I turned to the cabinet and took down a vase.
“I know what I said and I’m sorry.”
“You know what?” I turned and looked at him as I set the vase on the counter. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who is sorry as much as you are.”
“See there. What does that tell you?” He grinned.
“It tells me that you speak before you think, and you react before you think.”
He stood there and narrowed his eye at me.
“You’re right. You are one hundred percent right. And again, I’m sorry. Listen, Everly, I’m an asshole. I admit it. I’ve said things to you that I’m not proud of, but I’m not that person. At least not anymore.”
“Since when?”
“Since the moment I realized that I need you in my life. I went and talked to Brianna. It’s not that I didn’t believe you. I just needed to hear it from her mouth. I needed to hear her say my father was responsible.”
“And how did that go?”
“It went really well. We talked and then I left. She’s happily married with two beautiful children.”
“That’s great, Asher. I’m happy for you. Now maybe your father will find some peace and leave me the hell alone.”
“Have you seen him again?”
“Not since that night.”
“Good. I probably scared him straight to Hell.”
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“I’m serious. I had a talk with him. I told him exactly how I felt and what I thought about him.”
“Did it make you feel better?” I asked as I arranged the roses in the vase.
“It did. It made me feel a lot better.” A smirk crossed his lips. He walked over to where I stood and took hold of both my hands and held them in his. “I never meant to hurt you, Everly. I know that’s probably hard for you to believe, but it’s the truth.”
The problem with Asher was he always apologized, expected sex, and thought everything was good. But this time, I wasn’t going to give into him. I’d been yelled at, kicked out of his place and been told he never wanted to see me again one too many times.
“Thank you, Asher. I appreciate it.” My lips gave way to a tender smile.
He brought his hand up to my cheek and softly stroked it as his sexy eyes stared into mine.
“I’ll never hurt you again. I promise,” he spoke with sincerity.
“So, are you flying back to New York tonight?” I asked.
“No. It’s late. I figured I’d stay for a while.”
“What about the company?”
“It’s in good hands and it won’t fall apart while I’m gone.” His thumb swept over my lips.
“Are you staying at a hotel?” I arched my brow at him.
“I wasn’t planning on it.” His eye narrowed at me. “I was hoping to stay here with you.”
“Of course.” I nodded my head. “You can stay here. Follow me upstairs and I’ll show you the guestroom.” I turned and walked out of the kitchen.
“What?” He followed behind. “The guestroom?”
“Yes.” I turned my head and smiled at him.
I showed him to the room with the double bed, a window seat, a dresser with a TV sitting on it and two nightstands.
“Is there a reason why you’re not letting me in your bed?” he asked.
“Well.” I paced around the room. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Why? I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“Of course you do. But sex with us is a band-aid, Asher.”
“What are you talking about?” He stood there shaking his head.
“You yell, kick me out, tell me you never want to see me again. Then you apologize and we have sex.”
“And?” He lifted his arms up.
“The sex we have after you do all those things to me is great and it feels good at the moment. But it covers up the real issues at hand. Like a band-aid covers a wound. You eventually take the band-aid off and let the wound heal on its own. Make sense?”
32
Asher
I knew exactly what she was saying, and I didn’t like it.
“Yeah, Everly. It does.”
“Good.” She grinned as she placed her hand on my chest. “I’m just going to change into my pajamas, make a bowl of popcorn and watch The Bachelorette. You can join me if you’d like.”
Was she serious?
“Sounds like fun.” I managed a fake smile.
“Great. I’ll see you downstairs.”
The moment she walked out of the room, I sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. I couldn’t believe she was making me stay in the guestroom. All that talk about sex being like a band-aid. I had no choice, and I knew it. I screwed up and now I had to suffer the consequences. The consequences of no sex with the woman I loved. Could I do it? I had no choice. I just prayed that it wouldn’t last too long. I took off my shoes and socks and changed into a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants. When I walked out of the bedroom, she came from hers dressed in a two-piece short pajama set and her hair up in a messy bun. Damn her.
We sat on the couch with a bowl of popcorn between us and she turned on some show called The Bachelorette. I’d never heard of it and when I started watching it, I couldn’t believe what the hell I was seeing.
“Are you kidding me? Why did she give him a rose? Can’t she see the guy is a total douchebag?” I threw my hands up. “He’s totally playing her.”
“Right?” Everly said as she popped a piece of popcorn in her mouth. “But don’t worry. He won’t be around too much longer.”
I glanced over at her and cocked my head.
“You know the outcome, don’t you?”
She shrugged as a beautiful smile graced her lips.
“How can you watch this stuff if you already know what’s going to happen?”
“For the drama.” She grinned.
I chuckled as I threw a piece of popcorn at her and she threw one back at
