CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Asher
I can’t breathe.
My chest burns as I gulp in huge breaths. My tears sting as I fight them back. I have to get as far away from City Hall and that prick of a man as I can. The ends of the earth wouldn’t be far enough.
It doesn’t matter that he showed his true colors or that he humiliated me or that I successfully stood up for myself. Those are all things I’ve learned to deal with being Asher Wells.
It’s that I didn’t get the loan.
So, I drive.
Down every back mountain road.
Through every stretch of field.
I ignore the calls coming and the texts alerting me from where I threw my cell on the back seat.
My loan was declined. I was declined.
The email came in halfway through the city council meeting. Thank you for your application but we regret to inform you that you have been declined for the applicable loan. I was stunned. Shocked. Hurt. And there wasn’t a thing I could say or do about it in the middle of Grossman’s grandiose show.
But he knew I didn’t get it. That’s the kicker. He knew before I did, or else he never would have said what he said. Goddamn small-town life. I should have thought it through. I should have figured Grossman would know since his daughter-in-law is the bank’s branch manager.
So I lashed out. I fired back. I tried to put him in his place and embarrass him just as much as he’d tried to humiliate me.
It’s all I could do.
I bang the heel of my hand on the steering wheel and give in to the need to scream at the top of my lungs. The sound is smothered by the wind but does nothing to abate the anger owning me.
It’s like I was handed the highest of highs with Hillary’s call about being awarded the contract, followed by the lowest of lows, knowing I can no longer afford all the things I still need to meet those contract requirements.
I pull over to the side of the road and stare at some horses grazing in a field until my eyes blur. Then I put the car in gear and drive some more, making a point to be as far away from town as possible.
The last thing I want to see is people.
I wanted this for me.
I needed this for me.
And yeah, sure, it’s all set up and I can still hold events, but I practically maxed out my credit card to get it to this point. And my contract is contingent upon these improvements. And, and, and . . .
And so, I keep driving.