Asher (Completed)

Say you Love Me

Asher's POV

It had been three days since the night of that conversation between Alistair and I; since he held nothing back and then left me in the living room still soaked to stew in my thoughts.

In those three days, I had endured sleepless nights because I decided to stay in the guest room again. 

Alistair hadn’t fought me on it — not when I didn’t walk back into his room that night and not when I proceeded to stay there the next two nights.

He knew I just needed time and space, I just needed enough room to think and fight with myself over what he’d asked.

That’s what I loved about him, his easy understanding which is also why I knew no matter what decision I finally came to, even if he didn’t agree with it he’d be there for me still.

Besides I hadn’t actually moved my things out, it was a silent message that said “I’m not mad, I just need space”.

Yet the fact that we hadn’t really talked to each other apart from the his and hellos at breakfast couldn’t help but leave this uncomfortable heat in my chest.

We might not have been fighting but there was still currently a wall between them and he hated it. It had just been three days but that brief loss of easy conversations still stung badly and left a burn that throbbed every time Al would be practically silent during breakfast — the only time I saw much of him these days.

I knew he wasn’t trying to be a petty asshole, I knew he was definitely more worried than upset and I knew he was just giving me time until I came to a decision but it didn’t make it any less unpleasant. 

I guess I just missed him.

I sighed, shaking my head, as I absentmindedly watched Sheyanne set the table for breakfast. I wasn’t even aware enough to pretend I was fine and engage her in my usual mock flirting. My mind now paced, rushing thoughts filling it up once again.

Al would be down for breakfast soon but this time would be different because I had finally come to a decision.

On cue, I heard him shuffling down the stairs mumbling a response to Maxwell’s greeting and engaging him in a brief conversation about the plans for the day. Then he finally walked into the dinning room and I could only hope I looked as cool and collected as he did in that moment.

He gave a warm smile to Sheyanne before settling down on the seat across from me and fixing his
gaze on mine. He said nothing for a while, just seeming to study my expression and  I felt my skin jump.

I began to wonder internally if something had changed, was he not even going to say hello today? Was he actually giving up on me?

Then he offered me a small smile and I could see his expression shift and that familiar look of concern in his eyes as he asked “Hey Ash, are you alright? You look nervous, what’s wrong?” Of course he’s not giving up on me, not Al. I felt myself calm down a bit, then immediately flush at the fact that I couldn’t even hide something as basic as my nerves from him.

Yet I couldn’t help but smile at how well he knew me, I assured myself once again — nothing had changed.

I shook my head in response, sighing as I said “No, it’s nothing like that..it’s just I have come to a decision about Layanne”.

At my words, I saw every inch of him perk up and his eyes alight with hope as he replied “You have?
Come on Ash, don’t hold out on me. What have you decided?”
I smirked to myself, the hope that shined through him seeming to bring me back and out of my shell.

Now I had half a mind to draw out the conversation,see how long he could wait it out, having him hang onto my every word.

He stared and waited, I could see he was finally grasping the idea running through my mind as he rolled his eyes before sighing out “Hilarious. Glad to see your ass is feeling better, now spill”.

I laughed, deciding to just put an end to this before he actually got pissed. “Well, honestly I think the decision was already made that night, I just had to get myself to stick with it. So, I called Ian early this morning, woke his dumbass off as revenge and told him to set up a meeting with Layanne. That was more than enough to earn his forgiveness for interrupting his beauty sleep”.

If I thought his eyes were bright before, now they absolutely shimmered and it was with pure happiness and admiration.