I’m stunned. "Asher."
"I'm serious. You decide."
Jamie makes a disgusted sound from across the room, but I ignore her. Because Asher is looking at me like I'm the only thingin the world that matters. Like he's handing me back the power he took away.
"No," I say quietly. "She should do online school. You're right. The classroom environment isn't working for her. She needs something less stressful."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure."
He exhales, his shoulders sagging with relief. "Okay. Okay. Thank you."
"But you have to include me," I say. "You have to talk to me. You can't just make decisions and tell me after the fact."
"I will. I promise. I'll do better." He kisses my forehead, then my cheeks, then my lips. "I love you so much. I'm so sorry I made you doubt that."
"I love you too."
Jamie is still standing by the door, her expression unreadable. When I look at her, she shakes her head slightly, like she's warning me. Like she's telling me this is a mistake.
But I can't hear it right now. Because Asher is holding me and apologizing and promising to change, and I want so badly to believe him.
"Come home," he whispers. "Please come home."
I nod. "Okay."
He helps me stand, his arm around my waist like he's afraid I'll disappear if he lets go. We walk to the door together, and I glance back at Jamie.
"I love you. I'll call you tomorrow," I say.
“I love you more. Please... be careful,” she says.
She just watches us leave, her face tight with worry.
In the car, Asher holds my hand the entire drive home. He keeps apologizing, keeps telling me how much he loves me, keeps promising he'll be better. And I let myself believe him.
CHAPTER
NINETEEN
ASHER
I was sopissed when I left the office after arguing with Julie, I went to the shower to jerk off and get my shit together. Now that I’ve calmed down, I know I need to apologize. Otherwise Julie will blow it up even more and I am not here for that.
But when I go to look for her, I can’t find her. Not in my office. Not in the living room. Not outside on the deck. Not in the yard. Not down at the lake. Running back inside, I check the garage. Her car is gone. Fuck.
"Devon?" I call out.
She appears at the top of the stairs, leaning against the railing. "Yeah?”
"Where did Julie go?”
She shrugs. “No clue, but she looked like a ghost. She grabbed her purse and keys and rolled out.”
My ears start ringing. "Did she say where she was going?"
"No. She didn't say anything to me at all. Just left."
