Twenty-Four
PRESENT DAY
ASHER
Iwoke up in a cold sweat, the same hurtful words still echoing in my head.
He’s not yours.
For a second, I didn’t know where I was.
The skyline was gone, and the rooftop had disappeared.
Katie’s ceiling came into focus instead.
Panting, I looked over and realized she was sleeping right next to me.
Getting out of bed, I walked into her kitchen and poured a glass of water. I downed it and treated myself to a few more.
I slipped back into bed and noticed Katie’s phone lighting up with new text messages.
They were from Michelle, but the screen was locked.
I guessed the code as Katie’s birthday.
Fail.
I tried the numbers in her business address.
Fail.
I thought long and hard about everything I knew about Katie. Then I decided to try the date we first met.
It opened.
Interesting…I smiled.
I clicked on Michelle’s messages and my smile slowly faded with each word I read.
Michelle
How are things going with you and Asher’s “plans”?
Have you worked out anything since you’ve spent so much time together?
Is there a plan for if I need to cancel things this weekend? (What is it?)
Twenty-Five
PRESENT DAY
KATIE
The Start of Wedding Week #3
Ilounged on a sailboat’s deck, watching the crew set up white tents for this weekend’s final events. As I was rolling over, Asher stepped aboard, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He wasn’t looking at me the way he had the past few days.
