Page 9 of April

“Asher, you’re more important to me than getting laid tonight,” Linden said with a kind smile. “Do you want me to call Gavin?”

“No,” she replied. “He’s probably asleep, anyway.”

“Okay. Well, I’ll take you home and make sure you’re all right.”

“Linden, I’m fine. I don’t need you to take me home. Actually, I think I’ll go getmyselfa drink.”

Quickly and necessarily, Asher removed herself from Linden’s side and headed toward the bar, where she joined the line.

“Hey, what’s going on with you?” Linden asked when she appeared at Asher’s side, apparently not taking the hint.

“Nothing.”

“Hi. Name’s Linden, and I’ve been your best friend for a million years. Want to try that one again?”

“Linden, come on… I’m tired. I came out because you wanted me to.”

“I didn’t force you to. I texted you that Jill and Sophie would be here if you didn’t want to come with me,” Linden replied.

“Jill, huh?” she asked.

“Yeah. And Sophie.”

Asher nodded and said, “I think I’ll just go home and get some sleep. The heat probably got to me today. The ceremony was outside, and it was ninety-seven degrees, so you know what that means.”

“Felt like a hundred and ten?”

“Yeah. So, I probably don’t need this drink, after all. Have fun with Sophie and Jill, okay?”

“Ash, I’ll walk you home. You’re not feeling well. Come on,” Linden said, offering her hand to Asher.

“Really, I’m okay. Now that I think about it, Gavin said he’d be going out with some friends tonight to watch the game, so I bet he’s at the pub. I’ll text him. The game’s over by now.”

She pulled out her phone and pretended to text her boyfriend to come get her from the bar. As she put it back in her purse, she looked back up at Linden, who clearly wasn’t buying it.

“I’ll wait outside with you, then. We can walk to the corner of–”

“He’s on his way. I’m fine. But thanks. Just… Go have fun with Jill.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Linden asked as she was pushed a little by someone in the crowd trying to get to the bar.

“Nothing. Just that I didn’t know you two were doing that.”

“Doingwhat? Kissing?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s the first time we’ve done that.”

“She’s a friend, Linden. She’s a new friend.”

“I know that,” Linden said, getting pushed again. “Can we get out of this line, please? I won’t have a shoulder if I get shoved again.”

“I’m going to meet Gavin,” Asher stated before she turned and walked toward the door.

“Hey, what is goingonwith you?” Linden asked, following her out.

“I’m tired, Linden,” she said, sighing loudly for effect. “I should’ve said no when you asked me to come out, and I didn’t, so that’s my fault, but it just hit me how exhausted I am. I think I’d like to just have Gavin take me home so that I can get some sleep.”

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