Under My Body

chapter twelve

I spoke too soon. Again.

Suddenly, at the corner of my eye, I saw something—no, someone familiar. The broad shoulders, the messy hair, and the dark, glowy skin.

Asher?

I turned fully, my heart pounding in my chest, only to feel like it had exploded when I saw him. He was here. With another woman.

And she was beautiful.

She had blonde curly hair that framed her delicate face, her features small and slender. Her legs were long, tall, and she wore a simple light pink maxi dress that hugged her figure perfectly. She was stunning. Is that his date?

I didn't realize my hands had curled into fists until I felt my nails digging into my palm. A wave of frustration, or maybe it was something deeper—jealousy—rippled through me. But I didn't have the right to feel that, did I? Asher and I are...friends? Well, we're something, but definitely not together. We aren't even dating, or in any way close enough to warrant me feeling this.

So why did seeing him with another woman hurt?

I swallowed, my throat tightening as memories of our 'almost' moments flashed through my mind. The kiss in the kitchen that almost happened, the quiet beach walk, the cake we shared with so much unsaid between us. Stop it, Malar. He's just your friend, not your goddamn property. He's allowed to have other female friends or relationships if he wants.

But I couldn't deny that familiar, nagging voice in the back of my mind. The one that reminded me of my insecurities—about my body, my worth, everything. A woman like that, someone who looked like her, someone who probably had the confidence I lacked, would never second-guess themselves standing next to Asher. She wouldn't hesitate. But me? I was still learning, still struggling with my own image, my own issues.

I turned away from him, from her, and forced myself to focus on my job. I had a wedding to manage, and Ratha's inevitable next breakdown would require all my attention. I couldn't get caught up in feelings that I shouldn't even have. Asher had every right to come here with whoever he wanted, and I needed to stay professional. This wasn't about me.

I tried to ignore him as much as I could, throwing myself into mingling with the guests, checking that everything was running smoothly. I stationed myself at the far corner, keeping an eye on the flow of the event, my eyes scanning the venue for any sign of trouble.

But I couldn't help it. My gaze kept flicking back to him, to them. Who was she? What was her connection to Asher?

My chest tightened every time I caught a glimpse of them. Asher, with his broad shoulders and quiet presence, seemed so calm next to her, even though his usual brooding air was still there. His limp was subtle, but I noticed it, that slight unevenness in his steps, a reminder of the pain he probably still carried with him. And yet, he looked comfortable with her, the kind of comfort I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to give him.

My breath hitched, and I forced myself to look away, shaking off the rising anxiety. Focus, Vili. Do your job. I needed to keep things under control, and I couldn't let some stupid feeling ruin the event. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop the way my mind raced every time my eyes caught his. Every time I saw him standing next to someone else, someone who wasn't me.

I continued to roam around the venue, keeping myself busy with anything I could find. It was a distraction, a way to avoid the tightening feeling in my chest every time my eyes strayed toward Asher and the woman he was with. My focus shifted from the table settings to the floral arrangements, anything to keep my mind occupied, but the nagging feeling wouldn't go away.