Page 47 of April

“You’re not paying for–”

“Here.” Linden handed the waiter a few bills. Then, she handed him one more. “This cover everything?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Cool. We’re hitting the road. Have your table back.” She stood up and reached out her hand for Asher to take. “Ready?”

“I suppose I am,” Asher replied, standing up.

A few minutes later, they were on the sidewalk, headed toward Henry’s and his Po-Boys that everyone raved about. Asher had only had one, and it had been plain, to Henry’s dismay. It had been good, though, and if she were being honest, she could use something fatty right now and maybe something sweet after.

“Did you message her in the app?” Linden asked after they turned the corner.

“Twice. She hasn’t messaged me back.”

“Any idea what happened?”

“Nope,” she replied. “Messages were amiable.”

“Amiable?” Linden laughed. “Who says that?”

“I do,” Asher said with a smile. “She was the one who seemed so interested in meeting up tonight. Linden, do you think she walked in, saw me, and left?”

“What? No way,” Linden replied.

“Shecouldhave, though.”

“She saw your profile photos, and those are recent, Ash. It’s not like you posted something from when you were twenty-five, and you look a little older now or something.”

“I like how you said only alittleolder.”

“Yeah. That was good, huh?” Linden said.

Asher just smiled as they continued their walk across the street.

“Ash, she knew what you looked like. And if anything, you look better in person than in those pictures, which are also good, so if she did that, she’s an idiot.”

“Thank you. I needed that.”

“It could’ve been a hundred things. Maybe she got stuck at work or in traffic. Maybe she lost her phone or left it at the office or something.”

“Everything in the world is connected to the internet. She couldn’t findonecomputer or someone’s phone to borrow to tell me?”

“I guess that’s true,” Linden replied. “Maybe she died.”

“Linden!”

“What? Morbid, but it’s possible, right?”

“God, I hope not,” Asher said.

“Me too. But still, it’s the only legitimate reason I can think of for someone to standyouup.”

Asher pulled out her phone, wanting to check the messages again. She still didn’t have a reply from Cindy, so she started typing.

“Did she reply?” Linden asked.

“No. I’m worried now that you mentioned death. I’m just asking her to tell me that she’s okay; no harm, no foul about the standing me up thing.”

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