Page 124 of The Sidekick

How the heck is he still right behind me!?

I quicken my steps, practically running. When I reach the table, I’m huffing, more from embarrassment than the run. He still manages to get there and pull my chair out for me, maintaining his relaxed smile.

It isn’t until I fall into the seat that I realize he’s going to be next to me on my left while Shade is on my right. The next thought is more concerning.

His seat placement puts him directly across from Andi. She’s smiling evilly and fully focused on him. I’m waiting for a super villain laugh any second.

Why though? Something isn’t right about this. He needs to run.

I turn to him, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards me, whispering, “She looks like she’s about to interrogate you. Run.”

He turns his face until his lips are against my ear. It makes goosebumps race down my neck when warm breath washes over me. His voice is raspy when he answers. “Let her. I’m not leaving unless you are.”

He leans back casually while I blink in confusion.

“You must be Asher,” Andi says smugly and straightens her shoulders like a queen in front of a lowly subject. Everyone else is already here, and they’re watching her antics with malicious smiles. Oh gosh, we’re outnumbered. It’s eight to three.

My hand reaches out, and I grab Shade’s hand under the table with a tight grip.

“You must be Andi,” Asher smiles back and places a napkin in his lap. He should be running, not settling in!

“So good to meet you,” she schmoozes. “Weird that I’ve never heard you mentioned before.”

I frown at her with a what gives look. She can’t believe whatever she’s heard from her stupid jerk guards, can she?

“I’m a new addition,” he says without losing his calm pose.

“How new?” Her eyes narrow.

“Very.”

“Odd.”

“Not really.”

“Oh?”

“Fate.”

Her eyes open wide, and she leans forward, suddenly excited. I didn’t follow that conversation very well. It started threatening, and now she looks awed by him. I look to Shade, hoping for a translation.

He’s focused on the menu, not paying attention. Not abnormal for him, but it brings my focus back to his issues instead of my own.

“Do you have an app that I can download to understand what’s going on?” I ask him sweetly.

“A common sense app? I wish,” he replies.

Dang it! He got me. I release his hand to smack his arm, and Asher turns towards us.

“How’s it going, Shade?”

His polite question gets ignored.

“That good, huh?” He smirks and goes back to Andi.

His multitasking skills are unreal.

Our drink order is taken while Andi grills him about why he asked for water, for pity’s sake. Really, Andi? It doesn’t help that the rest of the bodyguards are trading giving me and Asher death glares.

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