Page 56 of An Adventure For Aster

“We need to go back to my sisters’ table,” Ivy said, pulling her brother back over.

It did her heart good to see Brooks so happy in his life.

“Can I get you a drink?” Aster asked. “I need a beer.”

“How about a glass of white wine?” she said. “A chardonnay is good and if they don’t have that then a pinot grigio.”

“You want me to ask for that?” he asked with a pained look on his face.

Her smile fell. “I’ll come with you,” she said. “I didn’t think about that.”

He laughed at her. Truly laughed. “I was kidding. I can get it.”

“Did Aster just crack a joke?” Lily asked when Zane walked out to the bar with Luke to get all the drinks.

“It seemed it,” Raine said. “Does he not do that at work?” She’d been thrilled he was kidding with her and was doing it more. It’s just he wasn’t always so good at it that she knew all the time...like tonight.

“Not that I’ve seen,” Lily said. “But Zane has said that Aster is different with the guys than at work.”

“I hate that for him but understand too,” she said. It was common for people to not let their guard down with everyone. She was a good example.

“Luke is the same way,” Heather said. “Though most times he’s got a smile on his face and joking, but he’s a bit more reserved around those not close to us.”

“I think it might do Aster good to be with some of his old squad, even if Zane and Luke have been out for a few years. I worry he misses it.”

Lily and Heather looked at each other. She knew Luke and Zane were very close and that Aster fell into that group too. But Aster had said before that he wasn’t as close to Zane as they hadn’t worked together as long. Luke was with Aster longer but still not the same.

She wondered if Aster ever got close to anyone.

They’d been dating for two months now and yet she still hadn’t told him how she felt.

It was hard to keep it back and Raine didn’t think she was going to be able to much longer either.

She just had to accept the fact that he might not feel the same way, but it shouldn’t stop her from saying it.

The guys returned with their drinks and everyone was just mingling. Plenty had come to the table and back. No one was sitting around much until dinner was served. There was a DJ playing music in the background, but she’d been told there’d be dancing afterward.

“Hi, Laurel,” Lily said. “I’m so glad you could make it.”

She turned her head to see a woman come to the table. There was one lone chair that she thought was odd, but when the woman sat down, it made more sense.

“Me too,” Laurel said. “I just hope everyone understands if I don’t remember their names.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lily said. “You’ve only been here a few days getting situated and haven’t started. But you know Aster.”

“Nice to see you again,” Aster said.

She didn’t know what this was about or why her boyfriend would know the woman who came in. Someone that was an employee and very good-looking. Came here single too.

“How do you two know each other?” she asked.

“Laurel, this is my girlfriend, Raine,” Aster said. “I interviewed Laurel after Lily, Poppy and Rose had it narrowed down to the final candidates. Laurel is going to be overseeing operations so she and I will work together on things when machines are down or there are issues in the building.”

“Ahh,” she said. “I thought she was someone in the service with you and Luke and Zane for a minute.”

“No,” Laurel said. She was pretty. Looked young but might be early thirties. Raine knew she looked younger than she was too. “I’m not sure I could do one pull-up let alone walk through one of those training courses. Not to mention, I might break a nail.”

She looked at Laurel’s nails. They were manicured but not fancy over the top long and sparkly. Not even fake. They just looked like natural nails but well maintained.

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