Page 11 of Exactly What I Needed
Sighing in relief that they were all still occupied with Tera’s pictures, I took another peek at the message. Asher. It was a picture from Asher captioned “I think you forgot something.” I only questioned for half a second how he had my number before I remembered the text I’d sent just as he’d arrived at the room.
Now, I was staring at that very handsome face with my thong hanging from his teeth. He’d found it.
And I longed to stare at the picture. Who gave him the right to look like that? Who gave him the right to possess that much power over me?
Since when did I prefer the lanky but muscular guys with tattoos and the ability to woo a girl simply by the sound of his voice?
Groaning, I shook my head and then read his next text.
Picsnap me?
I was twenty-three.Since when do twenty-three-year-olds have Picsnap?All the time was the correct answer. Social media was huge with everyone my age, but I had my reasons why I was a ghost to all those apps. To all social media. So no, I wouldn’t snap him. That would only lead me down a road I didn’t want to travel. I was ignoring him. We were done.
Wait, how old was he? And why was he asking for more contact with me?
Curiosity snatched my control from me, and I sent a quick text in response.
I’m 23 and an English teacher. Do you think I have Picsnap?
Then I stared at my screen, wondering why I was engaging in this conversation. Though that picture was quite delicious. I clicked on the photo and pressed save as his next text came through.
I do. And I’m 25… Mmmmm a teacher?;)
Rolling my eyes, I furiously replied.
And why do you want me to snap you? Isn’t texting good enough?
Three dots appeared for a moment, and then his message came through.
Because I’d like to see what your life is like, not just texts with words.
I shook my head. No, we were done. There would be no more contact because now, if I dragged things out, that wouldn’t be so forgivable.
“Cosi? Who are you texting so intensely?” Katie asked beside me, snapping me out of my conversation, and I quickly locked my phone.
“Oh, uh, no one that matters. It was just an excuse to not finish grading my papers.” Not a total lie.
Although a lie all the same.
Reaching forward, I slid the last few essays from the coffee table and resumed work. But my mind was only half into the task. What was he doing?
It seemed he was actually trying to insert himself into my daily, menial life.
Asher was supposed to forget me. Move on and find a new girl. Not press to be a part of my world. When he’d responded, I’d been shocked that it wasn’t some dirty reference to me sending naked pictures of myself to him. No, he’d very explicatively asked to see what my life was like.
Why me?
Better question—why was I entertaining the thought?
If I did agree to that, it would be just as friends, because otherwise, Sydney would definitely kill me. I was aware enough to recognize that now. One time was a mistake. Two times would make it more deliberate and harder for her to forgive me.
But if I did keep him as a friend, then maybe I could help her be more involved with the band. Right? That would be a valid motive for engaging in further involvement with Asher.
Wait, no. No. No. Not even as friends. That was merely a justification. Besides, after what he did to me, what we did together, friends was not possible.
Pulling out my phone once more, I unlocked it, ready to send him a quick text, but found another one waiting from him.
We’re staying for a few extra days in the city before heading on. Come see me?
