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“Sounds good.” Turning, Asher headed back toward his office, leaving Willow to walk to the dining hall. For whatever reason, he found himself smiling. Something had changed between them tonight. It was small, and he couldn’t exactly work out what it was, but there was definitely something different.And who knows what it could lead to?
* * *
“Everything okay?”
Willow lifted her head, holding her cellphone in her hand. “Yeah, everything is fine.” Shrugging one shoulder, she gave Asher a lopsided smile. “I had a message a couple of days ago from another guy, but I didn’t get back to him.”
“A guy fromNow and Forever?”I thought she was going to give up on dating for a while. At least, that was what I hoped.
“Yeah. Like I said, I didn’t get back to him. He didn’t give too much away in his messages.”
“But you’re replying to him now?”
She nodded. “I know, it’s weird, right? But he just sent me another message, and I thought…well, after the day I’ve had, what did I have to lose?”
Asher fought to keep the scowl from spreading across his face.And here I was, thinking something had changed between us.“What’s his name?”
“Ben. There’s no pressure from him, he’s just saying that he would like to take me on a date, but if I didn’t think that we would be a good match, then he’d just like to know.” She threw him a quick smile before her eyes started back down to her cellphone. “I just messaged him back. I gave him my number.”
“Do you want to go get dinner?” His abruptness obviously surprised her, given the way that her eyes flared, but Asher didn’t care.
He was hungry. He was tired, and the last thing he wanted was to hear more about another guy wanting to date Willow. Heading into the dining hall, he made his way directly to where Patty was waiting behind the counter, assuming that Willow would follow.
“Hi, Patty. I think my mom told you we were coming.”
“She sure did.” Patty was a short woman with a huge smile and bright blue eyes that lit up whenever she smiled. Today, her dyed blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail, although the edges were frizzing out, most likely due to the heat in the kitchen. “You look hungry, and I’m guessing once you fill your belly, you’ll stop looking so miserable.”
Asher stretched his lips into a smile. “I’m not miserable, but you’re right, I am hungry.”
Patty’s eyes glanced behind him, then she looked back into his face. “Sure, you’re not miserable. You’re doing just fine.” She shook her head at him. “I know you think you can hide it from Willow, but you sure can’t hide it from me. I’ve been around longer.” Her eyes twinkled, but she waggled one finger in his direction. “Let me tell you, if you don’t tell that girl how you feel, then you’re going to regret it sooner or later—most likely sooner.”
“I don’t feel anything for Willow, we’re just good friends.”
Patty lifted her eyebrow and stuck one hand to her waist. “Honey, I may have been born at night, but I sure wasn’t born last night.”
A lump formed in Asher’s throat, but he swallowed it away, shaking his head. He couldn’t find anything to say. He didn’t want to lie to Patty and pretend he didn’t feel anything for Willow, but neither did he want to admit it out loud.
“Here, let me grab your food. I made it fresh for you both.” Reaching across the counter, Patty put one hand over his. “There’s only ever been one man who looked at me the way that you look at Willow.”
Sticking his hands in his pockets, Asher shuffled his feet. “Is that right? What happened to him?”
Patty laughed. “Honey, I married him.” Letting go of his hand, she turned away and left Asher standing there, his hands still in his pockets.If Patty can see it, then can Willow see it, too? Is she just ignoring it?
“Patty’s getting our food, right?”
“Yes, she’ll be back in a minute.” Clearing his throat, Asher fought to find a smile. “Listen, Willow, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
Willow shook her head. “It’s okay, Asher, I already know.”
Heat burned straight through him, leaving him cold. His heart was pounding, the blood roaring in his ears.She already knows?
“We don’t have to go on a double date.” Her fingers twined with his, and she smiled up at him sympathetically. “It was a great idea, but I get the impression you’re not really as into it as I was. You don’t seem to be as enthusiastic about dating, anyway.” One shoulder rose. “I get that you’re busy with camp, and that’s okay, really. I guess if just one of us gets married before we both hit thirty, then we’re safe, right?”
Blinking furiously, Asher tried to find something to say, but nothing except a weird coughing, spluttering sound exited his lips.
“Asher?” Willow frowned, and her fingers squeezed his again. “Are you okay? Sorry if it was about something else—”
“No, no.” His voice rasping, Asher swiped the air between them with his hand. “You got it. It’s just a relief, I guess.”You’re lying. You’re lying to her face.Guilt poured into his heart, but he turned his head away, looking desperately for Patty so that he wouldn’t have to look into Willow’s beautiful, sympathetic face any longer. “I’m glad you understand.”
