The Queen's Weakness

52. Maddening Reminders and Deep-Rooted Friendships

CHAPTER 52
Maddening Reminders and Deep-Rooted Friendships

"He has a child!" Asher shouted through the phone.

"So? He's hot!" I argued, leaning against the marble wall of the mall. "Why is everyone so caught up with Derek's child?"

"Addy, dating someone with a child isn't that easy."

I sighed, taking a deep breath. "Can we just forget about it? His child lives in London, and it's just a date. Stop fussing so much over it."

"Alright, fine," he murmured.

I heard a baby's cry in the background, making me frown. "Where are you?" I asked.

"I'm at Amelia's. She needed help babysitting her nephew."

"You're helping her babysit?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "You don't like babies."

"But she's fun."

"She? You said nephew."

"You really thought I was talking about the baby?" He laughed. "He's a pain in the ass. I'm only doing this for Amelia."

"You have a girlfriend, Asher. Don't forget that."

"I'm don't forget that. Amelia is just a friend, Addy. But sometimes Hazel forgets that she has another boyfriend," he grumbled. "You see that? I've turned into the other boyfriend. She's always with Luke."

"Asher, this was your choice," I reminded.

"No, this wasn't my choice. I said an open relationship; not a non-existent one. I would've loved to spend my weekend with my girlfriend rather than some stupid baby, but Hazel keeps blowing me off for Luke."

"I'll talk to her. She's with me now."

"What the fuck?"

"Don't worry, she didn't hear anything. We were shopping for my date with Derek. I stepped away to take your call."

He let out a breath of relief. A shrill cry made him groan. "I have to go. I can't wait till this fucker goes to sleep so that I can have some time alone with Amelia."

"Asher, you have a girlfri—"

Before I could complete it, the line went dead, and I sighed, keeping the phone back in my purse.

I walked over to where Hazel stood, admiring a dress.

"I was on the phone with Asher," I informed.

"Oh, that's nice." Her casual voice didn't hide the hesitation in her eyes, keeping her gaze trained on the dress she felt.

"Hazel, are you avoiding him?"

"No, I'm not. Did he say something?" she asked nervously, snapping her head to me.

I sighed, grabbing her hand and pulling her to a secluded place between the clothing aisle. "Hazel, what's going on?"

"It's Luke," she said. "I get this feeling that he wants to break up with him."

"So? Just break up with him." I shrugged.

"You don't get it, Addy. I don't want to break up with him," she whined. "I've been spending more time with him than Asher so that he would know that I care about him. I want to be with him."

"What about Asher?" I asked.

"I want to be with him too."

"Hazel, you can't have two guys."

"But I love them," she whispered, lowering her head.

"You love Luke too?" I asked, frowning. "Hazel, he was never supposed permeant. You did all of this for Asher."