Page 45 of Knotty, Nice, & Holiday Lights
I look at Asher and tilt my head in question. “Is it okay to ask how your meeting went yesterday?”
Asher’s dark eyes blink once before he laughs. “You can ask me anything, love. But I’ll tell you, I’m now without representation.”
My heart plummets in my chest. “Oh, no…”
“Not to worry,” he says, taking my hand and placing it on his knee, wrapped in his. “My agent—er, ex-agent—gave me a good idea. Also, some names to research for her replacement.”
“What was the idea?” Will leans forward to see both of us.
“She suggested that I put my energy into voice acting, since I don’t believe I’m keen on getting in front of the camera any longer.”
“That’s a great idea,” I breathe. “You could still act, but you wouldn’t have to deal with the Hollywood shenanigans as much. You could even take on a new name if you wanted.”
His smile is warm as Asher squeezes my hand. “Precisely. I could even build a studio somewhere local.”
I can’t help myself, gripping his face in my palms and pecking his lips. “That would be wonderful.”
Then, a thought strikes me that furrows my brow, and I frown.
“What’s all this then?” Asher asks, one of his brows rising higher than the other as he presses his index and middle fingers to the center of my forehead, making me smile a little.
“I…” my lips purse as I trail, wondering if I should even say it all out loud before thinking it through.
Like a mind-reader, Will chimes in. “Talk it out with us, Izzy.”
I’m grateful for how in-tune he is. “Okay, I’ll give it a try.” I shift on the couch, sitting on the edge and looking at them both. “Our relationship just started. Last night.” I laugh nervously. “I know I’m all-in, and I think that you two are, too—”
“There’s no doubt,” Will says at the same time as Asher says, “Abso-bloody-lutely.”
“Being together means we’re all going to have to find out way, together and separately. Like, Asher with his new career path. And I need to figure out what I’m going to do for work since there aren’t any game developers up here, and a commute to Los Angeles is out of the question.”
Will frowns, and my heart thumps with concern.
“What is it, Will?”
“We need to involve Matthew in our plans,” he says. “We shouldn’t discuss this too much without him.”
He’s right, of course, but is Matthew even ready for this kind of conversation?
“He’s in L.A. with his family for the next couple of days.”
Huh. I didn’t know that Will talked to him enough to know that, and I’m just grateful Matthew actually told me of his plans before he left.
“When Matthew returns, we’ll invite him here. Tell him that we’re a pack and want him to join us if he’s willing.” Asher places his palm on the back of my hand. “He has to choose, love. And we’ll have to respect his decision.”
Of course, we will. Of course.
And yet, I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle his rejection and withdrawal for a second time.
Chapter Thirty-Two
The drive back to Crescent Lake from L.A. was much faster than the other way around.
Looks like I’m a lot more excited to come back to this small town than I was to go see my family. Not that I didn’t have a decent week, bouncing back and forth between my mom’s and my dad’s places, but I have to admit I thought of Iz most of the time during my visit.
More specifically, what happened in that closet at the lounge. And how she had clung to me when I carried her, and not just to hold on as we moved. It made me think about the old days, when everything was great between her and I. When we’d spend every day and every night together. When she’d fall asleep in my arms, my knot still locking us together into the night.
Scenting her in that closet had set me off.
