesn’t say the wrong thing to me.

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