Page 61 of The Backup

Me: lol yeah okay

Asher: You think I’m joking?

I look up and my heart hammers as I find Asher staring at me with a wicked expression that can’t quite be classified as a grin. He shakes his head slowly.

Asher: As obsessed as I might be with your body your brains are quite the cherry on top.

The crowd thins out as the night winds down. Kiki and Eric are the first to leave, stumbling out the door in a fit of giggles. Ted lingers for a bit, trying to convince me to exchange numbers before finally taking the hint when I tell him I’m “really not looking to date right now.”

Now it’s just Jacklyn and me, cleaning up the aftermath of trivia night—empty cups, snack bowls, and crumpled napkins scattered across every surface. Jacklyn’s unusually quiet as she loads the dishwasher, but I catch her glancing at her phone every few seconds.

“Everything okay?” I ask, tossing a handful of trash into the bin.

She sighs, shutting the dishwasher door a little harder than necessary. “Brian and I got into a tiff. Nothing major, but…he didn’t want to stay over.”

I frown. “Was he jealous?”

She hesitates, then nods. “I think so. He kept bringing up me and Asher, like it was this huge thing. Which is so stupid because it wasn’t. We barely dated. And he knows that.”

“Yeah, but you know how guys get when they’ve had a few drinks,” I say, handing her a stray wine glass.

Jacklyn groans. “I guess. Still, it was annoying. I told him to go home and sleep it off. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I nod, giving her a small smile. “He’ll be fine. He just needs to get over himself.”

“True,” she says, her mood lifting slightly. “Thanks for helping me clean, by the way. You’re the best.”

As she disappears into the kitchen, my phone buzzes on the counter. I pick it up and see Asher’s name at the top of the screen.

Asher: So…what are you doing now?

My heart skips a beat as I type back.

Me: Cleaning. You left in such a hurry.

Asher: Didn’t want to overstay my welcome. Plus, I figured you’d need some space after carrying the team in trivia.

I smirk, leaning against the counter.

Me: Modest as ever.

Asher: Always. By the way, are you opting out of our agreement?

Me: What agreement?

Asher: The one where I get to kiss you whenever I want. Remember? Saturday night.

My breath catches, and I glance toward the kitchen to make sure Jacklyn isn’t nearby.

Me: You really don’t let anything slide, do you?

Asher: Not when it comes to you.

My cheeks flush as I stare at the screen, debating my next move.

Me: It’s late, Asher.

Asher: So? You’re not doing anything important.

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