He swore he didn’t really remember how my father had given him that scar, but Asher definitely knew it was still there.
I suspected that he hated that reminder of our past.
“Try not to overthink the whole situation for once in your life,” Asher suggested. “Nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough. I think we’ve already proved that.”
We had.
Asher and I had come from less than nothing, and we’d succeeded beyond our wildest dreams with hard work and stubborn persistence.
“Getting involved with someone is a little different than financial success,” I told him. “This isn’t going to turn into anything except dinner and a drink.”
“There’s going to be talk if you two are seen together,” Asher warned me.
My body stiffened. “I’m aware of that. I already gave the same warning to Lauren.”
“And?” Asher prompted.
I told him exactly what Lauren had said about the possible gossip.
“Good,” he said gruffly. “If she doesn’t give a damn, then you shouldn’t either.”
I tossed back the last of my coffee.
I probably shouldn’t, but there was a small part of me thatdidcare.
The town gossipcouldhurt sometimes, even when you tried to convince yourself that it didn’t matter.
It had been painful when I was a teenager and had been accused of my father’s murder.
Now, I was so hardened that I really didn’t give a shit about what people said aboutme.
Lauren was a different story.
She might say that she didn’t mind the cruel words of the people in Crystal Fork, but she’d never been the subject of the town gossip.
The constant rumors could get fucking brutal.
That was exactly why I needed to get my dick in check and my head together.
Lauren Collier didn’t deserve to be torn apart by the bullshit talk in this town simply for hanging out with a guy like me.
After tonight, I needed to stay away from Lauren Collier, and something told me that was going to be a hell of a lot harder than it should be.
Lauren
“Are you sure you’re feeling completely normal?” I asked Cole as we waited for our food at Charlie’s. “It’s only been a week since you got that flu.”
Cole looked good.
Too good.
He was wearing a dark-green, long-sleeved Henley shirt, a pair of jeans, and lace-up boots.
Every place in Crystal Fork was extremely casual.
I’d opted for jeans, a pink sweater, and a pair of cute ankle boots.
He shot me a small grin. “Are you worrying about me again, angel?”
