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He took a slow sip of his coffee. She kicked off her shoes and walked up to him.
“Were you with André?” he asked, concern coloring his otherwise annoyed expression.
“I was not,” she replied easily. André had steered clear since Thursday and on one hand she missed him. But on the other, she was thankful because she needed to focus and he was…distracting.
Nikki went around Asa to the kitchen. He followed.
“What were you doing?” he asked, not believing her.
She grabbed one of her favorite mugs out of the cupboard—it was black and said “Hot AF” in hot pink. “Working.”
“Uh-huh.” He leaned his back against the counter and narrowed his eyes at her.
She poured coffee into her cup and decided to give Asa a hard time. Probably because she was exhausted. But it was a good kind of exhausted. The kind that came from depleting herself creatively and loving the results.
“Did you see what André did to the lounge?” she asked also leaning her back on the counter. She felt Asa’s eyes on her.
“I saw it.”
“What do you think?” she asked, trying to sound casual about it.
“What do I think about the lounge or what do I think about André?” he asked with a grumble.
Nikki chuckled. “Both.”
Asa took so long to answer she finally glanced his way. He was frowning. She bit back a smile.
“The lounge looks amazing. I can say that because it’s true and I’m not big on lying no matter how much I hate the guy. But I do actually hate the guy.”
“I thought you might say that,” she said, hiding her smile with her coffee cup.
Asa dropped his head back and looked up at the ceiling. “Jesus,” he whispered under his breath. “Are you two dating again?”
“No.” Nikki shook her head. “He just wants to be friends and…”
“And…?”
“And I’m considering it.”
Asa shook his head, disappointment rolling off him. “You know I have to continue to hate him on principle? He made you cry.”
“I know.” She stepped to the side, bringing their hips together. She put her head on his shoulder. “He said he was sorry.”
He rested his head on top of hers.
“You’re too forgiving,” he said quietly.
The heaviness of his words hit an old memory and she shrugged. He’d always said that. And maybe he was right. Maybe she gave more chances than she should.
“Though I should be grateful for that because it’s benefited me a time or two,” he added.
Her mind swam with old memories that she’d rather not think about. But there they were, ill-timed as always.
“Do you think Shelby was right about me?” she asked. As soon as the words had passed her lips, her heart folded in on itself and tears crawled up the back of her throat.
Asa pulled away so he could look into her eyes.
“Why would you say that?” he asked. He frowned, his dark eyes scanning her face, looking for whatever it was that had made her ask that question.
