What was that about?

The guy gave me whiplash with his hot and cold. He wanted me, then he didn’t. But more, he made me feel wanted. He straight out told me how he felt but then slammed the door closed on the topic like it was a given we had no chance. Which meant he really didn’t want me because if he did, he’d find a way. He lived in Idaho, not Pluto. There were these things called planes and cars and phones, and people did long-distance relationships all the time. So really it was all bullshit, he didn’t feel what I felt.

But what wasn’t bullshit was that sex with Asher had ruined me. From this point on he would forever be the gold standard. So maybe I didn’t regret only having one chance to explore his body. Maybe it was a good thing he hadn’t taken the time to explore mine. But I knew that was wrong, it wasn’t the sex—though it was good—it was Asher. The way he’d looked at me while moving inside of me like he’d been searching for me his whole life and he was amazed he’d found me. Or maybe I was projecting because he was the man I’d been searching for. The long shot, the one-in-a-million kind of love that takes you by surprise. The kind that even if you tried you couldn’t fend it off.

So, yes, I was forever ruined by Asher.

He’d leave, or actually, he’d send me home and he’d stay in Idaho, and he’d make no move to ask me to stay. And the fuck of it was, if he asked, I’d move. I would have to wait until after I found Elise and I had her settled. But after that, I’d leave my life in California.

When I could take no more of Asher’s blank-face stare I rudely blurted, “Are we leaving or what?”

“Maybe she does have a little drama in her,” Cole started, and I transferred my dirty look to him. “Oh, yeah, you’re fucked, brother. My advice is to keep her away from Letty, it wouldn’t take much coaching before Sloane here learns how to throw a Letty-sized tantrum. One of her in the group is more than enough. Call Sadie and ask her around instead. The woman’s sweet down to her soul, maybe she’ll rub off on your woman.”

Your woman?

What the hell and who was Sadie?

“Are you saying I’m not sweet?” I inquired.

“I’m not stupid enough to answer that.”

“That is an answer, Cole. When have I not been sweet to you?”

“Right now?”

Cole’s question came about with a smile unlike any of the others I’d seen. This one was playful, teasing, almost boyish, which was ridiculous because Cole was a man—all man. But the proof he could be playful was right in front of me and it looked damn good on him. Now, if Wilson would loosen up a bit and maybe smile, I wouldn’t be so wary of him. However, he seemed to have a distrustful disposition.