Page 117 of Tell Me It’s Right

I stop at the railing and take a deep breath of the salty air, letting it put me at ease. The breeze makes it cold with just this silk slip dress, and I pull my wrap tighter around my shoulders.

Footsteps pad quietly on my right, and I turn, expecting Liam, but it’s Asher who offers a smile that looks more like a grimace as he steps up beside me.

“Hey, Gracie.”

“Hi.”

He finally did away with the strange near-mohawk he had going all summer. I almost didn’t recognize him without it. Now he’s left with little more than a buzzcut, and it looks like he’s trying to grow a mustache. He chews on his lip and shoots a look over his shoulder before leaning against the railing and facing me. “So I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

“Oh?”

He tugs on the collar of his shirt. “About Miles.”

My stomach drops, and I turn back to looking at the water. Thankfully, I haven’t had to see him again since that night. But of course I’ve thought about it. Admittedly less so once Christineassured us she’d handled the legal side of things, and after weeks passed without hearing from him, my anxiety about the situation finally relented.

Asher swallows audibly and shifts his weight, that usual carefree, frat-boy swagger of his noticeably absent. “I was shocked when Liam told me what happened. I had no idea. And I just wanted to say I’m really sorry. You didn’t deserve that. And I guess I wanted you to know that he and I…well, we don’t hang out anymore.”

The look in his eyes is earnest, almost pleading, like he’s looking for my forgiveness. Not that he needs it. I never blamed him.

“Thanks, Asher.”

I think that’ll be it, but he doesn’t walk away. I peek at him sideways, but he isn’t looking at me. His gaze is trained on Liam, who’s currently taking two drinks from the bartender.

“He’s happy with you,” Asher says quietly. “Happier than I think I’ve ever seen him.” He turns back to me with a rueful smile. “And I know our family is capable of scaring off the best of people, so I guess I’m saying I hope you won’t let them. You’ve got me in your corner, at least.”

“You better not be trying to steal my date,” Liam says as he approaches.

Asher smirks and takes a step back as Liam hands me a glass of champagne.

“Getaway car will be out front in five,” says Asher with a wink before he takes off to the bar.

“What’d he say to you?” Liam asks as he sets his drink on the rail and slips off his suit jacket.

“Nothing bad.”

Liam wraps the jacket over my shoulders and gives me an unconvinced eyebrow raise.

I laugh. “I promise. How are you doing?”

“Me?” He frowns and sips his beer. “Fine.”

“That was really convincing.”

“So I’m counting down the seconds until it’s acceptable for us to leave. Sue me.”

“So youdon’twant to take a picture with the flamingos?”

He scowls. I smile and bat my eyelashes.

“Have you even tried the new candy yet?” I ask.

“Yeah.” He scrunches up his face. “Foul.”

“Is it really?”

He tilts his head back and forth. “Okay, so it was pretty good. You want some?” He grabs the collar of the jacket around my shoulders, pulls me a step closer, and reaches for the inside pocket.

“You did not shove some in your pockets for later,” I whisper.

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