"You want us to tell him you're here?" the other guy asks.
"No!" I say, too quickly. "I mean, no, thanks. I'll just... go up."
They shrug and continue down the steps, leaving me to face the house alone. I take a deep breath and climb the porch stairs, each step feeling like a decision, a commitment to whatever comes next.
Inside, the house is a maze of hallways and rooms. A few people glance at me curiously as I make my way to the stairs, but no one stops me. I climb to the third floor, my footsteps muffled by the worn carpet runner.
Second door on the right. I stand before it, hand raised to knock, when doubt crashes over me again. What if Asher isn't alone? What if he's already found that "someone else" and brought them back here?
The thought makes my stomach churn, but it also strengthens my resolve. Before I can lose my nerve, I knock, three sharp raps against the wooden door.
For a long moment, there's no response. Then, just as I'm about to knock again, the door swings open.
Asher stands in the doorway, dressed in jeans and a faded band t-shirt, hair damp like he's just showered. He looks surprised for a split second before his expression settles into something more neutral.
"Philip," he says, leaning against the doorframe. "This is… unexpected."
My mouth goes dry. Now that I'm here, face to face with Asher, all my carefully rehearsed words desert me. "Are you busy?" I ask instead.
Asher's lips quirk up in a half-smile. "Actually, I was just heading out."
The implication is nauseating. Asher was going out to find someone else, just like he said he would. The realization makes something possessive and primal stir in my chest.
"Did you?" I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Asher tilts his head, confused. "Did I what?"
"Find someone else," I clarify, my voice low. "To take care of... you know."
Understanding dawns in Asher's eyes, followed by amusement. "Not yet," he says. "But I was just about to."
The confirmation shouldn't make me feel relieved, but it does. "Can I come in?" I ask, heart hammering in my chest.
Asher studies me for a long moment, something shifting in his expression. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
I nod, not trusting my voice.
He steps back, opening the door wider. "Then come in."
Chapter 11
ASHER'S ROOM is surprisingly neat, with minimal decoration. A twin bed sits against one wall, neatly made with a dark blue comforter. A desk occupies the opposite wall, cluttered with textbooks and a laptop. Posters of indie bands I vaguely recognize hang on the walls, along with a framed photo of what looks like Asher's family.
It's so... normal. I'm not sure what I expected—maybe something more overtly sexual, given Asher's reputation—but this room could belong to any college student.
Asher closes the door behind us, the soft click sounding final somehow. "So," he says, leaning back against the door. "What brings you to my humble abode?"
I stand awkwardly in the middle of the room, suddenly aware that I haven't thought this through. "I, uh..." I start, then stop, unsure how to continue.
Asher waits, patient but expectant. The silence stretches between us, charged with unspoken questions.
"I couldn't stop thinking about it," I finally admit, the words rushing out before I can reconsider. "About what happened in the library. About what you said after."
"Which part?" Asher asks, his voice carefully neutral.
"The part about finding someone else." My hands clench at my sides. "I didn't like it."
A flicker of surprise crosses Asher's face before his expression settles into something more guarded. "You didn't like the idea of me being with someone else?"
