Page 11 of Wrecked
“Look at the carvings in this one.” I run my hand over a cherry-oak hutch. Asher isn’t impressed and I nudge his side with my shoulder. “Isn’t it nice?”
He grabs the price tag. “Not for eighteen hundred dollars.”
“Well, it’s an antique.” His eyes meet mine, and they hold a hint of laughter in them.
“Antique. Isn’t that another word for really really old?”
“Yes. But I bet you like antique cars, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but that’s different.”
“Not really.” I cross my arms over my chest and smile. “It’s very much the same.”
He turns around, gazing at the rest of the store before his eyes land back on me. “If you say so.”
“I do. Come on, let’s keep looking. It’s exciting seeing pieces from another era.”
“See there aren’t any cars in here from that long ago. That would be exciting.”
I drag him along, glancing at each piece in the store as Asher rolls his eyes. The store makes me miss my grandmother, but I relish in the memories of her as I remember back to shopping with her so many times.
When we leave the store, I hop back into the passenger side of Asher’s truck. My mood has depressed a little and I try to find a happy song on the radio.
“You’re lucky I like you,” he says, stopping at a red light.
“Why’s that?”
“I normally don’t let anyone touch my radio.”
I remove my finger from the dial. “Oh.”
“Go ahead. I like you enough to give you control of the radio.”
I smile. “Thanks.”
He pulls into a small restaurant, and inside we’re assaulted by a group of pretty, blonde girls talking to a waitress at the front. All three call Asher’s name as we try to grab a seat.
“Asher, it’s been so long. We didn’t see you out the other night with Brett,” one blonde says.
“Yeah, I was busy.” He rubs his hand down his face.
“Who’s your friend?” another asks.
“Tish, Val, Kel, this is Payton.” He sidesteps the girls and leads me over to a table by the window.
After we’ve been seated, I glance back at the girls who are sitting at the bar. “Who are they?” I ask.
“Just some girls I used to know.”
He used to know. As in no longer. I have so many more questions, but remember this is just a friendship and it isn’t my place to ask. Although, I’m glad he used to know them and doesn’t anymore.
