What If You

left and we both knew it. The cancer was found too late and it progressed very quickly.
I parked the car, unlocked the door and turned the sign to open that hung in the window. Since I came home, I’d been really busy between my grandmother being in the hospital and running the shop. I’d barely had time to do or think about anything else.
It was noon when Samantha walked into the shop carrying a cup holder with two smoothies sitting inside.
“Hey.” She smiled as she set the cup holder down on the back counter. “I brought us smoothies.”
“You’re the best, Sam. Thank you.”
Samantha Reed was an eighteen-year-old girl who had been working for us part-time since she was sixteen years old. She was a sweet girl, an excellent student and the best worker for someone her age. She was dependable, reliable and went above and beyond her duties. She knew about me and my grandmother but kept it to herself.
“I’m going to go ahead and price these crystals. There’s one last box that needs to be unpacked and put out,” I said to her.
“On it.” She grinned.
I had my back turned as I was pricing the crystals and setting them out on display when I heard the bell above the door ring. I knew Sam would take care of the customer, so I didn’t bother turning around.
“Hello, Everly.” I heard Asher’s voice from behind.
Instantly, a nervousness formed inside me.
“What are you doing here, Asher?” I asked without turning around.
“How is your grandmother doing?”
“Not good.”
I felt his hand lightly grab hold of my arm and I started to tremble. Turning around, I looked into the eyes that were staring back at me.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“I came to see you.” He let go of me. “I left you a couple voice messages.”
“And I left you several text messages,” I huffed as I walked away and headed towards the counter.
“I know and I’m sorry. I should have answered you. I just—”
“I know. You were going through some shit.” My voice was irritated as I stepped behind the counter.
I could see Sam staring at us from across the store.
“Is there any way you can break for lunch?” he asked.
“No, I—”
“Yes. She can.” Sam smiled as she walked over to us. “I’ve got the store covered.” She stepped behind the counter, bent down and grabbed my purse from underneath. “Go on. Go have a nice lunch.” She grinned.
“Fine.” I let out a sigh.
We walked out of the shop and started walking down the street.
“There’s this great Mexican restaurant a block down,” I said.
“Mexican sounds good,” he said as he tucked his hands in his pants pockets.
He looked so handsome in his khaki pants and white cotton, short sleeve button down shirt. The aviators he wore to shield his eyes from the sun made him sexier than he already was. I wasn’t the only one who noticed either. Women were staring at him as they walked past.
“Did you know I was coming?” he asked.
“Actually, I didn’t.”
“I’m surprised.” He smirked as he glanced over at me.
“Me too.”
We approached the Mexican restaurant and were seated outside on the patio at a small table for two. It was a beautiful warm day without a cloud in the sky.
“Hey, Everly.” Hayden, our waiter smiled as he approached the table.
“Hi, Hayden.”
“I know you want the watermelon margarita, salted rim. What can I get for you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same.”
“Great. I’ll be right back.”
“He knows your drink order well,” Asher spoke with an arch in his brow.
“I come here all the time. Plus, we went to high school together. I’ve known him for years. His parents actually own the place.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Why did you come here, Asher?”
“I already told you. To see you.”
“Why? I don’t hear from you since that night, you ignore my text messages, and then you just randomly show up in my hometown?”
“I wanted to apologize to you, and since you wouldn’t return my phone calls, this was the only option I had. I had no idea you left New York.”
“My grandmother doesn’t have much time left. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a month ago and didn’t tell anyone. It progressed very quickly and now she’s in the hospital. They’re keeping her as comfortable as possible. But it’s only a matter of time. The cancer spread to her liver and to her stomach.”
“I’m sorry, Everly. I have to ask. How did you not know? With your—”
“I told you it doesn’t work with people I’m very close to. I can only see what it lets me.”
“I’m sorry.” He reached across the table and placed his hand on mine.
Hayden walked over and set our drinks down in front of us and proceeded to take our order.
“I’m surprised you took time off work,” I said as I sipped my drink.
“I needed to. Actually, I had rented a cabin at Lake George for a week. Then I asked Diana about you and she told me how you left New York because your grandmother was ill. I changed my plans at the last minute to come here.”
“Why?”
“Because I owe you an apology, and believe me, I rarely give out apologies.”
“I know.” The corners of my mouth curved up into a light smile.
“You do, do you?” He smirked.
“Yeah. I do.” I looked down in embarrassment.
We finished lunch and started walking back to the shop. Asher held is arm out to me and I happily wrapped my hand around it.
“This is nice. I’ve never been to Rhode Island before.”
“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“Hotel Providence.”
“Hmm. I see. I hate to tell you this, but that hotel is haunted. Maybe it’s best you stay at my house.”
“Haunted? Are you playing with me?” he asked.
“No. I’m serious.” I grinned.
“Okay. I’ll take your word for it.”
We reached the shop, and I pulled my keys out of my purse and handed them to him.
“What are these for?”
“See that White Jeep Cherokee parked over there?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s my car. Take it to the hotel, grab your bag and pick me