My choice

(Harlow) I woke the next morning with Asher's arm around me and one of my legs trapped beneath his. Last night came back to me before I even opened my eyes completely. I remembered the van, the drive home, and Asher knowing something was wrong without me telling him. I wasn't interested in thinking about any of it today. I moved his arm and started getting out of bed. Asher opened his eyes before I made it very far. I should've known sneaking away from him wasn't going to work. Apparently, the man could sleep through anything except me leaving. "Where are you going?" "Bathroom." "Come back." I looked at him. "You know people have to pee, right?" "Go." "Thank you for your permission." He gave me a look. I smiled and went into the bathroom before he could answer. By the time I came out, Asher was sitting against the headboard checking his phone. His injured leg was stretched out in front of him. I decided not to tease him about it this morning. "You didn't make a joke." I stopped. "About what?" "My leg." "I can start if you're feeling neglected." "No." I smiled. "Then don't complain." I got dressed while Asher stayed on the bed. Cassidy wanted my help with her coursework today, and I was curious about what she needed. It had been a while since anyone asked me something about real estate. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed talking about it until she called last night. "I'm going to Cassidy's." Asher looked up from his phone. "Why?" "She needs help with her course." He nodded. "Real estate?" "Yes." He put his phone aside. "You miss it?" The question caught me off guard. I turned back toward the dresser and picked up my earrings. I hadn't told Asher what I'd been thinking at the bar. Apparently, I wasn't as difficult to read as I thought. "Sometimes." "You ever think about going back?" I put in one earring. "I don't know." That was the truth, and I didn't have anything else to add. I had promised Ridge I wouldn't work anymore after the kidnapping. At the time, staying inside Devil's Reach had seemed easier than fighting everyone. Now I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I finished getting ready and grabbed my purse. Asher didn't ask another question about work, which I appreciated. I kissed him before heading toward the door. He caught my hand before I got away. "Where's my proper kiss?" "You just got one." "That wasn't one." "You're needy today." "Harlow." I leaned down and kissed him again. His hand went to the back of my neck, keeping me there longer than I'd planned. I knew exactly what he was doing. He was reminding me that his injured leg didn't make him completely helpless. When he released me, I stood. "Happy?" "For now." "Greedy." "Always." I left before he found another reason to keep me there. Cassidy and Dane's house wasn't far from the compound, and I arrived a little later. Cassidy opened the door before I could knock again. I followed her inside and found Eli playing with his cars. "Aunt Harlow!" I smiled. "There's my favorite nephew." Cassidy looked at me. "Your only nephew." "Still my favorite." Eli came over and hugged me before returning to his toys. I resisted asking if he wanted to go shopping because Cassidy would probably throw me out. Dane had already made his opinion about my gifts very clear. Fortunately, I wasn't very good at listening to Dane. Cassidy had her laptop and notes waiting at the table. I sat beside her and started going through what she'd been working on. She had questions about dealing with clients and what to expect once she finished everything. Those were things I could actually help with. "You know more about this than the course explains." "I did it for years." "I know, but you make it sound easier." "It gets easier once you're actually doing it." Cassidy turned the laptop toward me. "That's what I needed help with." I read through the section she showed me. Before long, I was explaining things without needing to think about the answers. I remembered clients I'd worked with and problems I'd dealt with during sales. It felt good using that part of my brain again. "I wouldn't even be doing this if it wasn't for you." I looked at Cassidy. "You can thank me when you're rich." "I'm serious." "So am I." She smiled before closing the laptop. "Have you thought about going back?" There was that question again. Twice in one morning. I leaned back in the chair and looked at the laptop. Maybe I had been thinking about it more than I wanted to admit. Helping Cassidy had reminded me that I'd actually liked my job. I hadn't stopped because I hated it. "I promised Ridge I wouldn't." Cassidy frowned. "That's not what I asked." I looked at her. "When did you get annoying?" "Probably from spending too much time with you." I laughed. Cassidy had a point, and I hated that. Ridge hadn't forced me to make the promise. After everything that happened, I'd wanted everyone to stop worrying about me. Giving up work had seemed like one way to make that happen. "I miss parts of it." "Then maybe think about it." "Asher would lose his mind." "Would he?" I thought about the question Asher had asked this morning. He hadn't told me I couldn't work. He hadn't reminded me of what happened at the showing either. He'd simply asked whether I wanted to go back. That surprised me. Asher wanted control over everything else. Maybe I'd gotten so used to fighting him that I'd started expecting a fight before one existed. I wasn't going back to work tomorrow, but I didn't have to decide that I was finished forever either. For once, I wanted the choice to be mine. I stayed with Cassidy until we finished what she needed. On the drive back to Devil's Reach, my old job stayed on my mind. I wondered what Asher would actually say if I told him I wanted to work again. There was only one way to find out. I found him in our section when I returned. He looked up as I walked in and put my purse down. I hadn't planned to bring it up this soon. Apparently, my mouth had other plans. "What would you say if I wanted to work again?" Asher put his phone aside. "I'd ask if that's what you want." I stared at him. "That's it?" "No." I should've known. Asher leaned back and looked at me. I waited for the rules because there were always rules with him. His answer didn't come right away. When it did, I knew this conversation was about to get interesting. "We'd talk about it." I crossed my arms. "Meaning?" "Meaning you don't get to run the second you hear something you don't like." I smiled. "Now that sounds more like you."