Page 82 of April

“But you’re not dying, Asher. She will always be your best friend; yes or no?”

“Yes, of course,” she said, her heart racing even at the thought of them no longer being friends.

“Then, you’ll both figure it out,” Bryce replied. “It’s not like you’d never see each other. And as someone who’s in a long-distance relationship, I can tell you that technology helps a lot. I’m so glad I didn’t meet Sophie, like, fifty years ago. We’d be exchanging letters and talking on the phone, but I wouldn’t get to see her face every night when we’re about to fall asleep.”

Asher thought about Linden lying in her bed before sleep. She pictured them on FaceTime, saying goodnight and not hanging up, laughing at how ridiculous it was to be this old and still act like teens in love, and it hurt because, while Bryce and Sophie were in a relationship, she and Linden were not. They wouldn’t have nightly calls or video chats because friends didn’t really do that in the same way.

Besides, Asher would be busy with the new office and getting settled into another city, and Linden would probably still be going out at least a few times a week, coming home late, and even if Linden didn’t have another woman with her, Asher would already be asleep. She knew they’d keep missing each other, and things would get hard. She’d visit for work, and they’d reconnect then, at least, but it would never be the same, and she’d miss it. She’d miss what they had right now, even though it wasn’t exactly what she wanted.

She knew that getting out of New Orleans and away from Linden was a good idea for her, though. She meant what she had said to Linden about running a bigger office coming in handy later when she started her own company. Asher hadchecked her savings account just that morning, and with her most recent commission coming in, she had enough saved to feel comfortable about going out on her own. She would feel better in a few years, but she knew that either way, she’d be ready when she made the decision.

It wasn’t that she wanted to hurt Carolyn or steal her clients. Carolyn had given Asher her career, but this was how it was done in this industry. Her boss had done the same thing tohermentor, who had her own wedding planning business. Carolyn had worked for her for about ten years, too, before she’d started this company. Asher knew that she’d be upset at first, but she also knew that the woman would understand whenever Asher made that choice for herself.

“Asher?”

“Huh?”

“You just kind of zoned out over there. Are you okay?” Bryce asked.

“Yes. Sorry. Just a lot going on right now.”

“I should leave you to deal with it all. I just wanted to say hi,” Bryce said and stood. “Oh, I had a thought.”

“A thought?”

“Yes. I actually wanted to talk to you about something. Well, it’s someone.”

“Someone?”

“Yes. I met someone I think you might like.”

“A woman?”

“Yeah.”

“You want to set me up?”

“Casual thing,” Bryce replied, waving her off.

“A casual date?”

“Yeah. Why not? I think you’d like her. Anyway, I just thought I’d mention it.”

“I’m leaving, Bryce. Not really a point.”

“Like I said, it could be totally casual. Sophie and I were going to hang out with her tonight, but Soph wants it to just be us instead, and I’m more than okay with that, as you can imagine.” She smiled. “Anyway, we have the reservation at Santorini’s. I can tell her you’ll join her.”

“This is weird,” Asher said, squinting at her.

“It’s whatever. If you end up not wanting to be on a date, you can just have a meal together.”

“Who is this person, exactly?” Asher asked.

“Oh, just someone I met the last time I was here,” Bryce told her.

Carolyn appeared in the doorway and said, “Asher, can I borrow you for a moment? I have a vendor on the phone who’s arguing about a bill with me for one of your accounts.”

“Sure. Sorry, Bryce.”

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