Page 27 of Addiction

Asher’s eyes are now back on me.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean—”

“I get it. I’ve had enough reminders that’s for sure.”

“She’s missed you, Asher. We all have.”

He holds my stare for a moment before dragging his eyes away and looking over my shoulder as if he’s done wrong. “I hear from Nora’s letter that you’ve been a great comfort to her and Mom.”

“I tried to take a step back to give them space after everything that happened. But your Mom took to ringing me every other day to make sure I was okay. Soon enough, I found myself sitting around her dinner table.”

He laughs. “That sounds like Mom.”

“She doesn’t take no for an answer, that’s for sure.” I smile. “As for Nora, our friendship started long before that when I was helping your dad.”

His head falls, and I can tell that talking about Pete is still hard for him.

When he looks back at me, there’s a look of sincerity in his eyes. “I didn’t treat you like I should have, did I? When you were working with Pop.”

I’m in two minds whether or not to say that it was fine, but I’m not one to sugar-coat things either. And I know regardless of his faults, Asher is also one that can take shit that is thrown at him. “No, you didn’t. I tried every way I could to find the friendly side of you but got nothing but shitty responses.”

“I wasn’t in the right head space,” he says.

“That and the fact you are a stubborn fucker.”

A wicked grin spreads across his face and my damn heart skips.

“Yeah. I can’t argue with that.”

For the first time in as long as I’ve known him, he seems at ease. A part of me hopes that it’s because of me. I know how addicts have to make amends and maybe, in his own way, this is him doing just that. But at the same time, I don’t want to be the guy who looked after his dad. I want more.

“Look, I don’t know about you, but I think this family needs a fresh start all around, and I’m a part of that, Asher.” I point to his mom and sister. “They mean everything to me. So for the sake of them, can we be friends?”

He holds my stare, and I’m waiting for him to say no when I see his jaw muscles twitching. To my relief, he nods and this time it’s him who holds his hand out.

“Friends. And for the record, I never hated you.”

Taking his hand, I add. “For the record, I smell bullshit but I forgive you.”

A deep chuckle leaves him. “I can see why pop liked you as his therapist.”

“He didn’t at first. Did you know he tried to stab me with a fork on my first visit?”

“No. I’ll need to hear more of that,” he says, just as Mark shouts him from the other side of the room.

“I best go. But you’re sticking around?”

“I’m not staying long. I have an early start tomorrow.”

He nods. “Well, I’m sure I’ll see you again.”

“Oh, I can assure you that you’ll see me often.”

I smile, knowing damn well he’s not seen the last of me. The last twelve months have been torture as I’ve not been able to get him out of my head since that night at my place, and now he’s back and we appear to be in a much better place than before, I’m determined to get to know the real Asher Nelson, even if it kills me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Asher