Page 12 of April

“Yeah, Jill. Who else are we talking about?”

“You’re going to ask Jill out?”

“Maybe. Why?”

“She’s, like, twenty years old.”

“She’s twenty-six, and you know that,” Linden said.

“So?”

“So, it’s only ten years; not that big of a deal. Bridge and Monica are about ten years apart, too.”

“But you’re just hooking up right now, Linden. You can’t just hook up with Jill. She’s a friend. She’s anewfriend. You’d throw off the whole friend group thing we just found.”

“By asking her out? Besides, she could always say no, and it wouldn’t even happen.”

“What if she says yes?”

“We go out.”

“And then?” Asher asked.

“I don’t know. Whatever happens, happens.”

“And when it ends?”

“Why are you assuming itwill?” Linden argued. “It’s a date. I’m not asking the woman to marry me. And if it’s not there with us, it’s not there. Shedidkiss me, though, and said it was good, so I think she’d be up for it. I know she’s a friend, Ash. I wouldn’t be an asshole with her or anything.”

“I know you wouldn’t. We just have this new balance.”

“Balance?”

“We work with NOLA Guides, Linden. Jill works there, and Melinda, who’s about to inherit that place from the owner, is one of her closest friends. If something goes wrong with you and Jill, it could jeopardize the business relationship.”

Linden laughed and replied, “I hardly think that business relationship is that big of a deal. We don’t make any real money on it. We’re mainly just referring people there when they’re in town for a wedding and are looking for things to do that are kid-friendly in a city that usually isn’t. That’s about it. Besides, I don’t think Melinda would hold it over me if Jill and I go on a date and it doesn’t work out. I’m not looking to just sleep with her. It would be a date. We’d see.”

“Good afternoon,” their waitress said as she arrived at the table. “What can I get for you?”

“Can I get a sweet tea, please?” Linden asked her but stared at Asher, who still seemed to be off.

“Of course. I’ll be right back with that and take your order.”

“No need. I’ll have the spinach; salad dressing on the side, please. She’ll have the cheeseburger; medium well, no tomato, and the sweet potato fries,” Asher said, giving the waitress their usual order.

Linden hadn’t wanted the cheeseburger today, though. She’d planned on ordering the pulled pork sandwich, but she would eat the burger because it wasn’t worth changing the order now.

“Hey, is everything okay?” she asked after the waitress walked off, leaving them alone.

“Everything’s fine,” Asher replied as she picked up the cutlery wrapped in a paper napkin and unwrapped it. “Why?”

“Did something happen with you and Gavin?”

“No. Why?”

“Because you’re acting weird.”

“I’m not acting weird.You’re acting weird.”

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