Page 48 of Unwrapped

Asher

You okay, beautiful?

I smile through my tears, typing back:

Ivy

Better than okay. But you're wrong about one thing in that article.

Asher

Oh?

Me

I do need you. Not your name or your money or your influence. Just you. The man who sees me. The man I've fallen completely, irrevocably in love with too.

His response comes quickly.

Asher

Come over? I need to kiss you right now.

Laughing, I grab my coat. The social media storm can wait. The gossip will eventually die down. What matters is this - us, together, real.

Let them talk. We know our truth.

And Asher just shouted it from the rooftops.

Chapter 14

Asher

NEW YEARS EVE…

The soft glow of the dimmed lights in my apartment reflects off the windows, casting a warm, intimate ambiance over the room. The quiet hum of laughter and conversation drifts through the air as a few of my closest friends mingle with drinks in hand, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. Ivy is by my side, her hand tucked comfortably into mine, and I can’t help but feel like this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.

It’s New Year’s Eve, and while it’s a far cry from the glitzy galas I used to attend in previous years, this small, private gathering in my apartment feels a million times better. It’s relaxed, it’s intimate, and most importantly, Ivy’s here with me.

Tessa is chatting with a few friends by the kitchen island, but her eyes keep flicking over to where Zane is leaning against the far wall, looking bored and smug at the same time. I’ve noticed the tension between them for a while now, though they act like they can’t stand each other. Zane will make some snide remark, Tessa will snap back with equal fire, and they’ll pretend like they aren’t completely drawn to each other. It’s becoming increasingly obvious—at least to Ivy and me—that something’s brewing between them.

“You look like you’re plotting something,” Ivy teases, squeezing my hand. Her eyes sparkle with amusement as she watches me watch Zane and Tessa.

I chuckle, leaning down to whisper in her ear. “Zane and Tessa. They’ve been dancing around each other for weeks.”

Ivy laughs softly, following my gaze as Tessa shoots Zane a look of pure annoyance. He smirks, clearly enjoying getting under her skin.

“Oh, they’re definitely into each other,” Ivy says, shaking her head. “They just don’t know how to admit it yet.”

“Or they do, but they’d rather argue about it than face the truth,” I reply, my eyes gleaming with amusement as I watch Tessa cross the room, her body language tense with irritation. Zane doesn’t seem to mind; in fact, he seems to thrive on getting her all worked up.

Tessa huffs as she approaches him, arms crossed. “Do you always have to make everything a competition, Zane? Can’t you go one night without trying to win at something?”

Zane, leaning casually against the wall, smirks in that infuriating way only he can. “Winning’s in my nature, Tessa. You’re just mad because you can’t keep up.”

Her eyes narrow, and she steps closer, her chin tilted up in defiance. “I can more than keep up, thank you very much. I just don’t feel the need to prove it to everyone every five seconds.”

Zane’s smirk widens. “You say that like you aren’t constantly trying to one-up me.”

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