Our Love

Wade

I woke up hanging off the side of the bed, head pounding and my phone buzzing non-stop. It wasn't a full-fledged hangover, but enough to make me uncomfortable. I reached out to grab my phone and saw that Carrie had texted me at least twenty times. There were even a few missed calls from her as well. I didn't even bother to read the messages and immediately called her, concerned there was some kind of emergency.

"Where. The. Fuck. Have. You. Been?" She answered.

"Asleep," I mumbled. "What's wrong? Is everything ok?" I groaned as I sat up in bed, still wearing my clothes from the night before.

"No. No, it is not okay!! What were you doing out with Denise last night?" She practically screamed into the phone.

"Ugh. How did you know? It wasn't what you thought. I was ambushed. Listen, I need to shower and freshen up and have some coffee before I can discuss all of this."

"Well, get your ass to it. I'll bring lunch and see you in a bit."

Before I could respond, she'd already ended the call. I drug myself to the shower and brushed the stale dryness out of my mouth. I put on some fresh clothes and then immediately went downstairs to get a cup of coffee going. I sat on the deck, letting the sun warm me up and wake me up as I sipped the delicious liquid.

"Christopher Wade Asher," Carrie growled, stepping onto the porch. I internally rolled my eyes.

"What have I done now?"

She laid a bag of food on the table, then sunk into a seat. "Denise. Dinner. Why?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Uhhh. I tried to get you to come to dinner with me, remember? I was going to dinner with my Father, and he ambushed me. Denise was there. I immediately went to leave, but my Father showed up and practically begged me to stay. I only stayed long enough to hear that the company isn't doing so well, and if this deal with Scholts doesn't go through, then the company is going to fail. You know anything about that?" I pulled the bag toward me, taking out the food she had brought.

"This is the first I'm hearing it. I have access to just about everything, Wade, and I'm not entirely sure he's being truthful with you." Genuine worry crossed over her face as she seemed to think about the information I'd given her. Before I could say anything else, she had her phone out, texting away. "I'm asking Grant."

"When are they getting back?" I asked between bites of my food.

"They leave tomorrow; apparently, he clinched the deal," Carrie answered, turning her phone toward me. The picture showed Grant and Quinn sitting in a car, Quinn's head was laid over on Grant's shoulder and she was asleep. "They're heading back to the hotel now."

"Why is she sleeping on him like that?" I snapped. Carrie raised her brow at me.

"Jealous?" She asked.

"No. Just asking." I shrugged, trying to hide the fact that I was indeed jealous.

"Sure." Carried rolled her eyes.

"What did he say about the company?" I attempted to steer the subject back to the original topic.

"He dodged it. He just responded by saying he closed the deal today, and all was well." Carrie replied. "I'll find out what I can when I go back to the office." She reached forward, snatching some food.

"How'd you find out about Denise being at dinner? You never answered me." I rubbed a hand down my tired face.

"Quinn, text me." She mumbled, shoving another bite into her mouth.

"Wait. How did Quinn know?" I sat up, leaning onto the table.

"Someone text her some pictures of you and Denise at dinner, then you and Denise out at the Route. Which, I forgot to mention. . why in the hell were you with her after dinner?" Carrie sat back, arms crossed over her chest, glaring at me.

"Pictures of me? Who?" I shook my head, trying to figure out who would do that and why. "I was only at the restaurant with her; I didn't even eat. I wasn't there that long. I went to the Route after, and Denise wasn't there. Some random ladies were; one, in particular, was a little pushy, but nothing happened."

"So, who the fuck is sending Quinn pictures to make it look like more than it is?"

I shrugged at her question and then stood up to head back into the house. As I was walking, it clicked. I had no idea why it wasn't my first thought. Ben. That smarmy fucker. I knew he was up to something.

"Whatcha thinking?" Carrie nudged me as I stood at the counter.

"Ben Fucking Stevens," I growled.

"Oh, gross. I knew he had asked her out. You think he sent the pictures, then?" She headed off toward the steps, going up to the guest room Quinn had been staying in.

"Makes the most sense. What are you doing?" I asked, following behind.

"Oh, Quinn asked me to gather some of her things." She shrugged.

"She doesn't want to get them herself?" I scratched at my beard, feeling sadness come over me at the thought that she didn't want to see me.

"I think you two need to have an adult conversation about your feelings. All of this miscommunication is entirely unnecessary." Carrie started putting things of Quinn's into a bag. "Ask her out on a damn date; it's not that hard." She rolled her eyes.

"She was upset by the pictures?" I asked again, thinking out loud. If the pictures bothered her, then perhaps she was interested in me as well.

"Wade, I think I've had enough of your nonsense today." She huffed, placing one of the bags on the bed. "I'm leaving this here; she can retrieve it. Then you two can talk." Carrie pulled me into a hug, patting my back. "Now, I have to go talk to another Asher and figure out what's going on." She sang as she headed out the door and down the steps.