“Yeah, I heard. So, how was the meeting with the lawyer?”
“Oh...um...it was okay.”
“Well, what did he say?”
“Oh, you know, this and that, typical lawyer stuff.” I cross my fingers, praying that he doesn’t ask me anymore about it. I want to tell him everything but money always changes people.
“What the fuck?”
“I’d rather not talk about this over the phone.”
“Okay. You can tell me tonight. Should we do takeout?”
“I’m staying at my dad’s tonight.”
“November, you’re not staying there. It’s not safe.”
“I’ll sleep in the guest room upstairs. My dad will be in the next room.”
“Have dinner with Mike then I want you in my bed tonight.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Don’t you think we should have a break? I mean, we have been together all weekend.”
“A break?” he yells and I know that was the wrong thing to say. “Careful how you word shit right now, November. I’m already pissed off about you being out with Nick then you say you need a break. I might get the wrong idea.”
This is when I remember that he can be a total jerk. “Are you serious right now? Wait, don’t answer that. I know you are,” I yell back. “I also told you that you have to trust me. That is not optional, Asher,” I whisper into the phone, knowing my temper is going a little crazy. “Liz is waiting for me. I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up and turn my phone to silent.
I walk to where Liz is sitting with Nick. Her head is bent, studying the coffee cup in front of her like it holds the secrets to the universe. I feel guilty for leaving her out here for so long. She looks up as I sit down across from her.
“I’m so sorry,” I tell her honestly. I feel bad that I made plans with her and they got completely messed up.
“It’s fine.” She smiles and looks over her shoulder at Cash and Nico, and I know that she is in hot-guy heaven. I laugh and she starts laughing too. Yep, we are going to be great friends.
I look up from her to see Nico and Cash walking towards us. Both are carrying coffee cups.
“Alright, sis,” Cash says, looking down at me. “We gotta go. We’llsee you this weekend, right?” His phone starts ringing and he picks up. “Yo, yeah, hold on.”
He pushes the phone in my direction and I know it is Asher. I look at it in his hand and feel like it is going to uncoil and strike out at me. Then, he shoves it closer and I have no choice but to take it from him.
“Hello?”
“Don’t ever fucking hang up on me.”
“I—”
“See you at seven.” Then the line is dead.
“Crap,” I whisper.
“Is everything okay?” Cash asks.
“I guess we’ll see,” I tell him truthfully, biting my lower lip. For the first time, I’m not looking forward to seeing Asher. After the guys say goodbye, I debate on telling Liz I have a headache.
I no longer feel like visiting. I want to go home and crawl into bed and cuddle with Beast, but I stay. Nick is really nice, no flirting, just chatting. Liz is watching him closely. They had gone to high school together but didn’t know each other well.
