And the day didn’t get any better.
Before I had a chance to figure out how to “date” Asher instead of casual conversations like strangers at events, Mother called to tell me I was expected at their house this Friday night for dinner. The worst part was telling Asher.
“That’s okay,” Asher said when I told him. We hadn’t made official plans for Friday night, but I’d assumed we’d be seeing each other.
“It’s not okay. I’ll make it up to you.”
He softly chuckled. “I know you will. But really, it’s finals week, so I’m gonna be pretty worn-out anyway.”
I slouched into the oversized chair in my living room and balanced my scotch on my knee, hating that he was taking the news this well. What should be a relief was more resentful he hadn’t pitched a fit, hadn’t demanded I drive to his campus to see him right this second.
Not that that would be a good idea. Did it say more about my feelings for him that I’d wanted him to, or his for me that he hadn’t?
“Classes going okay?”
“Yeah. Nothing’s too hard yet, but I want to keep doing well, you know.”
“That’s good. A good GPA will help when you’re shopping for an internship.”
He groaned. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
I grinned and relaxed my head back. “I’ll help. I’ve been through it, so I can let you know where I messed up.”
“You? A mistake? I don’t believe— Oh, hang on.” He must’ve lowered the phone because the conversation on the other end barely came through.
“What happened?” Asher asked.
The response was too low.
“Is he okay?” Pause. “Yeah, I get it. Of course I’m cool with it, as long as the RA doesn’t notice him.” Chuckle. “Yeah, he is.”
“Sorry about that,” Asher said to me.
“It’s fine. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. You remember Percy?”
“Of course.”
“Apparently, he had a run-in with his family, who haven’t treated him right, and doesn’t want to be alone. Dorian, a friend of his, was askin’ if I was okay if they crashed here tonight.”
“That’ll be a tight fit.”
“Nah. Percy’s tiny. Dorian’s roommate’s an asshole, and mine is gone a lot. Makes more sense they come here.”
So badly, I wanted to suggest he give them his space and spend the night with me, but I didn’t. Still chaffed over him so casually accepting my canceling of our plans, I didn’t want my emotions to come out as desperate or obsessed. Maybe I was rushing things in my mind, wanting too much too soon, but it was definitely too risky. Everyone in my building knew not only me but also my parents.
“What about the studying you need to get done?”
His laughter pulled at the corners of my lips, wanting to give in to that lighthearted sound. “I’ll get it done at some point. So dinner at your parents’,” he said. “That sounds like a horrible way to spend your evenin’.”
I huffed at the understatement.
“You can’t get out of it?” he asked.
“I could, but honestly, it just makes matters worse,” I told him and reminded myself as well. “Mother isn’t the type to be ignored. It’s easier to just go, and then I’m off the hook for a few weeks.”
“I get it.” Asher sighed, and at my prompting, he said, “Would you … Would you ever let me introduce you to my friends and family? I promise they’re acceptin’. I don’t keep people around me who aren’t.”
