Page 23

T his was the longest she’d gone without talking to Linden in a very long time. About five years ago, Asher had gone on a long weekend away with her boyfriend at the time, and they hadn’t talked then, but since, they’d seen one another at work at least a few days a week, talked on the phone when they didn’t, or, at least, texted each other a few times a day. Since she had told Linden about Dallas, though, they hadn’t talked. Asher had hoped Linden would text her or ask if she could stop by her place last night so that they could talk about what this would mean for their friendship, but she hadn’t, and now, Asher was about to leave work for the day, and Linden had worked from home. Asher understood why. She just didn’t know how to fix it. If Linden needed time to adapt to her leaving, she’d give it to her. She just hated that that also meant they’d have less time together before she moved.

Asher had spent the previous night searching for apartments to check out when she visited and trying to figure out how to pack all of her stuff and hire movers in such a short period of time, all while worrying that she was making a mistake. She’d never wanted to leave New Orleans. She’d never planned on moving to Dallas or running an office that wasn’t hers. She just couldn’t sit around here feeling like she was in love with her best friend, who only wanted to date around. She knew she couldn’t watch Linden make out with another woman. Just picturing that night, her kissing Jill while they danced, still made Asher want to throw up a little.

She stupidly accepted Bryce’s offer to set her up with some stranger because it was easier to agree with Bryce than to try to argue and not give her the real reason that she didn’t want to go out on any more dates. Bryce hadn’t cared that Asher was moving, and Asher couldn’t just blurt out that she was in love with Linden. Of course, who was she kidding? Bryce was with Sophie, and Sophie knew that Asher at least had feelings for Linden, so Bryce undoubtedly knew already. She was just trying to help Asher get over Linden by setting her up with someone else.

After spending the day working on Monica and Bridgette’s wedding because she wanted to get as much done as possible before she moved to give them the assurances that everything was under control and make it easier for herself to deal with the rest of Dallas, Asher went home to change out of her work clothes. Tonight, she was supposed to meet this woman at Santorini’s, and she didn’t have much time to get ready, but since she didn’t really care about this date, she decided to keep her hair back in a clip and didn’t bother reapplying her mascara. She did change out of her business suit and into a black sleeveless dress with matching heels, and she changed out her bag to match. Checking herself in the mirror after adding earrings to complete her look, Asher locked her apartment and headed to the street, where she’d parked her car.

She would be driving tonight because she didn’t plan on drinking or even staying long. She wouldn’t order wine or an appetizer, and there wouldn’t be dessert. She didn’t want to go. She would be nice to this woman, but she knew there was no one who could take her mind off Linden right now. Even a supermodel couldn’t get Asher to shut up about her best friend.

Asher parked her car in the restaurant’s lot and walked inside, finding the reservation under Bryce’s name. Arriving at the table, she sat and waited for her date, who, apparently, was late since Asher was right on time. Bored a few minutes in, Asher pulled out her phone and decided to check her messages. Nothing from Linden, Bryce, or an unknown number saying that she was going to be late. Asher couldn’t text the woman herself because she hadn’t managed to get a number or even a name out of Bryce, despite texting her earlier that day, asking for more details.

Bryce Wilburn : Just be there at seven. She’ll be there, and she’ll find you. I told her what you look like.

This was all very cloak-and-dagger, and she wasn’t a fan, but she went with it because she liked Bryce, and she knew Sophie wouldn’t let her girlfriend set Asher up with someone if it wasn’t a person Sophie thought Asher would like at least enough to share a meal with.

Her phone still in her hand, Asher went to her messages with Linden and scrolled up. She’d had this phone for over two years, so she knew she could scroll for hours, and she still wouldn’t hit the first message they’d exchanged when she’d gotten it.

Asher Hahn : Hey, I’m waiting on a date to show up at this restaurant. Any chance you can text me in, like, twenty minutes, and if I need an out, I’ll use that as an excuse?

She’d decided that her way back in with Linden was to message something like that, something they’d done before, and try not to focus on the fact that she was leaving in a few months. Maybe that would make Linden talk to her.

Linden Washington : Can’t. I’m out as well. I was going to ask you to do the same.

Asher stared down at the phone. Linden was on a date. Of course, Linden was on a date. Linden went on dates all the time, and that was one of the reasons Asher needed to move away now. She wouldn’t stay in Dallas forever. She’d start the office, learn a lot about running the business, and in a few years, she’d leave the company and move back to New Orleans. That should give her enough time away to work through these feelings for Linden and to maybe meet someone else. Linden could meet someone, too, and they’d just go back to being best friends. All would be right in the world.

Asher checked her watch and noticed it was five after seven. She’d give her date another ten minutes before she’d text Bryce that she’d been stood up for the second time this week, and she’d go home grateful that she hadn’t wasted any of her expensive mascara on this date who didn’t show.

When her phone dinged again, Asher smiled, thinking it would be Linden.

Stephania : Hey.

Asher’s smile fell, but she remembered that she liked Stephania and that she hadn’t expected to ever hear from her again despite the fact that they’d exchanged numbers.

Asher Hahn : Hi. How are you?

“How are you?” she said to herself. “You sound like an idiot.”

“Hello. My name is Daphne. I’ll be your server tonight. I understand we’re still waiting on someone?”

“Yes,” Asher replied, looking up at her. “She should be here any minute.”

“Can I get you something to drink while you wait?”

“Just a water,” Asher said. “Thank you.”

Daphne nodded, probably thinking that Asher wasn’t likely to be a big tipper because she’d only ordered the free water.

“Actually, can you make it sparkling water? Whichever you have is fine.”

“With lemon?” Daphne asked, sounding a little more interested now.

“Yes, please,” Asher said.

The woman smiled and walked off, leaving Asher alone with her phone, which she picked back up and returned to her messages with Stephania.

Stephania : I’m good. Just wrapped up. Thought I’d text you to see if you wanted to get a drink or hang out.

Asher checked the time again, and it was now eight after seven.

Asher Hahn : I’m technically on a blind date, but she’s not here yet. I’m giving her another seven minutes. Then, I’m out the door. Can I text you then with an update?

The three dots appeared.

Stephania : Someone might be standing you up? What’s wrong with them? Have they seen you?

Asher laughed to herself and typed.

Asher Hahn : No, they haven’t, actually. A friend of mine set me up.

The dots appeared again.

Stephania : Well, I can wait until you message in seven minutes to decide what I’m doing, but I’m thinking about hitting up a jazz bar or someplace where I can just listen to music. Low-key.

Asher wished she knew more of the good jazz bars in the city, but it hadn’t ever been her thing.

Asher Hahn : I’ll text you in six minutes.

She looked up just in time to see a couple walking past her table hand in hand and a woman following them, but she veered off and went to the bathroom, so Asher guessed she wasn’t her date. She picked up her phone again and messaged Bryce.

Asher Hahn : My date is late.

Bryce didn’t respond right away, so Asher placed her phone down and smiled at Daphne, who dropped off a bottle of Pellegrino and a glass.

“She’ll be here soon,” Asher told her. “Just running a few minutes late.”

“No problem,” Daphne replied and left her alone again.

Asher had been this person twice in one week, making excuses for a date who would never come, and she hated it. It was seven-twelve when she reached for her purse on the floor and tucked her phone inside it, deciding she wasn’t giving this woman another three minutes of her life she’d never get back. She’d waited long enough.

“Ash?”

Asher looked up and noticed Linden standing there.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Well, I just got done peeing. I was trying to hold it in until my date got here and I could at least meet her and order drinks, but she’s late, and I really had to go. What are you doing here?”

“I’m on a date, remember?” Asher replied. “Or, I was supposed to be, anyway. She’s late.”

“I got here five minutes early to avoid being the late one, and my date decided that time was just a construct that didn’t apply to her, apparently,” Linden said. “I’m at a booth in the back. I guess I didn’t see you come in.”

“Well, I was about to leave. I told myself I’d only give her fifteen minutes. It’s been long enough. I left cash for my water.”

“Want to–” Linden stopped. “Never mind. I’m going to wait a few more minutes and text Melinda to see what’s going on.”

“Melinda?”

“Yeah. She set me up.”

“She did ?” Asher asked.

“She and Kyle. She said she had a friend she thought I’d really like. I’ll give her, like, ten more minutes, and then I’ll head home.”

“Bryce set me up,” Asher revealed.

“Bryce?” Linden asked, sounding surprised. “Bryce set you up?” She pulled out the chair opposite Asher and sat down in it. “When?”

“Yesterday.”

“When yesterday?” Linden asked.

“Um… After you two had lunch. Why?”

“Why the fuck would–” Linden shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” Asher asked.

“Nothing. I–” Linden stopped again and looked away from Asher. “So, just going to head home?”

“No, actually. I got a text from Stephania. She wanted to grab a drink.”

“I thought nothing was going on there,” Linden said.

“There isn’t. She might be a friend. I told you that, Linden.”

“I know. I just didn’t expect her to text you, honestly. She’s a celebrity. I’ve never had a celebrity friend or had a friend who had a celebrity friend.”

“Well, neither have I,” Asher replied.

“I should let you go, then,” Linden said.

“I can wait.”

“Wait? Why?”

“If you want to give your date another ten minutes.” Asher leaned back in her chair. “I can wait. I’ll text Stephania and tell her. You can come with us, if you want. She wanted to go to a jazz bar. You know the good ones. Maybe you can recommend a place.”

“Her real name is Stephanie. You know that, right?”

“What?”

“Stephania is her famous person name, but her name is Stephanie Galetti. I looked it up.”

“Okay. Well, that’s a fun fact that I can tell her I know later,” she said. “Would you like to meet her? Come out with us for a drink? I don’t plan on staying out long. I have some–” Asher stopped this time.

She didn’t want to bring up Dallas because she knew it would change their conversation. She was proven right immediately when Linden’s face tightened, even though Asher hadn’t even finished her sentence, which could’ve been about anything.

“Packing to do? You have packing to do, right?”

“No, I’m not packing yet. I just have to make the plan to go find an apartment. I’d still like you to come with me.”

“I don’t know, Asher,” Linden replied. “It’s a lot.”

“Coming to Dallas for the weekend to help me find a good apartment is a lot?”

“Seeing you settle into a new life in a different city is a lot,” Linden rebuffed.

“I won’t be there forever. I’ve been thinking about it today: maybe two to three years.”

“And then, you just come back?”

“Yes. It’ll give me experience,” she said, telling Linden a half-truth. “When I want, I can quit and come back here to start my own company.”

“Why do you have to move at all, then, Ash?” Linden leaned over the table. “Just stay here. Ask Carolyn for more responsibility.”

“The promotion means a lot more money that I can save for the business I want. I’d be able to start it faster.”

“But you’d be gone.”

Linden’s voice sounded so small and far away, but it tore through Asher as if she’d just screamed those words at her.

“I’ll never be gone from you, Linden.”

Asher’s phone dinged, but she didn’t want to ruin the moment, so she left it in her purse.

“Just get it. It might be your date.”

“I doubt it. It’s probably Stephania asking if we’re going for that drink. Just let me tell her that I’m hanging out with you instead. We need to keep talking, Linden.” Asher reached down into her purse, pulled out her phone, and saw Bryce’s name on the screen. “Oh. It’s Bryce. Finally.”

“I should find out what happened with my own date from Melinda.”

Linden pulled out her own phone and unlocked it while Asher checked Bryce’s message.

Bryce Wilburn : Is Linden there?

“She wants to know if you’re here,” Asher said.

“So does Melinda,” Linden shared as she stared at her phone. “I texted her, and she replied right away, asking if you were here, too. How did she know you’d be here?”

Asher shook her head.

Asher Hahn : She’s here. Why?

Bryce Wilburn : Because Melinda and I set you up with each other.

“What the fuck?” Linden said.

“What?” Asher asked more herself than Linden or even Bryce, who had sent her the message.

Then, she looked up at Linden, who was staring back at her with large, confused eyes.

“Melinda said…”

“That they set…”

“Us up with…”

“Each other,” Asher finished.