Page 28 of April

“Oh. Yeah, I guess,” she said.

Asher’s phone was sitting on the desk, face up, and it pinged, earning Linden’s attention.

“Is it her?” Melinda asked, sounding excited.

When the screen lit up, Linden recognized the notification. She’d seen the same thing on her own phone about a thousand times.

“Message?” she asked.

“Asher reached out to Emily,” Melinda said. “They’ve been messaging for over an hour now.” She smiled and asked Asher, “What did she say?”

“I thought you…”

“I told her,” Asher replied. “I just didn’t want to make some big announcement when we were all together, but I don’t care if people know. People I trust, at least.”

“Hey, babe?” Kyle said, walking into the room. “Can I be dismissed?” She leaned down and kissed Melinda.

“Dismissed?” Linden asked.

“She sometimes helps with the tours if we have French speakers,” Melinda explained. “I make sure to tip her very well.” She winked at her girlfriend.

“I have an article to translate now, though,” Kyle said.

“She said yes,” Asher shared then.

Linden turned because she’d completely forgotten that they’d just been talking about Asher and this Emily woman.

“Yes to what?” she asked.

“A date.”

“You asked her out?” she asked, surprised. “I thought you were just going to talk to her.”

“Asked who out now?” Kyle asked.

“Emily.”

“Asher asked someone named Emily out on a date?”

“Asher is figuring some things out right now, babe,” Melinda replied, wrapping an arm around Kyle’s waist.

“Oh,” Kyle said and nodded. “Cool.”

“She said yes. She’s free tomorrow night,” Asher added.

“Tomorrow? What happened to taking things slow and no pressure?”

“A lot went down while you were at lunch,” Melinda said.

When Asher looked up and met Linden’s eyes, Linden saw confusion and concern there.

“You can say no,” she suggested.

“Iaskedher,” Asher replied.

“Make it for next week, then, not tomorrow, and you can always come up with some excuse to cancel if you need.”

“I don’t want to lie to her.”

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