Chapter 28 #2
He leans across the table a bit, probably about to murmur something absolutely filthy based on the look in his eyes—but before he can speak, his phone rings.
The moment breaks as he glances at the caller ID. When he sees that it’s his dad, Asher’s brows pull together. He answers, clearing his throat as he leans back in the booth. “Dad? What’s going on?”
I can’t hear Edward’s words, but I read the progression of emotions on Asher’s face as he listens—worry first, then exasperation, then a hint of amusement.
He speaks to his father in a low voice for a minute, then hangs up with a sigh. “Murphy’s stuck in a crawl space under the kitchen cabinets. My dad can’t get him out because of the crutches, and apparently the fire department is busy with an actual emergency. Kitchen fire across town.”
“Oh no! Poor Murphy.” I can’t help but smile at the mental image of that massive orange cat wedged into a too-small space. “Are you going to go rescue him?”
“Yeah. Duty calls.” He signals for the check, but his eyes meet mine again, the earlier heat returning. “Rain check on round two?”
I nod, my pulse racing at the promise in his gaze. “You’re on.”
We finish our food quickly, drain the last of our coffee, and head out into the cold. The winter air hits my face in a rush, making me realize how flushed I probably still am.
At the car, Asher says, “You don’t have to come, you know.” But he’s already opening the passenger door for me.
“Are you kidding? I’m not missing the Murphy rescue mission.” I buckle my seatbelt. “Besides, someone has to document this for posterity.”
He grins, looking pleased that I want to come along. “Well, when you put it that way…”
As he drives, we fall into a discussion about how Murphy managed to get himself into this situation in the first place. Our usual banter flows easily, and I feel a surge of relief wash over me.
I was half-worried things might be weird between us after last night, that we’d be overthinking everything or dancing around what happened.
But we’re just us. Same comfortable back-and-forth, same easy rhythm.
It’s so much better than the stilted, awkward vibes yesterday morning, which only justifies our choice in my mind. This is working out great.
When we pull up to Edward’s house, he’s already waiting at the front door, balancing on his crutches and looking like he’s been running his hand through his hair repeatedly. He waves us over quickly, relief evident on his face.
“Thank god you’re here.” He steps back to let us in, gesturing for us to follow. “I can hear him meowing but I can’t get down there to help him. Been trying for an hour.”
We trail after him to the kitchen, where pathetic meowing sounds are coming from somewhere under the cabinets. Asher immediately gets down on his hands and knees to assess the situation, lying flat on his stomach to get the right angle.
“Come on, big guy,” he says, and his voice turns soft and patient in a way that does something to my insides. “I know you’re scared, but you’re okay. Just come toward my voice.”
It takes several minutes of coaxing, with Asher practically wedged under the cabinets himself, but eventually Murphy emerges looking thoroughly embarrassed. The cat immediately winds around Asher’s legs as if nothing happened, purring loudly enough to fill the entire kitchen.
“Drama queen,” Asher says affectionately, scratching behind Murphy’s ears while the cat practically melts with pleasure.
Edward watches the interaction with a small smile on his worn face, and I can see the love there. Pride too, watching his son handle the situation with such patience.
“Thank you,” he tells Asher quietly. “I know you’ve got better things to do than rescue cats.”
“It’s fine, Dad. Murphy’s worth it.” There’s something stilted about Asher’s tone, as if he’s not sure how much emotion he’s allowed to show around his father. “Besides, someone’s got to keep him out of trouble.”
While they clean up the small mess Murphy made in his panic, picking up scattered cabinet contents and wiping away dust, my phone rings. Samantha’s name appears on the screen, and I step out to the front yard to take the call privately, settling onto Edward’s front porch swing.
“Kat! Oh my god, finally!” Sam’s voice is bright and a little breathless.
“I’ve been totally out of WiFi range for like three days.
We were in this insanely remote area for work, away from the base camp.
I literally just got back, and I’m dying.
Tell me everything about the fake boyfriend situation. ”
I bite my lip, realizing she has no idea how much has changed. “Um. You’ve missed a lot.”
“Ooh, spill. What happened?”
“We slept together.” I say it quickly, then rush to clarify. “But it’s just hooking up, okay? Like a side benefit of our fake dating thing. It’s not serious.”
There’s a pause on the other end. “Holy shit. I mean, first of all, go you. Get it girl! But also… are you sure that’s a good idea? It seems like it could get messy.”
“I know.” I kick lightly at a little pile of snow, admitting that truth to myself for the first time since this started. “It might not be as easy as I thought. But I’m…” I trail off, not sure how to put it into words.
“What? You’re what?”
“I’m having fun. Like, for the first time in forever, I’m having the best time. I feel like a better version of myself, you know?”
Sam’s voice softens. “Aw, babe. I’m so happy to hear that. You deserve to have fun.” Then her tone turns playful, teasing. “So what’s he like? In bed?”
I laugh, my face heating. “Sam!”
“What? I’m stuck in Antarctica with penguins and a bunch of scientists. I need to live vicariously through someone. Come on, give me something.”
I don’t go into too many details, but I admit, “It’s good. Really, really good.”
“Oooh. Okay, I’m gonna need a full breakdown when I get back to actual civilization. I want details.”
I laugh again, then ask, “How are things going with you? How’s the expedition?”
“It’s great, actually. The team is good. There was this one guy I thought there might be something with, but it totally fizzled. We had drinks one night and I thought there were vibes, but then nothing.”
“That sucks.”
“Eh, it’s fine. My dating prospects out here are pretty terrible anyway. It’s mostly middle-aged dudes and like three people my age. I’m basically going to have to live off your stories about this fling you’re having with your hot fake boyfriend.”
We keep talking, catching up on the small details of our lives. As we do, I see Asher come out onto the porch, watching me with a look that makes my stomach flip, his gaze focused and appreciative as he takes me in. When our gazes catch, he smiles, and something warm spreads through my chest.
“Yeah,” I find myself saying to Sam, still looking at Asher. “I’m going to be living off these memories for a long time too.”
“Aw, you sound happy. I love this for you.”
“Thanks, Sam. I really needed to hear your voice.”
“Me too. I’m glad we got to catch up. Keep having fun! But be careful too, okay? Guard your heart a little bit.”
“I will. Promise.”
We say goodbye and hang up. Asher walks over, his hands in his pockets.
“Everything okay?” he asks, reaching up to brush an errant lock of hair over my shoulder.
“Yup. Just catching up with Sam. She says hi, by the way.”
“How’s the Antarctic expedition going?”
The casual question, and the fact that he clearly remembers details about my best friend’s life, makes me grin.
“Good. She’s documenting climate change effects on penguin colonies.”
“That’s incredible.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, then jerks his chin toward his car. “Ready to head back?”
I nod, and we step back inside the house briefly to say goodbye to Edward. His dad thanks us again, looking truly grateful, and there’s a moment where I almost think he might try to reach out and give Asher a hug. But they just exchange awkward nods, and we make our way out the door.
As we walk to his rental, I find myself speeding up, eager to get inside the car and crank the heat as the cold finally starts seeping past my layers.
But Asher catches my hand in his, slowing me down a little.
Stepping up behind me, he leans down to speak low in my ear, his lips just barely brushing my skin.
“I hope you’re ready,” he murmurs.
I shiver, my body already responding to the deep timbre of his voice. “For what?”
His smile is pure sin as he releases my hand and steps forward, opening the passenger door for me.
“When we get back to the cabin, I’m going to lay you out on the kitchen counter and eat your pussy until you’re begging me to stop.
Then I’m going to bend you over it and fuck you until you can’t walk straight. ”
The promise makes my pulse race, banishing any hint of the chill I felt a moment ago as my clit gives a needy little throb.
I’m definitely going to hold on to the memories of this holiday season for a very long time.