We drove through a donut shop for more coffee, and then I took us to a park that surrounded a historical monument. The late morning was chilly with the promise of cold, wet weather on its way, so there were only dedicated runners out and about, who probably didn’t stop for snowstorms or tornados either.
Asher zipped his sweater and put the hood back over his head. I grabbed my coat from the back seat, and we slowly meandered our way along a broad path lined with benches and trees.
“What’re you doin’ for New Year’s Eve?” He stopped on the trail and faced me. “It better not be proposin’ to Miss Georgia or whatever her name is.”
I chuckled, but it was hardly funny. “Georgina, and no. My parents throw a party every year, and I’m expected to be there. Date provided for me, this time.”
“Man, fuck your parents. What a bag of dicks,” Asher snapped, then apologized.
“It’s fine. They are dicks. But the worst part is how I’ve never stood up to them.”
“You’ve never tried?” Asher asked, then hastily added, “I’m not calling you out, but I mean, do you know how they’d react if you told them to fuck off?”
“No. No, I haven’t, not exactly.” I bumped his shoulder with mine. “And you’re not calling me out. I’ve had many years to come to terms with the reality I’ve allowed to happen.”
“I don’t get it. What makes Georgina so perfect? She lay golden eggs or something?”
“Metaphorically speaking, yes. Her father is the mayor of Cressmann. His father and his oldest son are in politics, and Georgina’s mother’s family is insanely wealthy. Who knows what she ‘lays,’ but she’s the golden goose for sure. Connections, pedigree, reputation … The Dorsets command the same, so my parents will settle for no less.”
“They want this for your younger sister and brother too?”
I nodded slowly. “To a degree. If I marry well, their matches won’t be as important. However, Mary is engaged to what they deem an acceptable man. A son of one of the larger pharmaceuticals with a corporate office here in the South.”
Asher kept his head bowed in his hood as we talked but shook it with my words. “I can’t even imagine the world you live in. Hell, my family wouldn’t care if I got married at all. I mean, they want me to be happy, no matter if that’s a husband or not.”
I stopped him again and gripped his shoulder until he faced me. “Your description of your family is as foreign to me as mine is to you. Our backgrounds are so different. Even if I were to come out to my parents, ruin any chance with the ‘right woman,’ and lay my future on the line to go against their plans, I wouldn’t want you around them.”
The late morning had grown chillier, and this section of the path was entirely empty of anyone but us. I cupped his coldcheek and brushed my thumb under his eye. They’d darkened to warm gold, and with his thick lashes, they drew me in like holes in space.
“If they knew about me, that I chose to be with a man, I still wouldn’t want to expose you to them. You deserve more than their prejudice.”
He nuzzled my palm and closed his eyes with a deep inhale. “I get it to a degree. I’d probably feel the same, but I’d give you the choice.”
“What do you mean?”
Asher shrugged and turned to walk again. “Everyone’s limit is different. What I can handle might not be the same as what you can.”
“Fair point.”
“I’ve got this cousin, Max. He had a finger ripped off at work.” Asher held up his hand and pointed to a knuckle. “All the way.” He dropped his hands and stuffed them into his pockets. “That guy drove himself to the hospital. Didn’t tell a soul until someone noticed it a few weeks later.”
“Wow. Is he okay?”
“Oh, yeah. He’s fine. But that same cousin about threw himself in the grave with his little poodle when she got hit by a car.”
“How awful. Poor guy.”
“All I’m sayin’ is everyone looks at everything in their own way. It makes usus, you know? Had I been forced to hear half the shit your folks go on about, I’d probably have had a few choice words for them. I ain’t good at keepin’ my mouth shut most of the time.” He huffed. “I’m just sayin’ it wouldn’t get me down. Like, I might even feel like a hero puttin’ them in their place.”
I snickered. “I know what you’re saying, Asher. I’m the one who has a hard time and assumes everyone would be the same.”After that display with my father weeks ago, Asher was already far superior at handling their bile.
He nodded. “You’re better with your words than I am.”
“Not at all. I love hearing your stories.”
He stopped and turned, cocking his head. “That so? Did I tell you about the time I gave this old dude head in a public bathroom?”
“Watch it, Playboy. Old man, I’ll take, but old dude makes me sound like a pervert.”
