“Mom, don’t force Ella to do this.” Asher’s voice cut through my confusion. I glanced up to see him offering me an apologetic smile as he stepped toward us. “She’s here on a date.”
Asher’s mom tightened her grip. “It’s just a kiss. It’s not like it means anything.” She turned me away from Asher like she was afraid he was going to whisk me away. “You don’t mind, do you, Ella? It’s to pay for his champagne on his wedding night.” I glanced down to see her staring up at me. “You can kiss Asher for a good cause.”
My mind was spinning, and my heart was pounding. So many emotions were coursing through me that I feared if I tried to speak, I was going to say the wrong thing. After Wednesday at the bridal shop, I hadn’t been able to forget Asher. He occupied my thoughts, and no matter how hard I tried to think about something else, I always came back to him, his marriage, and how in twenty-four hours, I was going to lose him for good.
My heart was breaking. I’d thought going out with Chad would make me feel better, but I’d been wrong. Being with Chad just made me realize how much I missed Asher. And now, standing in front of him, his gaze meeting mine, I realized why I’d felt so sick all week.
I was in love with Asher.
I was in love with my best friend.
“Ella?”
I turned to Mrs. Wolfe’s voice. “Hmm?” I asked.
“You’ll kiss, Asher, right?” She leaned in. “It’s for a good cause,” she repeated.
Mrs. Wolfe and I had very different definitions of a good cause. Providing alcohol for her son’s wedding night wouldn’t make my list. But I was also Asher’s friend. How would it look if I said no? Would he suspect that I had feelings for him? Would his mom?
“Mom.” Asher’s respond was curt as he stared down at her. “Let Ella go.”
Mrs. Wolfe glanced from me to Asher and then back to me. She dropped her arm and took a step back. “I’m so sorry. I just got excited,” she whispered as she brought her hands up to her cheeks and pressed on them a few times. “I think I drank too much.”
“It’s okay,” I said as I offered her an understanding smile.
She grinned back up at me. “You were always such a sweet girl. Asher’s lucky to have you as a best friend.”
My stomach sank at her compliment. A good best friend didn’t dip out on her friend’s wedding when things got complicated. I was anything but a good friend to Asher.
“It’s okay, Mom. Why don’t you come sit over here?” Asher stepped forward and lifted his arm to wrap it around his mom’s shoulder.
He must have misjudged the space between us, because as he moved, his hand brushed my arm. Goosebumps instantly raced across my skin from his touch. The sensation startled me so much that I recoiled.
I hoped that Asher hadn’t noticed, but when I glanced up, I saw him drop his gaze and his jaw muscles flinched. Crap. I wanted to explain to him why I’d reacted that way, but I couldn’t find the words. And this was his literal bachelor party. I couldn’t tell him that my feelings had changed.
If I did, I would go down in history as the world’sworstfriend. It was better for me to just stand back and let him be happy.
“Sorry for interrupting your date, El,” he said as he gave me a soft smile. “You’re free to go.”
My stomach twisted from the depth of his gaze. We had drifted so far apart. It felt like I was on one side of a ravine and he was on the other. We used to be so close, and now there was an enormous chasm between us. One that I feared we would never figure out how to cross.
“It’s okay, Asher. I loved catching up with your mom.” I reached out and hugged Mrs. Wolfe. “It was good to see you.”
She returned the hug. “You, too.”
I gave them both a smile before I headed back over to Chad. He was sitting at a table with the drink I’d asked him to order me before I slipped off to the bathroom. He had his arm resting on the back of the booth and a curious expression on his face.
“What was that about?” he asked as I slid in next to him.
He shifted his arm so it plopped onto my shoulder, the sudden weight startling me. I glanced over to see him reach out, grab his beer, and take a drink.
“Just Asher’s mom. She was happy to see me.” I grabbed my margarita and took a sip.
I really wasn’t in the mood to drink. In all honesty, I wasn’t in the mood to do anything. I had to force myself to shower and get dressed for this date. Going out with Chad was the first time since my outing with Asher that I’d actually left the house.
I’d wanted to cancel the date, but one look at my reflection, and I knew I needed to go out. I feared who I would become if I let myself wallow too long.
Historically, the only person who could get me out of a slump was getting married tomorrow. If I didn’t want to die alone in my apartment, surrounded by empty Mr. Cheng’s takeout boxes, I needed to do something. Even if thatsomethinghad been an hour late to pick me up only to run out of gas in front of my apartment, forcing me to drive. It didn’t end there, though. He’d also accidentally forgotten his wallet at home.
