Page 93 of April

“Bryce can pay for that, too,” she said, trying to lighten the mood.

“I need to text her. One second.”

“Bryce? I was just going to yell at her in person when I saw her next.”

“No, Stephania,” Asher said, returning her attention to her phone. “She was going to go out regardless, so I need to let her know not to wait for me.”

“Tell her to go to Jones’ Bar,” Linden suggested. “If she’s looking for low-key and jazz, that’s a good one, and it’s not in the Quarter.”

“Okay,” Asher replied without looking up.

Linden just watched her type, trying not to think about the fact that this woman was pretty much her everything. She hadn’t realized it until the moment she found out that Asherwas moving, but she knew it was true now. Asher Hahn had been her best friend and co-worker for so long that Linden couldn’t remember her life without her. Even thinking back to her college years at LSU, it felt as if Asher had been there with her, living in the dorm room next door or showing up at the frat parties Linden had gone to her freshman year. She could see Asher opening and closing a locker next to hers in her high school, despite the fact that they hadn’t met until they were in their twenties and out of both high school and college. If Linden thought hard, though, she could even see Asher on the playground with her as kids, but none of that was real. Real was right in front of her, and it was about to move to Dallas, Texas.

“I won’t yell at Bryce,” Asher said. “But I do plan on making her pay for this dinner.”

Linden smiled. Maybe they’d be okay, after all. Maybe Asher wouldn’t ask her why Bryce and Melinda would do this to them. But when Asher smiled back at her, it didn’t reach her eyes. Linden tried not to worry and looked around the restaurant.

“Shit. I just left my table. I bet the server is wondering if I’m coming back. Can you give me a second?”

Asher nodded, and Linden stood quickly. She headed toward the back of the restaurant, pulled out her phone as she went, and found Bryce in her contacts.

“I’m going to kill you,” she said.

“Why are you calling me? You should be with Asher.”

“You can’t just set two friends up on a date. There are consequences, Bryce. It’s awkward now.”

“Why is it awkward?”

“Because Ash is wonderingwhyyou would do this. She probably thinks I like her.”

“Youdolike her. You more than like her,” Bryce said.

“But I didn’t want her to know that.”

“Why not? Why not, Linden? Don’t do this. Don’t be stupid. Tell Asher how you feel. The worst thing that’s going to happen is that she says that she doesn’t feel the same way, and in a few months, she moves, and you can try to moveon. The best thing that happens is that she feels the same way and wants to try.”

“She’s moving. Even if she did feel the same way, why would she–”

“Linden, it’s Soph. Just tell the woman how you feel already. Please trust us.”

“Us? You’re in on this, too?” Linden asked.

“Of course, I am. Just go back to your table, or wherever Asher is, and talk to her.”

Linden sighed and said, “I can’t. I couldn’t stand how she’d look at me if I told her, and she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Hi there. Has your other party arrived?” her original waiter asked when he noticed her standing by her table.

“I’ve got to go,” she said to Bryce and Sophie and hung up. “Um… Yeah. But they got a table, and I didn’t know, so I just wanted to tell you that you can give this one away.”

“Okay. Thank you,” he said.

Linden turned, saw that Asher’s back was turned to her, so she took a deep breath and walked back to their table.

“Hey,” she said. “All good.” She sat down and noticed that her beer had been placed in front of her seat, but Asher didn’t have a drink. “No wine?” she asked.

“No, I drove.”

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