What If You

had a text message from Asher.
“I spoke to Daniel and we’re all set for tonight. I’ll pick you up at six-thirty.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Last night was incredible. Not the part of having to tell Asher about his friend, but afterwards when he took me up to his bedroom. I stayed the night wrapped in his arms and slept like a baby. When the alarm went off, I didn’t want to get up. I felt safe and secure right where I was. Tonight was going to be hard on him, and I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to be alone.
“Are you okay?” I asked as we sat in the back of his Rolls Royce.
“Not really.” He stared out the window.
I reached over and placed my hand on his. He glanced at me with a small smile and turned his hand over, interlacing our fingers together. He was hurting inside. I could feel it, and there was nothing I could do to take his pain away. He lost his father, his uncle betrayed him and now his best friend was a murderer. That was too much for anyone to handle.
Damien pulled up to Eleven Madison Park and Asher opened the door and helped me out.
“Good evening, Mr. Remington. Your private room is ready. Follow me,” an older woman spoke.
Asher had rented the private dining room that was located in the back of the restaurant. Within moments, Noah had arrived.
“The private dining room?” he asked as he shook Asher’s hand.
“I figured we could use the privacy. You remember, Everly?”
“I do. It’s a pleasure to see you again.” He smiled as he took my hand and brought it up to his lips.
“You as well.” I gave him a slight nod of my head.
We sat at the round table that was dressed in a white tablecloth and a beautiful centerpiece of fresh cut flowers with a large candle that sat in the middle. After our champagne was poured, we talked for a while. I could tell Asher was already starting to sweat by the small beads that formed on his forehead.
“So, Everly, you must be one special lady to keep the attention of this guy.” Noah chuckled.
“She certainly is special,” Asher spoke.
“Noah, who is Eloise?” I asked.
I couldn’t help but notice how quickly the color from his face drained.
“She’s my ex-girlfriend. We broke up. That’s why I moved back here from Paris. I know Asher must have told you that.”
“No. He didn’t. She’s here with us.”
What?” He quickly turned and looked around the room. The panic that overtook him was quite amusing.
“Didn’t I mention that Everly sees dead people?” Asher asked.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Eloise is telling me that you drowned her while she was in the bathtub. She’s crying Noah. She wants to know why you killed her,” I said.
“Why, Noah? Why did you do it?” He pleaded for an answer.
“I didn’t do anything, Asher. This is ridiculous. And you’re fucking crazy, lady.” Noah looked at his watch. “You know what, I really need to get going,” he spoke in a panicked voice as beads of sweat poured down his face. “Just give me the money and I’ll go.” He stood from his chair.
“Sit down!” Asher shouted.
“Asher, come on. We’ve been friends for years. You know me better than that. Are you really going to listen to this crazy broad? She’s playing you, bro.”
“Nah. She’s not playing me. She told me what you did. She told me how you and Eloise got into a fight that night and when she was in the bathtub, you drowned her.” Asher grabbed Noah’s arm and pushed up his sleeve, seeing the large scratch that was still visible. “Then you wrapped her body up, threw her in the car and drove her out to the countryside where you buried her. My God, Noah. Who the hell are you?”
“You don’t understand!” He pointed his shaky finger at him. “I’d had enough of her. Her constant badgering and nagging. Nothing was ever good enough for her. No matter how hard I tried, that bitch was never satisfied.”
“Then you do what any other man would have done. You leave!” Asher shouted. “You should have left.”
“I snapped. Please, Asher. I’m begging you. Just give me the money and you’ll never see me again. I promise. Nobody has to know.”
Asher pulled a large envelope from under the table that looked like it was stuffed with money and handed it to him.
“I never want to see you again,” he spoke.
Noah grabbed the envelope from him and when he went to open the door to leave the private room, Daniel and three other police officers were waiting for him with their guns drawn.
“You set me up?” Noah turned and looked at Asher.
“No. Eloise did when she showed me what you had done to her,” I spoke.
“Get him out of here,” Asher said to Daniel.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I placed my hand on his back.
“I just handed my best friend over to the cops, and he’ll probably spend the rest of his life in jail. So to answer your question, no, I’m not okay at the moment.”
He was angry and I couldn’t blame him. All I wanted to do was hold him in my arms and give him the comfort he needed. But with the mood he was in, I didn’t dare suggest it.

25


Two Weeks Later
Asher
I hadn’t seen or talked to Everly since the night Noah was arrested. I needed some time to myself. Now that my father was gone, my uncle was in prison, and my best friend was extradited back to Paris to face his crime, I felt as if my life was unraveling and I needed an escape. A place to go to for a while where I could think and forget about everything that had happened.
As I was lying in bed, I picked up my phone and looked at the text messages Everly had sent me two weeks ago. Messages I never replied to.
“Hey. I’m