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“I’m sorry…”
“You don’t have to be.”
“I know,” she said. “But I am anyway.”
With that, he shut the door and disappeared from her life—possibly for good.
Chapter Twenty-Three
TWO MONTHS LATER
“There,” Blythe said. “The last of our invitations is officially done.” She placed the seal over the flap to close it.
“I don’t know if my fingers will ever straighten out completely again,” Asher joked, holding out his hands as if they were claws.
She chuckled, leaning over onto his shoulder. “Thank you for helping me with this.”
“Of course,” he told her. “What better excuse to play hookie than to spend time with you? Even if it’s doing the worst possible thing imaginable…which it was.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “I can’t believe the wedding is almost here.”
“It’s flown by, hasn’t it?” he asked. “I’m so ready to marry you.”
“I know.” She paused. “Your mother deserves to be a professional wedding planner with all the work she’s put into ours.”
“I’m pretty sure she’s been preparing for this event my whole life,” he told her, smirking when she sat up off his shoulder. “This is her Olympics.”
She smiled sadly, looking away.
“You’re okay with it, right?” he asked. “I know she can be pushy.”
“Of course,” she agreed. “Your family is a godsend, Asher.”
“But they make you miss yours,” he said. It wasn’t a question, but he was right.
She nodded. “They do.”
He kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry, babe. I wish there was something I could do to make you feel better.”
“You’re already doing it,” she told him. “You’re amazing, Asher.”
He shook his head. “I wish that was true.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, sensing a strange tone in his voice.
“Just…you’re the best thing I’ve ever done. I’ve made so many mistakes, Blythe.”
“Mistakes?” She turned to face him on the couch. “What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know.” He groaned. “I never really thought I’d get here with my parents after all the craziness I put them through. In a lot of ways, it’s like you repaired our relationship.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” she thought aloud. “Your family loves you.”
“I know they do,” he said. “I do.”
“I do?” she repeated his words. “Now those words soundamazingcoming out of your mouth.”
“They do, do they?” he asked, a smile creeping onto his lips. “I’ll bet they sound even better coming from yours.” He ran a finger across her thigh, trailing it up her stomach in an attempt to tickle her. She let out a loud laugh, pushing him away, and he laughed, too. Then his face went serious after a moment. “You’re without a doubt the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I don’t know how I’d ever survive losing you.”
