Chapter 8 – Asher
Eight
PRESENT DAY
ASHER
Several days later
The receptionist at Tom Ford winked at me as I strolled into the building.
“Good afternoon, sir.” She leaned forward. “We’re currently closed for a private event.”
“I’m aware,” I said. “That’s what I’m here for—the Brooks initial tuxedo fitting.”
“I see. Well, Mr. Brooks and his guests are in the back,” she said. “Would you like some wine before your fitting?”
“I don’t plan to be here that long, so no thanks.” I headed down the hall.
When I made it to the room, my brother was standing atop a platform with two tailors at his side. The rest of the groomsmen were standing around a huge screen playing a video game.
“Hey, Asher.” Grady set down his controller and walked over to me. “I can’t believe you left the trading floor early for this.”
“Trading floor?”
“There’s no need to be modest about how you make your money anymore, Asher,” he said. “Chris told us how you like to keep your Wall Street hedge fund private, but…” He lowered his voice. “Let me know whenever you open up to new clients so I can invest with you.”
“Will do.” I took off my blazer.
“Speaking of money, we should’ve put some down on a bet at the engagement party,” he said. “You were wrong.”
“About what?”
“About the sexy wedding planner.” He smiled. “She called me last night.”
I refuse to believe that.
“I see…” I crossed my arms. “What did she call to talk about?”
“How much she wants to ride my dick.”
“You could at least make it sound believable,” I said. “She’s not that forward.”
“How would you know?”
“I just do…”
“Then next time she calls, I’ll record it so you can hear how filthy her mouth is and just how badly she was begging for it.”
“Okay.” I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go ahead and make the bet now. Five thousand to start?”
“That’s fine with me.” He took out his wallet, and then he laughed. “I’m messing with you, man.”
“She called about my menu and room preferences for the wedding. She didn’t even try to talk to me about anything else—even when I told her she was hot as hell, so I guess I’m going to have to call her and make her come to her senses.”
“I could’ve sworn I told you that she’s in an on-and-off-again relationship.”
“Until she gets a taste of this dick, right?”
“Right…” I couldn’t believe this guy was thirty-nine years old.
“It’s your turn again, Grady!” One of the guys called him back over to the TV, and he dashed off to pick up his controller again.
I stood by watching them play the game for several minutes, still in awe that my brother was the most mature of his friends.
It’s so fucking sad.
“Mr. Asher Brooks?” A deep voice made me turn around. “Sir?”
“Yes?”
“Can you step onto the platform next to your brother, so I can start taking your measurements?”
“Of course.” I took off my tie and tossed it atop my blazer before stepping aboard.
“Thank you so much for coming, Asher.” Chris tapped my shoulder. “This is the start of my future, and it really means the world to me and Michelle.”
“Please don’t shed any tears around me,” I said. “I’ll never be able to take you seriously again.”
“Not even at my wedding?”
“That’ll be your once-in-a-lifetime pass.”
“Got it.” He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I looked over at his friends and lowered my voice. “Why did you tell them I worked on Wall Street?”
“Because they notice that you pull up in a different car every time they see you, and it was the quickest excuse I could come up with,” he said. “Unless you want to tell them what you really do?”
“No.” I shook my head. “The last thing I need right now is potential clients.”
“None of them are getting married anytime soon.”
“That’s good news for society,” I said. “Anyway, Kelsey would like to know why you didn’t invite her to be a groomsman for your wedding.”
“Is she serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
“Because she’s not a—” He paused. “I’ll call her tonight and ask her to be a flower maiden with the flower girls. Fair enough?”
“She’ll appreciate it.” I watched the tailor stretch out his measuring tape. “Can I ask you something personal?”
“As long as it’s not about my decision to tie the knot,” he said. “I’m not letting you talk me out of it.”
“It’s not that at all,” I said. “I just want to know why you hired Katie to plan your wedding, when I specifically told you not to.”
“You said you would prefer if I didn’t.” He smiled. “You never demanded.”
“Can I demand it now, so you can fire her?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Michelle is way too attached.”
“She wasn’t too attached to ever mention to me that they’ve been friends this whole time…”
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” I said. “I have a list of other planners that can fit you in at a moment’s notice, and they’ve done just as many grand weddings as Katie. One of them is famous. She’s a household name.”
“Who?”
“Martha Stewart,” I said. “She happens to owe me a favor.”
He blinked.
“I’m serious. Call her and you’ll see that she’s willing to do it.”
“We did call her,” he said. “She recommended Katie.”
“Bullshit.”
“Her exact words were, ‘I’m not doing events right now, but if you want the best of the best, call Katie Elizabeth.’”
“Call her again and tell her you’ve spoken to me.”
“Let it go, Asher,” he said. “Spend your time trying to find a plus one between now and April.”
“I don’t know anyone who can take off from work for two weeks without getting fired.”
“You think a two-week celebration is too long?”
“Way too long. One week was pushing it.”
“Hmmm.” He tapped his chin. “I’ll take it up with Michelle later. Want to join me and the guys for a bar run after this?”
Hell no. “Sure,” I said, knowing I needed the mental break. “I’ll even buy all the drinks.”
I did my best to be cordial with his friends for the rest of the fitting, but by the time we hit the bar, it only took one beer for me to want to leave.
In the middle of everyone having the same, redundant “greatest basketball player of all time” debate for what had to be the millionth time, I couldn’t resist texting Katie.
Grady is planning to call and ask you out later this week.
Katie
And?
I don’t want you to answer.
Stop texting me from random apps, Asher. I blocked you for a reason.
And I don’t need your help with my love life.
You don’t have a love life, Katie.
Why do you even care if Grady calls me?
I don’t.
So, I’ll answer then. I appreciate the heads-up.
He’d be far worse than Brad for you.
Brad is a really good guy.
You should’ve saved that line for April Fool’s Day…
Don’t answer when he calls…
FINE.
Just this one time, I’ll take your word for it.
Hope you don’t think this little chat means we’re on good terms?
Of course not.
You can block me via this app now, too.
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