My Wedding Date (ManxMan)

Was This Right?

William

I heard my ringtone but chose to ignore it and slid under my cover so it could hide my face. I waited to feel if Asher would wake up. When I felt him move I pretended to stay asleep. I wanted to know what he would do; how he'd react if he saw it was me next to him.

"Not again," I heard him groan. I don't know if he noticed me yet but because I wanted him to I pretended to almost wake up, "..hmn?"

He looked under the covers and when I felt him look at me I was silently praying he would wake me. I wanted to talk to a hungover Asher. To a sober Asher. To the Asher I once cared about. But I didn't have the guts to do it. Instead I wanted him to go. And not go. My mind felt like it was swirling and I decided to avoid confrontation.

"I swear Hunter," I turned to face the wall instead of him, "If you don't go back to sleep, you're sleeping on the couch next time." I panicked. I don't know why I called him Hunter, Hunter was my ex who I caught in bed with someone else. I should have said someone else like my brother, Mathew, who Asher would hopefully remember was my brother... But he might get the wrong idea too if I did.

When I felt the bed shift a bit and heard Asher get his things and close a door, I peaked out from under the covers. I blew it. I really blew it. I am normally more composed but Asher- Asher Reed does something to me. He makes me loose my composure and my mind. Even after all these years.

I ducked back under the covers when I heard the bathroom door open and to save myself from embarrassment I whined, "Hunter, come back to bed."

As I thought, it made Asher leave. He probably left because he thought I was hungover, and not because being called Hunter made him jealous.

I should have figured he would have moved on. I still remember when he confessed that he loved me and how I felt happy, mad, and confused. Mad because I shouldn't have felt happy that a boy was confessing to me. I was mad because I wished that Asher was a girl. I felt happy that I wasn't the only one who felt like that. Confused because it was weird that Asher, of all people, would confess and that I liked it. But being barely 13, I couldn't process my feelings, so I let him go.

I should have acted like I didn't recognize him yesterday so I could have had more time to talk to him. So I could have learned what this Asher has been doing, how he flirts, how he acts, and how he smiles without embarrassment or under the influence of alcohol. How he is without me being William.

But I couldn't. He was so close to me that I wanted to know if he remembered me like I did. He was so close that I could smell his cologne and feel his warmth. I could see how his brown eyes twinkled when he smiled and how they darkened when he looked scared. And yet, I let him go again.

I got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom where I found Asher's phone. When I pressed the side to see the time, I saw a message on his lock screen:

BossMan: when do you come back? It's fucking hard without you here, among other things

I wanted to smile at his naming game, but instead I thought about the double meaning behind that message and frowned. Of course he'd had moved on. With his body, face, and personality; of course he'd have met someone!

When I got my phone, I called Aspen to ask her if she knew Asher's hotel number. Once I made it clear that Asher and I did nothing, she gave me his number and I made my way there, still dressed in my clothes from the night before. I probably shouldn't have disturbed her since she just got married, but she did put us in this situation.

When I made it to his door, I had to calm myself. It felt like forever before he opened the door and my jaw almost fell to the floor. I did not expect for him to answer semi naked. I had to focus on giving Asher his phone back without ogling at his half-naked body. Just seeing him in only a towel made my pulse quicken.

"You forgot your phone," I gave him his phone, watching the water trickle down his bare skin.

"Thanks," he turned it over in his hands. He looked at it and let out a small embarrassed laugh. "Hey,um, if I did or said anything last night, I'm really sorry. A-and thank you for making sure I slept somewhere decent." He half heartedly smiled.

I frowned wondering how many times this has happened to him. And how many times his date or companion left him wherever.

"So, uh... it was good seeing you. Really. I hope we can catch up... sometime soon," he trailed off and looked at his phone, slightly smiling, "I have to- I'm sorry, I've got to go." He smiled a familiar smile I didn't forget and was glad because he's still my Asher. Somewhere. I hope.

"Yeah, that'd be really nice." I stood there like an idiot. I wanted to ask for his number but I wasn't sure how to without looking desperate.

"See you sometime then," I finally said and walked away without hearing his reply. I decided I'd get in the shower and maybe catch a few more hours of sleep. My phone rang a few times but I ignored it, still mortified by my cowardness. When my head hit the pillow, I was out like a rock.