Page 78 of Addiction

“Now that we are all here, I wanted to just show my appreciation,” Mark says, holding his drink up in a toast. “These last couple of weeks have both been crazy and amazing. Although Resilience is Asher’s baby, and he should be the one doing this, for some reason has a rat up his ass. I also know he’s not great with speeches or letting people know he has a heart underneath that muscle of his.” That causes everyone—including Asher—to laugh. “So, on behalf of him and myself, I just wanted to say thank you all for working as a team and for all of your hard work. Anything to add, Nelson?”

Asher looks around us before his mouth ticks at the corner and he raises his glass. “What Twilight said.”

Our glasses clink, and for the first time since we got here, Asher seems to be a little more relaxed. However, he still hasn’t made any attempts to talk to me, which makes me question whether working with him is going to do either of us any good at all. Maybe as much as I love working at the gym, being alongside Asher is too much. Our friendship before all of this was one I’d deeply cared about. We’d been united in so many things, we’d laughed more than we hadn’t, and our time together had been one of my favorite parts of the day. Now, in less than a week, it seems like he’s reverted to that stranger he once made himself to be.

“So, Wade, how long have you lived in Virginia? Has it always been your home?” Tia asks.

I’m going to have to be careful about my answer to avoid it leading to more questions. I don’t know her well enough to rule out any risks. I keep my family life private for a reason. I keep my identity locked behind closed doors I don’t wish to open. My father is a vindictive man, and I wouldn’t put anything past him to use someone to keep checks on me.

“I’ve been here long enough to now call it home.”

“Where were you before?”

“Here and there. But I moved to Chesapeake a little over a year ago now. How about you?”

“Virginia babe born and bred.” She smiles. “I love it here.”

“Same.” Logan cuts in. “I relocated to New York for a short time with my ex. It’s the worst thing I ever did. Not the move: it was the ex that who was the issue.”

I laugh. “And you didn’t realize he was the worst thing before you moved?”

“Dude, I was sucked in and couldn’t see him for what he was. Love is blind, right?”

I notice Asher’s head turn slightly, listening in to our conversation.

“I guess you’re right.”

“I am right. Be it for the good or the bad, nothing fucks with your head as much as love does.” He laughs. “I’ve given up on that shit now.”

“Aww, don’t give up,” Tia says, flicking her blonde hair over her shoulder. “The right person is out there for you. Or even standing beside you.” She winks and I laugh.

“Why do I get the feeling we’re not going to hear the end of this?”

“Because you two look so sweet together.”

“We’re just friends,” I add.

“So you say.”

I roll my eyes just as Grayson gets my attention.

"I'm heading off to get Nora,” he says to Asher. “You sure you’re, okay?"

"For the last time, I'm fine." Only he’s not because he’s hardly spoken to anyone all night.

Grayson grips Asher’s shoulder before heading over to me.

"Is he okay?" I ask.

"I don't know, but Mark and I are headed out. Call me if you need me."

“Sure.”

Another twenty minutes go by where Tia and Logan are laughing like two school kids in the corner and Asher remains with his back to us. Unsure what to do but knowing I want to be close, I take the seat next to him and say nothing. His head is low as he dances his finger around the condensation droplets from the ice of his glass.

“I’m not in the mood for any form of counselling, so whatever you’re about to say don’t bother.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything. I was simply sitting here to let you know I was here.”