Page 24 of The Wish List
I pushed back the blanket, grabbing my robe. I shivered a little. The apartment was cold, and my robe had seen better days. I headed to the kitchen. Asher was at the table, his head in his hands, pulling on his hair. I walked up to him, tugging on his hands. “I like your hair where it is.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close, his head resting on my stomach. “I didn’t mean to wake you. Go back to bed, and I’ll bring coffee.”
I didn’t think I could face this conversation on the sofa. Too many intimate moments had been shared on it. “I’m fine. I’ll get us coffee.”
I bent and kissed the top of his head, and he looked up, unhappy and worried. I pulled away and got the mugs, pouring the coffee and bringing it to the table.
“Your sister must have been up early.”
He nodded. “They flew home ahead of schedule.”
I injected a false note of cheer into my voice. “You must be excited to see Bonnie and have your Christmas with her. I’m sure she is thrilled, knowing she’ll see you soon.”
“They’re headed up to their cabin in Quebec. They want me to come tomorrow. Well, today, actually. But I said tomorrow.”
I stood and went to the counter, refusing to let him see how sad his words made me. I’d known this was coming. He wasn’t going to stay in this ratty little apartment with us forever. He had another life—one filled with other people, very rich people, like him who had cabins and flew to and from places whenever they wanted. I cleared my voice before I spoke. “You must have a lot to do before you go. Do you have time for breakfast with us first? I know AJ would like to say goodbye.”
He was behind me in an instant, spinning me in his arms. “I am not saying goodbye to either of you.”
“Asher,” I began. “I know you have another life—”
He cut me off, lifting my chin. “My other life was empty until I found you and AJ. Lonely. This is not goodbye, Rosie. I have to go see my sister and niece because I promised. I don’t want to leave you.”
“Oh.”
He shook his head. “How could you think that after the past few days?”
“I-I don’t know what to think. We never talked past the holidays…” I trailed off at his intense frown.
He pressed his forehead to mine. “I am not walking away. I thought they’d be at home and I’d drive up in the morning, spend the day, maybe one night like usual, and be back with you fast. But the cabin is a day’s drive, and she wants me to spend a couple days with them, and I hate saying no…”
“I understand,” I replied because I really did. That was his family.
“Come with me.”
“What?”
He stood back. “You and AJ come with me.”
I shook my head. “No, Asher. It’s too soon. I-I wouldn’t be comfortable. I wasn’t invited.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “You’d be welcome,” he insisted. “I want you there.”
I shook my head. “It’s not a good idea.”
“It is to me.”
I pressed a hand to his cheek. “You go see your family. Spend some time with your niece. Asher and I will be here when you get back, if you still want to see us.”
He held my hand to his skin, his voice incredulous. “What kind of statement is that?” he asked. “If I want? Of course I want to see you. I don’t even want to go, Rosie.”
His words eased my anxiety a little. “You have to go.”
“We’d planned New Year’s.”
I had to laugh. “And we’ll do that when you get back. AJ won’t care if he eats Chinese food on the second or the thirty-first. All he’ll care about is he eats it with you. So, we’ll hold off until you get back.”
He cupped my face, looking into my eyes. “I am coming back, Rosie. This is not over. Please come with me, though.”
