Page 70 of Embrace
“I would like to thank you for persevering to the end.”
“Well…” Julia’s voice came in loud and clear. “Dr. Ross didn’t inform administration of her findings before traipsing off to God knows where. But that’s an internal matter.”
Asher’s frown was so severe that it looked like he was chewing on lemons. It remained deathly silent for a few beats.
Julia went on to give the logistics of a future meeting that was planned, including time and participants, then she was released from the call. We all said our final goodbyes before Asher got up and went into a private space to finish the rest of the call with the chief.
Once Greg and I were alone, he stared daggers at me. There was no way I was going to shrink away from that look on his face, so I did the same.
After a moment, he sniffed bitterly and got up, and just as if he’d rung a bell, Willow came out, and he resumed flirting with her.
By the time he got to the part where he asked her out to dinner the next time she was in town, I was dozing off. When my eyes opened again, the airplane was parked at the terminal, and Asher was calling my name while gently shaking me awake.
* * *
I wassurprised that Greg was keeping stride with us. I’d thought he would storm off on his own, but he stayed close. Asher’s pinched expression was a clue that he was bothered by it. Once we were on the sidewalk in the arrivals pick-up area, Greg pointed at Asher.
“You can give her the bag back. Since she rode here with me, I’ll take her back to the hospital,” Greg blurted out, looking as angry as a bull.
Asher put his arm around my shoulder. “Back off, asshole.”
Greg sneered like a schoolyard bully. “What are you going to do, pretty boy?”
Asher removed his hand and stepped away to put distance between him and me. My heart pounded so hard that the sound resonated in my ears.What the hell is happening? Are two fully grown and professional men about to fight?
“You guys, stop it. Go home, Greg!” I yelled. “I’m leaving with Asher.”
“What are you going to do, pussy?” Greg asked, his attention focused on Asher. It was as if he hadn’t heard or couldn’t absorb a word I had said.
I wondered if the stage-one CTE was making Greg more aggressive than the average person. I was also worried about Asher. He was by no means scrawny, but he had less than half the body mass of Greg. I searched up and down the walkway, looking for any signs of security.
“Back off, buddy,” Asher said in a tone that made me wonder if I was more worried about Greg taking his head off than he was. Asher stood his ground, showing no signs of backing down from whatever fight Greg wanted to have.
Then, striking like lightning, Greg threw a punch at Asher. And like a superhero in a big-screen movie, Asher dodged Greg’s fist. Greg swung again, and Asher easily avoided him again.
I was either unable to yell for help or unable to decide if I should.
“Be sure you want to finish what you’re starting.” The calm in Asher’s voice was further indication of his impeccable control.
Asher stood steady, not moving a muscle. His eye contact was firm. He’d already easily evaded powerful blows that could’ve put his lights out.
Greg’s eyes were glazed over as if he acknowledged for a fraction of a second that Asher might have been more of a skilled fighter than he appeared to be. He opened his mouth then closed it, and without another word, he turned and padded down the walkway. People watched, snapping cell phone pictures of all of us.
Asher took me by my hand. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
I nodded gently and walked beside him. With all the excitement, I hadn’t seen Kirk parked nearby. Asher held the door open, and I slid into the back seat. He got in after me.
We were alone again, and we had so much to talk about.
“I’m sorry,” I said to break the ice.
“No need to continue apologizing, Penina.”
His icy tone worried me.Has he lost all trust in me?
I sighed, giving in to defeat. “Okay.” My sinuses grew tight as I chose to face away from him. If our relationship was beyond repair, then so be it. Frankly, I thought there was a conversation we should have, but I had no idea how to start it. Mature, adult relationships had always been beyond my grasp.
“You were staying in a hotel room with him,” Asher said finally.
