Chapter 120

ASHER

Maddy’s been swamped with work all week, leaving me with nothing but the four walls of my apartment for company. My training’s on pause since Dad’s out of state, so I’ve got plenty of time to figure out how to get closer to Maddy. I’m not exactly a pro at dating.

In fact, I’ve never done it before, so this is all new and a bit intimidating.

Maddy’s been busy all day, only coming home in time for dinner. After our argument that night, I cooked dinner and surprised her with flowers.

I realized I didn’t know her favorite flowers, so I had to make a choice on my own. Unfortunately, my choice ended up looking like the standard bouquet I get for Mama every Mother’s Day.

I watched her smell the white and pink roses, her eyes softening into a smile. She liked them, and what they symbolized, arranging them in the vase I’d also brought. Afterward, she kissed me—something she hadn’t done in over a week.

I couldn’t believe my luck. A simple bouquet had earned me the affection I’d been craving, and all without a fight. We had dinner and watched a movie that night, but I didn’t touch her, and she didn’t touch me again after that kiss.

The next day, she came home earlier than expected, looking flustered and ruining my surprise. I had planned a pampering night for her, complete with a foot massage and a relaxing bath before bed, but she rushed into my arms, crying.

Her tears soaked my shirt as she let her emotions pour out. For a moment, I was frozen, unsure of how to comfort her when I was barely managing my own emotions.

“What—what’s wrong?” I asked her, my voice hesitant.

She pulled back, her cheeks flushed and eyes watery, her voice thick with pain. “I’m so sorry, Asher. I shouldn’t have touched you like that. It was wrong… You must hate me,” she sobbed, her words igniting a fear that quickly took over.

The thought of losing her, the first girl I’d ever opened up to, hit me like a punch to the gut. In that moment, I felt a desperate need to escape the pain, to get high and forget. I fought that craving into the early hours of the morning, lying alone in bed.

“I don’t hate you,” I confessed, though I didn’t tell her how upset I was about how the week had gone—especially the lack of physical contact between us.

“Your father does,” she said, sending my anxiety into overdrive.

~He didn’t, did he?~

“Which one?”

“Zach,” she said, confirming my worst fear.

Shit.

I knew he wouldn’t keep our conversation to himself, especially after he’d expressed his disapproval. “What did he do?” I asked her.

She mumbled something I couldn’t understand, alternating between crying and talking as she told me he’d warned her not to touch me again. She was convinced that she shouldn’t let me hold her like this, that he would force her out of my life if he caught us.

It took some convincing to make her understand that he was talking about physical assault, not just touching. But she wasn’t thinking clearly that night, and she ended up refusing to sleep in the same bed as me, afraid he would find out.

The next few days were more of the same. She kept her distance, and I think she even started working late on purpose to avoid spending time with me. But I had a plan—a plan that would bring her straight to our private dinner table at the end of her shift today.

I’ve ordered dinner, and I’ve convinced Atty to bring her to me. Everything’s going according to plan; the table is set, the candles are lit, and the food is being prepared.

Maddy’s running late, and I’m trying to keep my cool, but I can’t help but feel a little paranoid and upset about her tardiness. My anxiety is on the rise, and I find myself chewing my nails—a nervous habit I’ve had since childhood.

I find myself staring out the window, wondering if she’s going to show up at all. Then, just like that, she’s here. It feels like an eternity has passed, but Atty brings her to me just as I had asked him to.

“Apologies for the delay. I was giving her a tour of the club,” he confesses.

But my attention is solely on Maddy, who’s dressed in a form-fitting pencil skirt and a white shirt with the club’s emblem stitched over her heart.

“Thanks…” I mumble in Atty’s direction, my gaze still fixed on Maddy. Seeing her dressed like this does things to me, but I’ve made a promise to myself to take things slow and at her pace. So far, we haven’t had any disagreements, so I guess I’m doing something right.

“You look stunning, Maddy,” I say, flashing her a smile. “How was work?” I ask, watching as Atty retreats to give us some privacy.

“It was good, actually. I have something to discuss with you.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, I…um…yes. I’ve decided to accept a new position that Atticus offered me. It’s a role I’m comfortable with and can easily adapt to,” she admits, avoiding eye contact.

She seems nervous, probably anticipating that I might not approve of her decision.

“That’s great. What is it?” I ask, pulling out a chair for her to sit on.

I catch the server’s eye and give a nod, signaling them to bring the starter as soon as possible.

“It’s similar to the role I had at…Sanctum. It’s for the rebranding of the club upstairs.”

The mention of Sanctum makes me flinch, a flood of memories from that whole ordeal stirring up my anxiety. That whole situation was a mess, and I’m still trying to recover from it. But amidst all the chaos, it brought Maddy into my life.

It also helped mend the strained relationship between my parents and me. I’m closer to my fathers now than I’ve ever been.

Especially Callum, who undoubtedly respects me more now than he ever did before. He’s been demonstrating that by helping me train alongside him.

“That’s… wonderful,” I manage to say, even though a part of me—no matter how small—can’t help but worry that she might realize I’m not what she wants.