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Shouldn’t they be exempt, though? Or is that dumb to think? How the hell should I know? I’ve never met my One, let alone had to face two other people added to the mix.

A flash of Poe’s eyes goes through my mind before I shake it off.

Maman told us that there wouldn’t be any doubts when we found the special person meant for us. Suzette didn’t have any when she met not one but three perfect people. She tells them everything. Shouldn’t Asher be the same way with them? Or does it not count when they aren’t his focus?

That doesn’t seem right at all. He might be in the group, but he’s holding himself back.

“What?” He snaps in a very uncharacteristic way. Ready to fight over an opinion I haven’t even told him yet.

“Don’t you yell at me, Asher,” I point in his face. He swats my hand away, his cold mask falling into place. The one he lives behind to keep people at a distance.

Seeing it used on me always stings. I wonder if Frosting and Sprinkles feel the same way.

“Spit out what you want to say already. We’re almost at your place,” his voice has gone stone cold, making me want to swallow my thoughts.

Instead, I suck it up and give him my opinion.

“I think you’re shortchanging everybody. You’re brave with Tera but leave the other two behind. How’s that supposed to work? Is Tera the go-between when things get tough? A vulnerable pregnant woman is your mouthpiece when you shut down, I can already tell.”

His feet stop as he stares at me without much expression. I try not to get nervous as I go on.

“I hate to say it, but you’re gonna have to open up a little wider if you want to have that cake.”

His face falls into a grimace of disgust. “That analogy is fucking horrifying to think about.”

“How many misunderstandings have you had with them?” I raise a brow, crossing my arms over my chest.

Asher doesn’t answer, but the way his eyes find other things to look at speaks for itself.

“Uh-huh. So they don’t get why you act like an asshole.”

“I’m not the only one,” he bites out with a glare.

“Then be the bigger one,” I offer blandly. “I know you can do it. If you step up to the plate, they might just follow. I’m not saying be all sweet and gentle with it, or that you go into detail. Just explain why you react to things the way you do and leave it at that. It doesn’t have to be a damn poem of emo depression.”

“Fuck you,” he lets out a sigh, his lips trying not to curve up in a smile.

We start walking again when he suddenly starts talking.

“Max put his arm over my shoulders the other day, and I flipped.”

Such a simple sentence with a lot of lasting consequences.

“I didn’t see it coming. He took it as me seeing it as a sexual advance. I let him.”

“You are a moron,” I shake my head in disappointment. “You could have just said, ‘Nah, man. I don’t like people touching me’. But no, you have to take the most moronic route known to man.”

Asher ignores my commentary to get his problem off his chest. “It’s turned into a cold war between me and them. It’s adding more stress to Tera when she already has a million things on her plate. I’m not adding family drama on top of it.”

“Don’t let it be drama then,” I glare at him to try and instill my viewpoint into his head. “Talk to them. Prep them for the bullshit.”

“You make it sound easy,” he grumbles.

“Hell no. It’s a giant hurdle, but I know you can make it. A little understanding will go a long way in a relationship.”

“Communication,” he lets out a sigh and rubs a hand over his face.

“I bet you talked a good game to get your way in,” I grin at his dark glare. “Being all understanding and smooth. Time to back it up, little bro. Don’t spill out advice you can’t follow.”