I stood frozen, unable to move, even to flee like I really wanted to. I had worried Asher wouldn’t be able to let my silly comment about Joseph go, so I had decided to follow him, to stop him before he could get into another fight.
I hadn’t thought I would hear him tell Joseph that he didn’t love me.
It hurt far more than it had any right to. Asher and I had never discussed such deep-rooted feelings. I knew he cared for me. And he desired me sexually. Love was never on the table.
But to hear him say it.
And for him to say it to Joseph.
I was embarrassed. I felt like I’d been caught, and I was ashamed. Did he know that I loved him? Why didn’t he just let me down gently? Why let me get my hopes up?
Why would he tell Joseph and not me?
“Cynthia,” Asher said, a bit breathless. Was he
