Page 88 of Asher

“Why not ask him, then?”

“I will.”

“There he is.” She motioned behind me as he stepped into the hallway. His dark eyes bounced between me and Stella nervously, making worry claw up my throat.

“There you are.” He pressed his lips to the top of my head, wrapping an arm around my waist, pulling me close. “I was getting worried.”

“Did you kiss her?” I word vomited before I could think. Asher’s mouth popped open and then closed. I caught him off guard, but I saw it.

I saw the truth in his eyes.

“I can explain.” He turned his back on Stella, focusing solely on me. Worry filled his whiskey eyes.

“Told you I wasn’t lying.” Stella said cooly. Her entire body language shouted smug bitch.

Asher spun to face her, keeping me behind him. Protecting me from her or trying too. The damage was already done, though. “I thought I told you to stay away from me, Stella. What the hell are you doing here?” Even I flinched at the anger radiating from every word.

Stella didn’t back down, though.

The opposite, actually.

And I kept watching the scene like a damn train wreck. Slowly, she placed her hand on his chest. Watching someone besides me touch him was like take a punch to the gut. “I told you yesterday. I want to be with you.”

Asher pushed her hand off and stepped further away as they kept arguing, but I didn’t hear a word. Everything had become muffled like I was underwater.

“I have to go,” I muttered to no one in particular. Turning on my heel, I strode down the hall as fast as I could without running.

“Haley, wait!” Asher called after me, but I didn’t stop until I was at the table grabbing my purse.

“Haley?” Rylie placed her hand on my arm, and I flinched. “What’s wrong?”

“Hales, wait. We need to talk about this. I can explain.” The warmth from Asher’s body radiated on my back from his nearness. My hands shook as I grabbed my phone from the table and shoved it into my purse.

I closed my eyes, steeling myself. I knew he could explain. I knew he wouldn’t do that to me.

Asher wasn’t a cheater.

If he wasn’t happy, he would’ve told me.

Butwhydidn’t he tell me about the kiss?

My mind whirled faster than I could process and I knew I needed to get out of there. I needed to breath and calm down.

I needed to process before I made assumptions.

“I have to go,” I said quietly as I looked at him. Reaching up, the rough pad of his thumb wiped away the lone tear that slid down my cheek. The tear I didn’t even know had fallen.

He looked broken.

“Please do.” Stella said from behind Asher. Causing everyone to look to her. Her arms crossed. Hip cocked. Lips pursed.

“You’ve done enough.” Asher pointed at her with in warning. He faced me, linking our fingers together, gently. “Don’t run, Haley.” He pleaded with me. The hurt in his eyes gutted me.

“I need to go,” I said again and moved back, begging him to understand my need for space.

“Where are you going?” Nix asked. My chest cracked from her beautiful little voice. We were supposed to be picking her up together. We were supposed to be telling her I was never leaving.

We were supposed to be a family.