Page 96 of April

“Here we go.”

Linden looked up, seeing Daphne holding their entrée plates and waiting for them to move so that she could put them down. Linden didn’t want to separate their hands, but they’d need them to eat, so she gave Asher’s hand a squeeze that she hoped told her that they’d be holding hands again soon and let go.

“Can we order something else?” she asked Daphne.

“Of course.”

“I’d like to get the filet and shrimp with the tzatziki sauce to-go, and my date would like…”

Asher smiled and shook her head.

“Two of those, then,” Linden added. “Medium for both. Extra sauce on the side would be great.”

“Get the dill sauce, too,” Asher suggested.

“Oh, yeah. Can I get extra dill sauce on the side, too? You can charge me for it.”

Daphne nodded and left them alone.

“I cannot wait to send Bryce the bill,” Linden said.

CHAPTER 25

Dinner had been somewhat awkward because they had to adjust to this new version of them now that it was out in the open. Asher hadn’t told Linden that she was in love with her or anything, but knowing that she was interested in her was probably enough for tonight. Neither of them had just a crush. It wasn’t justlikebetween them, either, and they both understood that without saying the words.

Now, they needed to find out if this was something they could have. Maybe they only worked as friends, despite the fact that they both wanted more. Maybe this was something they needed to try, but it would all fizzle out the moment their lips met for the first time because they were never meant to be lovers. Asher hoped not because being here with Linden right now, finally telling her how she felt, made her so happy.

“Okay. We’re paid up,” Linden said after she signed the check that she’d insisted on paying just so she could be the one to tell Bryce how much she owed her. “Walk?”

“Yes, let’s go,” Asher said with a smile.

They rose from the table and took their to-go bags with them. While Linden insisted on making Bryce pay for two expensive dinners, and Asher felt like shediddeserve it, she was also very grateful to Bryce right about now. They climbed into Asher’s car, putting the food in the back seat, and headed in thedirection of a parking lot that would get them close to the Square and might actually have a few spots available if they were lucky. Neither of them said anything on the drive, but that was normal for them. They’d never felt the need to fill the silence between them, choosing to listen to music in the background or nothing at all. Asher parked the car, and they joined at the back of it.

“So, I’m going to hold your hand now,” Linden said. “And not as a friend, just so we’re clear.”

Asher smiled at her and said, “That’s fine with me.”

Linden took her hand, and they walked across the street and joined the crowd of people, mostly tourists, on their walk around the Square, taking in the artists and artwork along with the fortune tellers and tarot readers.

“So,” Linden began. “Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?”

“What room? We’re outside,” Asher joked.

“Oh, come on.” Linden chuckled. “You’re better than that.”

“I know. Lame joke.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Can we not tonight, Linden?”

“You’re moving, Ash.”

“Just… Not tonight. This is my first real date with a woman.”

“What? No, it’s not. You’ve been on three. Cindy didn’t show up, but–”

Asher stopped walking and said, “No,thisis the first real one. It matters, Linden. I went out on that first date with Emily because you were thinking about asking Jill out after you two made out on the dance floor. I went out with Cindy and Stephania for the same reason. I thought I couldn’t haveyou.”

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