Asher: Obviously. I have two hot dates. I’m hoping both come back to my pad.
Me: Playboy idiot...
My hand hovers over my phone, trying to decipher if he’s messing with me or if he really has two girls lined up for the night. It wouldn’t be the first time Asher engaged in such behavior.
Asher: Okay, fine... I don’t have anything going.
Me: Why do you mess with me like that?
Asher: Maybe I want you green with jealousy.
Me: It would depend. Are they blonde or brunette?
Me: Better yet if you tell me they’re both redheads. I have a serious girl crush on that girl from Jurassic World.
Asher: You’re killing me, Raven...
Me: So . . . dinner?
Asher: Did you get another promotion? Is that why you’re asking me out?
I chuckle.
Me: When did I say that I would pay? Lily is busy. I already checked.
Asher: Lily is busy? So I’m just your second choice, then. Is that how it goes?
Me: Pretty much. And I really don’t want to sit alone. So is that a yes?
Asher: . . .
Me: I see you typing, but I don’t see a yes...
Asher: Obviously, it’s a yes. You know I hate cooking.
Asher: But mainly I miss you. Dinner it is.
I laugh. Asher always makes me laugh. There had been a time when I wished I could look at Asher differently. If he could be tamed, he’d be the perfect guy. But alas, he’s like a brother, and I’ll never see him as anything but.
Me: Miss you, too, buddy!
Asher: So 7pm? Let’s do pizza.
Me: PIZZA! Don’t you want to do something a bit more sophisticated?
Asher: Not really. Do you?
Me: No. I love pizza. Okay, see you at 7. I better go. Work, work, work.
Asher: Later, babe...
I roll my eyes because Asher can’t shut off his flirting. It’s ingrained in him. I’m immune.
I switch off my phone and slide it back into my bag. A night with Asher is just what the doctor ordered. The two of us almost always drink a little too much and laugh a little too loudly, and it always ends up being a fun night out.
I wish I could open up to Asher about the night at Silver and who Charles really is. I wonder what he’d say. Would he be entertained by my crazy news? Or would he flip out and prove my mom and Lily right?
I don’t want to find out. Ever.