Page 75 of April

“You never dated?”

“No. I just came out.”

“Oh,” Stephania said.

“I’m really doing this wrong,” Asher added. “I’m bi, I think. I like men, too, but I recently figured out that I’m attracted to women as well. Linden came out not that long ago, but I’ve been watching her discover this new part of herself, and it inspired something in me, I guess. Now, I’m on this dating app because I don’t know where else to meet women, and here I am with you.”

“But she’s just a friend?”

“Yeah,” Asher replied.

“And she made you breakfast?”

“I stayed at her place last night because we’d been staying at mine so much.”

Stephania’s eyes went wide, and she leaned forward.

“Not what I meant,” Asher added. “We didn’t…”

“Asher, I’m good with this being a date where we get to know each other and see if we want to get together again, but we can also just hang out tonight. A new friend thing, maybe.”

“Hang out?”

“Yeah. And you can tell me about your obvious crush on your gay best friend,” Stephania said. “Does she feel the same way?”

“Shit,” she let out, lowering her gaze. “It’s obvious?”

“The way your face just lit up when you started talking about her? Yes. And I’ve been there myself, so I get it. I have a model friend I’ve had a crush on for years. She’s straight and married, though, so at least your friend is gay. Is she married? In a relationship?”

“No.”

“Then, why are you here with me and not going for it with her?”

“Because I can’t tell her. It’s been ten years.”

“You’ve liked her for ten years?”

“No, we’ve been best friends for ten years. And now, I might be moving anyway.”

“Moving?”

“To Dallas. I got offered a promotion today. I wasn’t really expecting it.”

“Ah… So, you like her, don’t know if she likes you back; you’ve been friends forever, so you don’t want to risk it; and now, you’re moving, so there’s no point.”

“Exactly,” she said. “But the first thing I thought about when my boss told me about the offer was that I wouldn’t get to see Linden every day anymore.”

Stephania nodded and asked, “It’s more than just a crush, isn’t it?”

Asher nodded then and said, “It is. I’m so sorry.”

“Well, let’s order some salads and pizza, and we can just hang out and talk. No pressure. I wouldn’t mind making a new friend out of this, like I said.” Stephania smiled.

“Why are you so nice? You should be mad that I’ve now wasted your time when I’m falling for my best friend.”

“I think you might have already fallen there, Asher. And like I said before – I’m good with whatever. I want to meet someone soon, yes, but I’m not going to try to force anything. Hey, maybe we can go through the app together, and you can help me pick someone else out to try to go out with.”

“You are a supermodel. Why are you even using an app? Just walk into any bar,” Asher suggested with a smile.

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