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I left my apartment after vowing to myself not to think of Asher for the remainder of the day. Even though I knew I was going to see him at the recital, I wanted to keep my distance from him, and after giving Anne her flowers, I would run out of there.
I went to the lobby and bought Anne some flowers from a vendor close to our apartment.
“Hello, can I please get a small bouquet of dahlias?”
“Alright, let me gather them for you!” she said brightly. I nodded as I took my phone out of my pocket and saw messages from Marie.
Marie: Are you still avoiding the man?
Me: Of course I am. But I’m going to Anne’s recital today.
Marie: Oooh, the drama! You should tell me all about it.
Me: Don’t you have a man to be entertaining?
Marie and Matthew were officially a couple, and she was so worried to tell me when I visited her apartment. She thought I would be against their relationship, but I was pretty happy for both of them.
If someone could love Marie how she deserved to be loved, it would be Matthew; if someone would be a perfect match for Matthew, it definitely would be Marie.
Marie: Don’t be worried about me and my man, but be concerned about what that brute of a man is going to do to you once he finally sees you today.
Me: Don’t be worried about me, either, and mind your own.
Marie: Huh? Since when have I ever minded my own business?
Me: Bye, Marie.
“Brooke?” I lifted my head from the phone, and the guy from my building who had found my keys stood before me.
“Hey,” I greeted as I closed my phone, which vibrated several times in my pocket. Marie was probably cussing me out for suddenly leaving our chat.
“I’m Drew, remember?” he pointed to his chest, and I hoped he didn’t notice that I had forgotten his name. I didn’t bother to remember it because I doubted we would engage with each other again.
Honestly, I got some kind of a weird vibe from Drew, but perhaps I had been around the likes of mean, grumpy men for far too long to know how normal human beings acted.
“Yes, yes, sorry. I didn’t get you a thank you gift for bringing my keys back to me...are you okay with flowers?” I offered, and he waved his hand.
“You don’t have to worry about paying me back,” he smiled, and I flipped my hair over my shoulder and noticed how his eyes stared at my shoulders for a while.
Well, that was normal.
“You sure? I feel terrible for not thanking you properly,” I insisted, and he shook his head.
“Your relief was more than enough for me,” he said, and I nodded slowly. “Are you going somewhere?” he asked after the vendor passed me my flowers, and I handed her a twenty, informing her to keep the change as her tip.
“Uhm, yes, I was invited somewhere. I can’t show up without a gift.” I laughed softly, and his smile didn’t reach his eyes; it seemed forced.
“Is it with Asher?” I tilted my head to the side, wondering what had given him that idea. “I just noticed that you’ve been with his daughter lately, and I know that he had that petition circulating in the building. Is everything okay between you guys now?”
“Uhm, I think so,” I nodded, suddenly wanting to get far away from this man. “Well, I don’t want to be late for my appointment. I’ll see you around, Drew.”
“I could give you a lift?” He pointed to his Toyota, and I smiled kindly, shaking my head.
“It’s alright. The location is just a few blocks away. I can walk.”
“So, I was right, huh? It is Asher?” He clicked his fingers, laughing heartily as if we had been playing “guess Brooke’s appointment” together.
“Ha, ha, ha, I have to leave now.” I waved as I started taking a few steps away from him. He nodded, waving his hands before he got into his car.
