“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Nick mutters. “Please don’t listen to him. Asher, please don’t.”
“Whatever. You’re a changed man. Look at you. Practically glowing.”
I glance at Nick. “Is that true? Have I changed you?”
“Oh, sweetheart, change happened the moment I met you,” he says.
My breath catches, and I almost melt into a puddle on the floor.
“Yeah?” I ask.
“Abso-fucking-lutely.”
I remember the night so clearly. Our conversation that night changed me too. It shook me out of the haze that Craig had put me in, made me realize I deserved better. After meeting Nick and learning men like him actually existed, I promised myself I’d notsettle again. And when Craig came crawling back, Nick appeared like a cockblocking angel.
“I can’t believe it’s almost been a year,” I say, breaking myself from my thoughts.
Asher’s brows furrow. “A year?”
“We’ve known each other since last October,” I explain.
Nick glances at me. “Don’t tell him our secrets.”
I love that cocky smile that plays on his lips.
Asher looks like he’s trying to piece timelines together. “How?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Nick mutters.
His mouth falls open. “The blind items that were posted about you …”
“What’s a blind item?” I ask.
“Ahh, Julie, Julie, Julie. Youwere the whole reason my dear,secretive, loving brother chose to visit Cozy Creek. All this time, I thought it was because he wanted to be close to Zane. This makes sooo much more sense.” Asher glances between us. “Sooooo much sense!”
“You’re being dramatic,” Nick tells him, rolling his eyes.
“Leave them alone,” Billie Calloway says, looping her arm in Asher’s.
Her dark bob is perfect, as always, and she’s dressed to kill. I met her last year at Zane and Autumn’s wedding. This woman is gorgeously intimidating with piercing blue eyes and a perfect resting bitch face.
“Nice to see you again, Julie. Beautiful dress. Is that 1994 Dior?” she asks.
“I believe so,” I tell her with a laugh. “It was a random steal from my mom’s closet a few years ago. Honestly, I had no idea it was anything special. I just thought the waistline was cute.”
“It’s a great find, and it looksincredibleon you,” she says.
“Thank you.” My confidence instantly rises.
“Oh, Billie is my fiancée,” Asher announces.
“Oh! Wow! Congrats! That’s amazing,” I tell them both. “You’re a very lucky guy, Asher.”
“The luckiest.” He meets her eyes, then steals a quick kiss.
They do that thing where they communicate without speaking. I notice the way Asher looks at her, how his whole demeanor changes.
“So, how long have you known each other?”
