What If You

me to think about that, Daniel. I have the shop, the house.”
“Sell the shop. Or better yet, move the shop to New York. Put the house up for sale and just leave. You’ll stay with us until you find an apartment here.”
“I appreciate it, and I promise to give it some serious thought.”
“Well, think about it quickly. We want you here. I love you, cuz.”
“I love you too, Daniel. We’ll talk soon.”
I sighed as I set my phone down on the couch. Picking it back up, I decided to call Asher.
“Hey, you. Everything okay?” he asked when he answered the phone.
“Everything’s fine. I just got off the phone with Daniel and he said he and Diana want me to move to New York.”
There was a moment of silence on the other end and the nervousness inside me grew.
“And what did you decide?” he asked.
“I haven’t decided anything yet. I was hoping you could help me make a decision.”
“Honestly, Everly, it’s up to you. Do you want to live here?”
“I like New York and I think I would love living there. Plus, we could see each other all the time,” I cautiously spoke.
“Listen. You know I work a lot and I wouldn’t want you to move here thinking there would be something between us. What I’m trying to say is, don’t move here just for me.”
“Wow.” I swallowed hard. “You have a big ego there, Mr. Remington.” Tears formed in my eyes. “Do you not know me by now?”
He let out a light laugh.
“Does anyone ever truly know anyone, Everly?”
“Sometimes, I know more about a person than I care to. Hey. I have to go. My grandmother’s lawyer is calling.” I lied. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
I ended the call, took in a deep breath and let the tears stream down my face.
“He’s a dumb ass you know.” I heard a voice behind me.
Turning around, I saw Asher’s father standing there.
“What are you doing here, Mr. Remington?” I let out a sigh as I went into the kitchen.
“I guess my business here isn’t finished.”
“You’re the reason he’s like he is.” I poured myself a glass of wine.
“I know. I’m fully aware. I suppose you’re going to tell him what I’d done.”
“He’ll hate you.” I brought the glass up to my lips.
“I know he will. But in time, he’ll forgive me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” I said.
“I did what I had to at the time for his future. Just like I had to step in and stop that merger. You think I want to stick around here? I know he has feelings for you. Feelings I haven’t seen in a very long time. You always do what’s best for everyone else, but never for yourself. You love my son. Tell him. Fight for his love.” Suddenly, he vanished.
I was torn on what to do because I loved him, and we don’t want to hurt the people we love. We wanted to protect them, and me telling him, would be for my own selfish reasons.
“God! I wish I could see the right thing to do!” I screamed.
I was exhausted and I couldn’t think anymore, so I went upstairs and climbed into bed.

29
Asher
The moment I stepped off the elevator, I walked over to my bar and poured myself a bourbon. I couldn’t stop thinking about Everly’s call. As hard as I tried not to think about her when I left Rhode Island, my mind wouldn’t stop. All the “what if’s” kept circling around in my head and the harder I fought to stop them, the louder they became. A part of me wanted to love her, but the other part of me stopped such a notion. I asked her if anyone ever truly knew anyone, and I meant it. I thought I knew someone inside and out once, only to discover I was completely wrong and was made a fool of. Then there was my Uncle Roland and Noah. Everyone in my life had betrayed me in some way. Everyone except my father. What Everly and I had was good. It was really good. But it was only temporary, and I needed to keep reminding myself of that. I ran a multi-billion-dollar company with great success, I lived in a multi-million-dollar penthouse, and I had all the money I would ever need. I was set in life, and I didn’t need anything else.
A couple days had passed, and I had just gotten out of a meeting. Taking my phone from my pocket, I saw I had a text message from Everly.
“Hi, Asher. I’m in New York for a couple days, and I would like to see you if possible. Maybe tonight after you get off work at your penthouse?”
A nervousness fell over me as I read her message. Why was she in New York? Did she decide to move here after all? I felt an instant relief knowing she was here, but I also felt the fear inside me rise up as it felt like it was choking the life out of me.
“Hi. We could meet there if you want and maybe go out for a nice dinner. How is six-thirty?”
“I’ll see you then,” she replied.
It was six-fifteen when I arrived home. Everly would be here in about fifteen minutes and I needed to quickly change before she came. Just as I finished changing, I heard the elevator ding. When the doors opened, Everly stepped out looking as beautiful as ever.
“Hi.” I smiled as I kissed her cheek.
“Hi.”
“It’s good to see you,” I spoke.
“It’s good to see you too.”
“Come on in. Can I get you a drink?”
“Sure. You know what, I’ll have what you’re having.”
“Bourbon?” I arched my brow at her.
“Yes.”
She seemed extremely nervous, which was something she never seemed to be before.
“Are you okay?” I asked as I walked over to the bar.
Everly
Seeing him again was surreal. I’d missed him, even though I didn’t want to. Maybe coming here was a mistake, but after seeing him, I