Page 3 of The Consequence of You
While the three of them place their drinks order, I try to ignore the delicious scent drifting over from his aftershave.
“Have you quite finished?” His lazy drawl startles me from my thoughts.
“Finished what?”
“Inhaling me.” I take a sharp breath.Fuck, was I being that obvious?I check to see if Dahlia and Grayson heard Asher’s question, but they’re deep in conversation about the best pancake toppings.
“Don’t flatter yourself, dickwad. I was notinhalingyou. You’re taking up half the bench with your man-spreading and what you heard was probably me trying to get in enough oxygen, as you’re taking up most of it.”
“Sure.”
Urgh, his air of smug indifference is infuriating.I was not inhaling him.I merely noticed his aftershave. He thinks he’s right about everything. That’s what nineteen years of being pampered does for a person, I guess.
Another sarcastic response is on the tip of my tongue, but I drop it when the waitress comes to take our order.
Dahlia and Grayson are splitting a pancake stack and finally agree on their choice of toppings. Asher orders eggs Benedict with a side of asparagus, which presumably the diner will have to send someone out for, as asparagus is definitely not on the menu. Of course, there is no question of the waitress saying no as Asher gives her a sparkling smile and slips her his phone number on a napkin. She scuttles off back into the kitchen as soon as I order my French toast and my third coffee. I roll my eyes, but unfortunately it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Do you have a problem, Calliope?” Asher removes his shades and glares at me. He has insisted on using the longer version of my name for as long as I’ve known him and, as always, he says it like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
“Why don’t you just order something off the menu like everyone else?”
“Because I feel like asparagus this morning. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Other than you being an entitled arsehole?” I mutter under my breath.
“Speak up, princess. I can’t quite make out your vitriol when you’re whispering.” He enunciates every word, and Dahlia and Grayson stop their conversation. Dahlia looks between us, obvious disappointment on her face, and I instantly feel bad for spoiling her breakfast. She and Grayson have been looking forward to today for weeks and they deserve today to be as uncomplicated as possible, so despite Asher being my least favourite person on the planet, I pin a smile on my face.
“I said, I hope they can get your asparagus. It’s a great source of potassium, apparently.” He smirks, knowing full well he’s forcing me to play nice. His large hand clamps down on my thigh, and I almost jump out of my seat.
“Thank you, Calliope. I appreciate that.” Of course he finds it easy to come across as sincere, and Dahlia smiles at the sight of us getting on.
Several hours later and our best friends are settled in their new home.
“Cheers.” After clinking my glass against Dahlia’s, Iturn to Asher to do the same, glad we’ve been able to put our joint animosity to one side long enough to help make this day perfect for our friends.
I’m so happy for them both. I’ve known Grayson for years, but only in the last few months have I really got to know him. Admittedly, at first, I was worried Dahlia would get hurt again, but he’s repeatedly proved me wrong.
Whatever went on in the past, I can see how different things are now. He loves my best friend and treats her like the queen she is, exactly how she deserves to be treated. No one can deny that. She hasn’t stopped beaming since everything with her father and Colin Banks was resolved a few months ago. The bond between her and Grayson is undeniable, real life couple goals right there. Moving into their new apartment symbolises a fresh start, and I have every confidence they’ll be happy here.
I let out a yawn and realise I’m not the only one who is tired. Dahlia has fallen asleep against Grayson’s shoulder. He lifts her gently.
“I’m just going to put her to bed. It’s been a long day. You two, get yourself another drink. I’ll be back soon.” He carries her through to the back of the apartment as I unfurl my legs and walk over to the speaker. Turning the music down a few notches, I gather up a few of the dirty plates and carry them over to the kitchen. Asher surprises me when he stops scrolling through his phone and grabs the rest.
He follows me into the small kitchen area, and it suddenly feels crowded. It’s open plan, but his proximity is unnerving. His 6ft 3 frame seems wider when he’s this close, and he towers over my tiny 5ft 2 frame, especially as I’m not wearing any shoes. I don’t like the guy, but theearthy, woody smell of his aftershave, combined with the spicy scent of the whiskey he’s been drinking, is a heady combination. He reaches over me to open the wall cupboard and grabs two shot glasses. I shrink back against the cabinets, trying to limit how much of him is touching me, but I’m still at eye level with his firm chest.
I can’t help but notice the way his polo shirt strains over his hard pecs as I struggle to drag my eyes away from his body. I gulp, feeling my nipples involuntarily harden. My top and the bra underneath are thin, and I will him not to look down, as there’s no way he’d miss them poking through the fabric, and I do not want to give him the satisfaction of thinking he’s affected me.
Objectively, he’s handsome, there’s no denying it. He’s stupidly, ridiculously handsome, in fact. Like Disney prince handsome. It’s almost as if generations of perfect physical specimens had mated, creating a real-life god. His body could have been carved from marble, his strong jaw Herculean. It’s no wonder my body is betraying me. It’s a purely physical reaction to his beauty.
What makes less sense is why he’s looking at me the way he is right now.Like an animal stalking his prey.
“Where the fuck has Grayson got to?” I mutter, darting under Asher’s arm and put some distance between us.
“Probably fallen asleep with his girl.”
I hadn’t noticed until that moment that Asher had filled two shot glasses with a clear liquid. Vodka. He slides one over to me before picking up the other.
“To friendship?” He cocks his head, a smirk on his face. Asher and I will never be friends. We both know that in the same way we’d both known we needed to keep up this façade today.
