Chapter 45 Asher
Asher
You’re too sexy to resist
Bri’s deflating the air mattress while I pack away the snacks from last night and prepare breakfast. I’d call last night a success, and not just because I ended our date with my head between her legs.
Sleeping with Bri under the stars is an experience we’ll be repeating.
She absolutely loved it; her entire being glowed with happiness.
I’m flipping our pancakes when I feel Bri’s arms wrap around me. She smells like apple crisp and vanilla ice cream, and I want to say fuck breakfast and devour her whole. But Xander is due any second now to go over the plans he drew up for our bookstore.
Our bookstore.
I can’t get over the fact that this is about to become reality.
A dream I didn’t realize I wanted until Bri shared hers with me.
I love creating new drink recipes—I have since college.
When I moved from the dorm to a shared apartment with my roommates, our place was party central.
And not because we were these frat boys who loved to party.
Word got around that I could make one hell of a drink, and once the news spread, we became the go to.
After Gage and I dropped out of college, we took a few mixology classes and loved them.
It's there that I learned I had a special skill. I’m able to look at a person and find them the perfect drink.
For Bri? Anytime I look at her, I see her as a bourbon cherry old fashioned.
Her personality is bold and spicy. Mixed with the tangy cherry taste, and it’s perfect for her.
Her eyes light up when she gives people a book recommendation.
Mine light up watching them take the first sip of their drink with a satisfied smile.
The fact that Bri and I are taking both of our passions and combining them? I just know we’re gonna be unstoppable.
“Good morning,” I can feel the zing from Bri’s lips through my t-shirt.
“Good morning. Your iced coffee is sitting in the fridge along with a banana nut muffin.”
“Keep treating me like this, and you may end up waking up with my lips wrapped around your cock every morning.” Bri chuckles, the vibration floating from her chest through my back.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to that. Sounds like a kickass way to wake up. Don’t let me hold you back, bear.”
Bri’s head is buried in my back, and I hear her slow, deep inhale. “How do you smell so good all the time? Like cinnamon and leather. It makes me want to buy all the candles with those scents just so I can smell it all the time.”
I let out a laugh before squeezing one of her hands in mine. “I could say the same thing. You smell like dessert, and I just want to eat you whole.”
“Nothing’s stopping you. I love when you eat me out. Best feeling ever!”
“Annnnd I’ve lost my appetite,” Xander exclaims from the back door. I could be in a room full of people, but if Bri’s with me, everyone fades into the background. This isn’t the only time my brother has walked in on a conversation like this.
“Ever heard of knocking?”
“Dude. I rang the doorbell three times before walking around the back of the house. It’s not my fault you left both the gate and back door open.” He turns to Bri to greet her. “Morning, Bri. You look extra glowy this morning.” I toss a glare at my brother just in time to see him winking at her.
“Fuck off, Xander.”
“Love ya, too, bro. I have the plans drawn up if you want to see them, but I can come back later if y’all wanna have some alone time.” I love my brother to pieces, but sometimes, I wouldn’t mind strangling the bastard. This is definitely one of those times.
“Oh, you have them drawn up already? I feel like I just asked you about it.” Bri squeals while she goes to hug my brother.
“Once I heard you guys talk about what you wanted to do, my mind couldn’t let it go. Ideas and visions about what it could look like flooded my mind, so I ended up drawing it out. I have, like, seven drawings in this folder.” Xander pulls a red folder from his briefcase.
Sometimes, it’s hard to come to terms with the man who’s in front of me.
For years, he was a complete asshole, lost in his own addictions.
I enabled him for far longer than I should have, which only made our relationship worse.
We had a huge falling out and didn’t end up talking to each other for years.
I spent a lot of time working through my own thoughts and feelings in therapy.
Honestly, without therapy, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.
And I sure as hell wouldn’t be working behind a bar, let alone owning one.
I was so afraid that I’d turn out like my brother if I touched a drop of liquor.
I guess a part of me still holds onto that fear because I haven’t been drunk in years—not since college.
It’s the only way I can maintain a healthy relationship with alcohol.
When my brother got sober, things weren’t magically fixed.
We had to work through a lot of anger and resentment in order to get to where we are now.
And seeing him with a passion for something other than drinking is amazing.
He went from having a bottle as an accessory to a briefcase, and I couldn’t be more proud.
“Ah, I'm so excited. Let me get changed and I’ll meet you at the table. Asher, make sure your brother has a plate of food, too. I don't want to be rude and eat in front of him.” She kisses my cheek before hightailing it up the stairs.
“Yeah, brother. Don’t be a dick and eat in front of me.” I roll my eyes, and before he has a chance to head to the table, I grab his arm.
“Hey. I’m proud of you, man. I know working through your shit isn’t easy, but I admire how you work just a little harder every day. You’ve come a long way in the last few years, and I just want you to know that I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it. Yeah, being sober isn’t for the faint of heart.
It’s still a struggle every day. While I still can’t trust myself to go into a bar, I’m excited to help you with this project.
Yeah, you’ll have alcohol there, but it’s the setting that’s different.
I’m proud of you, too, ya know. You didn’t let my mistakes turn you bitter or ugly.
You also didn’t fall into the same trap I did. You’re a better man than most, Ash.”
“I wouldn’t say that, but thanks, man. I’m glad I have you as a brother. Even though I didn’t get a choice.”
“Yeah, I begged Mom and Dad to return your ass, but I’m glad they didn’t. Life without you is pretty dull. Oh, hey, speaking of life. Amber and I are trying.” I almost burn my hand on the stove at the news.
“Trying? As in trying for a family?”
“No, trying to win the lottery. Of course for a family, dumbass. It’s been a little challenging so far with my fertility issues.
Had I known my alcoholism could affect my chances of starting a family, I’d never pick up the damn bottle.
Had I known that someone like Amber was somewhere out there waiting for me, I’d have never let drinking overcome me like it did.
It’s a struggle I’m having a hard time overcoming.
We’re gonna give it a year before we seek out a specialist. Meanwhile, I’m back in therapy to work through some of my regret and guilt.
If I can’t give my wife a family…” Xander’s words come out shaky.
This isn’t easy for him, and while he’s the reason for this issue now, he doesn’t deserve to be struggling like this.
“I’m sorry, man. I know that’s not enough, but I am. You’ll get your family. I just know it.”
Bri walks down the stairs in a hunter green sweater dress that falls just below her knees. Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and the expression on her face is pure bliss. God, I love this woman.
Bri claps her hands together before walking to the table. “I’m ready to see the designs, Xander. Asher, will you bring the food to the table when it’s ready? I’m too excited to wait.”
“Of course, bear. I’m flipping the last pancake as we speak. Go sit down, I’m right behind you.” I smack her ass when she walks past me, ignoring the smirk on my brother's face.
I’m carrying our breakfast over bit by bit, and I just watch as Bri dances in her chair, sipping her iced coffee. I put the plate down, yank her head back by her bun, and kiss her senseless. Xander be damned. My girl looks hot, and any chance I get to kiss her, I’ll take it.
“What was that for?” Bri asks, chest heaving.
“You’re too sexy to resist.” I turn and walk back to the kitchen to grab the remaining plates and dishes. The table is decked out buffet style, with turkey bacon and sausage, a huge stack of pancakes, butter, syrup, and a bowl of mixed berries.
We spend a moment putting food onto our plates and passing dishes to each other. We sit in silence; the only sounds are utensils scraping plates and chewing. Bri is bouncing with so much excited energy, she’s practically inhaling her food.
“Okay, I can’t take it anymore. Let's see the drawings.” Bri has her arms out in a gimme gesture that has both Xander and myself chuckling.
Xander pulls out the folder and Bri all but snatches it out of his hand like a toddler receiving a sucker from a grocery store.
I scoot closer to her so that we can look at the sketches together.
I’m completely blown away by my brother's talent. Who knew he could draw this well? We flip through sketch after sketch, and when we reach the fifth drawing, our eyes lock together, and we know. This is it. This is our future store. I have the biggest grin on my face while Bri’s eyes shine with emotion. Hell, even my throat feels tight.
“Xander, I can’t thank you enough for doing this. These sketches? They’re incredible. Your talent is out of this world.” Bri wipes her tears while I rub her back. She picks up the drawing we both have fallen in love with to show Xander.
“This is the one. I can feel it in my bones.” Xander takes a sip from his coffee before taking a closer look at the paper in her hand, a smile slowly spreading across his face.
“I was hoping you’d pick that one. It’s my favorite. I’m glad you asked me to do this. And I can’t wait to work with you guys on bringing your baby to life.”
“Seriously, thanks, man. This is just incredible.” This piece of paper right here makes everything that more real.
We finish eating breakfast, talking about this and that. Xander opens up to Bri about him and his wife’s struggles with getting pregnant. Bri, being the wonderful human that she is, gets up from her chair to hug him. The way she cares for people, listens to them. She’s astounding.
Xander has long since left, leaving Bri and I to clean up our meal. We’ve gotten into a routine of I wash the dishes and she dries. Then Bri says something that has my heart doing somersaults in my chest.
“I’m ready to talk to my brother now.” The resilience of this woman. I reassure her that I’ll still come if she wants me to, which she says yes to. My little warrior is about to tackle her biggest demon, and I won’t be anywhere else than next to her, holding her hand.