I think I miss her.
Weird.
And there are more warning bells.
I pull my phone out of my pocket just as Boon comes into the bathroom. “Hey, bro. I gotta shit.”
“My bad,” I say, tucking the note into my back pocket and walking out into the hotel room. I hold my phone up to my ear as I wait for Asher to answer. When he does, I say, “I have an issue.”
“An issue, you say?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, before you hit me with your issue, I want to let you know I’m coming into town next week, and I’m staying with you. No way in hell I’m staying with Mom, Dad, and the girls. So make sure you leave my side of the bed open.”
I shake my head. “No way.”
“Guest room, then.”
“Don’t have one. I have an office. I don’t want guests.”
“Where will I go, then?”
“The couch.”
“You’re gonna put your favorite brother on the couch?”
“You’re my only brother.”
“Exactly, so scoot your big ass over and let me in the bed.”
I scoff. “What if Shelli is over?”
“You can sleep in the middle.”
I pause. “I’m done with this conversation, but yes, you can stay.”
“You’re right. We can discuss this when I get there.” He laughs at my groan, and I roll my eyes. “So, what’s the issue? I assume it has something to do with Shelli.”
“Why do you say that?”
“’Cause you don’t call unless it does.”
I shrug. “While that’s untrue, in this case, your assumption is right. I think we’re in a relationship. Actually, I know we are, I just don’t want to think of it that way. But I think I miss her. That’s weird, right?”
I’m met with silence. “You really need help. Go see Emery’s therapist. Please.”
“Ash, come on. Tell me what to do.”
“About what?”
“This. These feelings. What do I do?”
“Embrace them?”
“How?”
More silence. “I don’t know what you want me to say here. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. I honestly didn’t realize how fucked up our parents made you. Or was this Audrey’s fault? We all know she wasn’t normal until she got with Uncle Tate.”
“It’s no one’s fault. I’m just… It’s weird.”
“Whatever, dude. Do you want to be with Shelli?”
“Yeah.”
“Then shut up and be with her.”
“I appreciate our meaningful conversations,” I say dryly.
“Me too. Very productive. Listen, my girl just walked in. I gotta go.”
I pause. “So, you just let it happen with her? You aren’t freaked out by her?”
Asher groans loudly. “Of course, I’m freaked out by her, but I’d rather be with her than without.”
That makes sense, but before I can say that, the asshole hangs up on me.
Boon sits down on the bed across from me and lets out a long breath. “I think we should go out, find some lady friends tonight. Wes is down.”
I shake my head as I lie back on the bed. “I’m good.”
He gives me an incredulous look. “Really? We’re single dudes with the night off. I don’t want to go to dinner with the married or in-relationship folks. They’re boring.”
I chew on my lip as I look up at my phone, seeing my lock screen of Shelli in my shirt. She has the goofiest grin on her face, but I still find her beautiful. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Why? Come on. It will be fun. I’ll even let you have this room, and I’ll go back to whoever’s place.”
As I stare at Shelli, her blue eyes shining, I know I don’t want to do that. “I’m actually with someone.”
“What? How? When were you dating?”
“Huh?”
“If you’re with her, that means you’re done with dating. I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”
I look back down at my phone and text Asher.
Me: I moved past dating already!
Asher: Yes, because you’ve known her for her whole life. Jesus, loosen the man bun and think here.
Me: Do you even love me?
Asher: Eh. That’s still up for debate.
“Oh yeah, I guess I am.”
“Really?” Boon asks, and I nod before looking over at him.
“Yeah.”
There is a knock on the adjoining door, and Wes comes in. Boon looks at him and announces, “BB is with someone.”
Wes’s eyes widen. “No way.”
“That’s what I said. He’s famous for his whoring ways,” Boon teases, and I flip him the bird.
“I am not.”
He ignores me. “Did you even know he was dating?”
“I think you might, in fact, be famous for those whoring ways,” Wes says with a shrug. “And no, I hadn’t. But that’s cool. Who is she? Do I know her?”
“No,” I say quickly, shaking my head and shutting off my phone.
“When can we meet her?”
“I don’t know.” I don’t want to share her with them. I don’t want them judging us or making fun of us. I like us.
Boon makes a face. “Well, whoever it is has stolen our wingman, and he is now boring.”
I glare at him. “What do you mean? I’m not boring.”