Page 25 of Asher

Whether it was the cramp that just assaulted my body or something else, I didn’t know, but I opened my mouth and asked, “What does it for you?”

He answered immediately, “Dark-haired, green-eyed beauties. Okay, I’m at the tampons. What kind do you want?”

My breath lodged in my throat. Deep in my throat at his words.

Because those were me.

Oh. My. Gawd.

I didn’t realize I hadn’t replied to him until I heard, “Chloe?”

I shook my head, then blurted out, “Sorry. Umm, I usually get the blue box and regular.”

“Got it. Okay. Be back in less than six minutes.” And with that, he hung up the phone.

I let my hand drop, still clutching my phone, and again heard the words in his raspy tone:Dark-haired, green-eyed beauties.

Then I heard my mama’s words again:The heart wants what it wants. As long as God is pleased with you, the opinions of others don’t matter.

I didn’t know how long I stood there until there was a knock on the door.

I walked over to it, unlocked it, opened it, and took the box Asher was holding. “Got your other stuff for you. Come find me when you get done.”

And with that, he turned on his boot and walked away.

I wanted to watch him walk away, but alas, the toilet paper wasn’t cutting it.

After I did what I needed to do, I walked out of the bathroom, the box of tampons underneath my arm, and with my head held high, I walked into the main room of the clubhouse.

Stella met me, then took the box from me, and said, “That little cabinet in the bathroom, Dad said for me to put them in there and add tampons to the weekly shopping list... Go eat. Dad made your plate for you.”

I nodded, then said, “Thank you.

My eyes landed on Asher right away, and I headed in his direction, he saw me coming and then jerked his head to a plate of food that was sitting beside his.

I sat down then whispered, “Thank you.”

He winked at me and then nodded.

After we all ate, we headed outside to watch the fireworks the MC put on every year.

I was curled up in a lawn chair underneath a blanket beside Asher, with Stella on the other side of him.

“Do you think it’s possible to push out a uterus through your vagina?” I asked Asher as another cramp assaulted my body.

Asher being Asher, he didn’t laugh. He didn’t snicker.

No, he leaned down and picked up the bag I hadn’t noticed he had.

He opened it up and pulled out a bottle of grape soda, opened it, handed it to me, and then he opened the box of Midol, read the instructions, shook two out, and handed them to me.

Once I took them and drank some of the soda, he then reached into the bag and pulled out a smaller bag of my favorite candy.

TheSnickerswith almonds in them.

He unwrapped one and handed it to me.

Stella chimed in, “Oh, gimmie one.”