#Chapter 243: Does That Mean You Love Me?

That night, Asher and I ate dinner at the small two-person table in our room. Unlike most times before, we sat in terrible, awkward quiet, entirely silent except for the sound of our chewing or the scrape of silverware against the ceramic plates. Asher speared the final bit of food on his plate, brought it to his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. Then he spoke. “I have to leave earlier tonight than usual.” Have to leave, he’d said, like it’s some kind of obligation. I’d taken to over analyzing everything he said lately, hoping to glean some insight into where he’d been, or where he was going every night. “Chase is already on his way,” Asher said. “You don’t have to wait for him,” I said quickly. “If you need to go, I will be alright by myself for a few minutes.” He frowned at me, and for good reason. This supportive attitude of mine was entirely new. Usually, I’d been giving him a bit of the cold shoulder whenever he left. But truth was, this was the best opportunity I might ever ge