“Hey, you.” Emily took a seat beside me, pressing her shoulder against mine. Her blond hair was up in a bun like it always was. “How are you doing?”
I shrugged.
There weren’t too many times the two of us had talked, but she was so much like Collin, it was scary. She saw more than met the eye.
Out of the two of us, she fit into this family way better than I ever would. I’d always feel like an outcast. Even when compared to Noah, or Silas, or anyone else for that matter.
I was grateful for them all, anyway. If it weren’t for this family, I wouldn’t be here. Who knows where I’d be?
I’d still have been in foster care after being found because I knew Allister would have never allowed me to stay with him. Which, now, I understand why. I’d have ended up with a foster family that wouldn’t have cared about me.
“That good, huh?” She paused, looking where I was for a second before shifting so she faced me a bit more. “You could go chase the little kids, too, you know. They’d love it.”
Was she crazy? I shot her a look that spoke the words for me.
“Okay, maybe not. I couldn’t see you chasing the kids. They’d rather chase you anyhow.”
“Don’t give them ideas.” Plus, me running? Yeah right.
“Collin took care of Noah’s...ex. He won’t bother either of you.”
“Figured as much.” But it was nice to know for sure anyhow. “Thanks.”
“It’s what family does.”
I hummed. This family really did look out for one another. And Noah was part of it just as much as I was. Even if I didn't want it.
“Your other friend...Beckett?” I hummed at her halfway question. “I think he’s an okay guy. He’s good with Noah. And Silas, surprisingly.”
Silas, who was not only Collin’s lover but also Emily’s best friend, and the three of them were together in some sort of odd way, didn’t take well to many people, least of all men.
“Noah adores that man already.”
“He adores you, too. Noah will choose you if you push him away. So stop trying.”
“What?” I spluttered. I hadn’t mentioned anything. I looked at Emily wide-eyed.
“You wear your emotions, hon. Noah may not see it, but I can. So do half of the others here today. So whatever you think you are trying to do, it’s failing. It’s gonna hurt you. And in turn, Noah will pick your side because he loves you.”
My heart sank, because I knew she was right. It didn’t mean I had to like it, either.
I breathed through my nose, all of a sudden done with the piece of cake I had only been pushing around on the plate anyway.
“He deserves to be happy.”
“So do you, Asher. Don’t forget that you are human just as much as anyone else.”
Chapter 37
The club was crowded, but not overly so. The only difference was that I came alone this time. Noah was out with Beckett, and I didn’t know what to do with my rare night off.
I was going a bit stir-crazy, even though I wasn’t a fan of being around all these people.
What was worse was the itchy need to explore that simmered under my skin. I knew what I wanted, just not how to go about it.
After checking in, handing over my phone, and pocketing the ticket number, I found myself in the same booth as I sat in the last time. The lights were low, the music nearly too loud and groups of people were scattered about.
My wrists were on the table, showing off the colored bands. Who knows if anyone was going to offer me a chance for what I wanted, though. Staying in the corner certainly wasn’t going to help that matter. But I wasn’t exactly brave enough to try to walk around.
