Finding Asher

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Asher

I unlock the door and toss my jacket and keys on the sofa as I walk in. I'm dead tired. Ashley has been working me like a dog for the past couple of weeks. Not that I mind, of course. I'd like to think of myself as, if nothing else, a hard worker.

I make my way to my room and kick my shoes off at the door. I fall back on the bed pillows, folding my arms underneath my head.

I live here with my cousin, Jake. He's usually not home, so I get a lot of peace and quiet around here. He lost his parents last year in a tragic car accident. His mom, Lora, was my mom's sister, though you'd never know it. Lora was kind hearted, upbeat and affectionate. She and Jake always had a great relationship.

I envied him for that.

Jake sort of lost his mind after the accident. Not that anyone could blame him. He was graduating from Colorado State the day it happened. I can't imagine hearing that kind of news on one of the most important days of your life. From what I hear, Jake was strong through the funeral. It was a couple of weeks after I think it all sank in and he just lost it. He fell into a depression, started drinking heavily and it seemed no one could reach him.

He started getting better a couple of months ago when he met a girl in a support group that had suffered a similar tragedy. They've been dating ever since and he's almost always with her.

Jake was the only family I heard from while in prison; the only one that didn't turn his back on me. He offered for me to come stay at his place when I got out, at least until I was able to get on my feet again. Neither of us had any idea I'd be getting a job so quickly and I'm starting to think he doesn't really want me to go anywhere.

I let out a long sigh as my mind wonders. I haven't stopped thinking about Ashley since the day I met her. We shared an instant and powerful connection that I honestly can't explain. I've never met anyone as captivating as her. With each passing day, I find myself getting closer and closer to her. I shouldn't. I need to get out of Fort Collins as soon as I have enough money. I can't get attached to anyone here. Besides, if Ashley knew about my past, she'd never want anything to do with me anyway.

She welcomed me into her shop with open arms although I'd just gotten out of prison. She never even asked me why I was there. I was ready to give her some kind of rendition of the truth when she asked, but after two weeks, she still hasn't brought it up. She's probably waiting for me to tell her myself, but that's never going to happen.

I must have dozed off because I'm suddenly startled awake by a knock on my bedroom door. I blink a couple of times to get myself together and sit up on the edge of my bed. "Come in."

Jake peeks his head in and smiles. "Hey, man. Long time no see." He takes a seat in the chair next to the bed. "Guess the job is going well then?"

"It's been exhausting, but other than that, great. I really like working there."

He gives me a knowing smirk. "I'll bet you do. Ashley Malone is a total hottie!"

I don't know why, but it bothers me that he said that. Not that he's wrong, Ashley is unbelievably attractive. "She takes her business very seriously though. She's great to look at, but trust me when I say you don't want to get on her bad side."

That's an understatement actually. In the short time I've known Ashley, I've learned that she's fierce if nothing else. She doesn't mind voicing her opinion or putting me, or anyone else for that matter, in their place.

"Fine and fiesty," Jake says with a slow nod.

"And taken," I say with a sigh. I think back to a few days ago when I found out that rather unfortunate piece of information.

Richard, or as I like to call him, d**k. He's tall and thin with dark hair and boring, beady eyes; not nearly attractive enough for someone like Ashley. I found it odd that she never mentioned him until he came into the shop that day. Even then, she acted as if she didn't want to introduce him to me as her boyfriend.

He didn't mind throwing that in my face though.

"No way!" Jake says leaning toward me, resting his arms on his knees. "Who is that lucky guy?"

"His name is Richard and he installs security systems. She's way out of his league."

He punches me in the shoulder playfully. "Everyone around here is out of that girl's league. She's like, supermodel hot."

He continues talking, but I start to zone out. My thoughts go right back to Ashley and the time we spend together at the shop. The more I'm around her, the more I'm convinced that there's something between us. I'm not just making it up. It's not just all in my head.

Ashley says Saturday is the busiest day of the week, but it's also the day my cake pops will make their debut. She said if we sell at least a hundred of them, she'll let me call her Buttercup. It's a bet she will regret making since I've been working on getting the word out. Jake has tons of friends around here that are into this sort of thing.

She's setting out freshly baked brownies on the front counter when I walk in. Her hair is braided today, giving her a more youthful look. Then I notice that she's wearing an old Led Zeppelin concert tee.

She really is perfect.

"What are you looking at?" she asks without looking up, as if she can feel my eyes on her.

I stop in front of her and smirk. She looks up at me and raises a brow. "Nice shirt," I say."

She looks down at her shirt and back at me. "What? I don't fit the part?"

I chuckle at her using my own words against me. "Well, I do like the shirt. Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands of all time. But no, you don't fit the part."

"Guess you have a lot to learn about me then," she says, her eyes connecting with mine only briefly, but long enough to make me feel the sparks between us.

The door opens and snaps us out of our little moment. Logan walks in and leans against the counter next to me. "What's up, Asher?"

Before I can answer, Ashley chimes in. "He's about to be up to his ears in cake pops."

"Oh, right. If we sell a hundred, Asher gets to call you Buttercup."

"You told him?" Ashley asks, rolling her eyes.

"I'm a competitive guy," I shrug.

"So what happens if we don't sell a hundred?" Logan asks.

"Asher?" Ashley smirks.

I sigh. "Okay...if we don't sell a hundred, I'll.... let you think of a nickname for me."

"Like....Tank, or Big John, or Mr. Fantastic," she asks, smiling victoriously as if she's already won this little bet.

"Mr. Fantastic?" Logan and I ask in unison.

"I'll think of something," she says walking away to the kitchen.

I know men are sometimes oblivious when it comes to women, but I don't miss the tension that exists between Ashley and me. I find myself wanting to be near her, wanting to talk to her, wanting to just look at her.

"Could you not check out my mom's ass right in front of me?"

I look at Logan as if he's crazy, but he's right. I was doing exactly that. "Better get used to it, kid."

"Ugh. If I had a dollar for every guy that thought my mom was hot-"

"You'd be a billionaire, right?" I laugh. He doesn't find it quite as funny as I do.

"You know she has a boyfriend, right?" Logan asks, taking a bite out of a brownie.

I nod. "I met him a few days ago. He seems like..." I pause to find the right words, but Logan beats me to it.

"A dick."

Wow. I knew I liked this kid.

"What makes you say that?" I ask, genuinely curious since I can't for the life of me figure out how he got her.

"The guy thinks he knows everything there is to know about anything. He's always using big words and he sounds like a d**k when he talks. Hence the nickname," He sighs. "Plus, she's my mom and I guess deep down, I don't think anyone is good enough for her."

I nod in agreement. I never knew my dad, so my mom was always dating a different guy. Every time I'd remember one's name, he was replaced with someone new. I never liked a single one of them though. Especially Kurt.

I cringe at the thought of him. The one guy my mom settled down for was the worst human alive. He was a lying, manipulative bastard that couldn't stand the sight of me and just wanted me to go away. Ultimately, he got what he wanted.

Ashley wasn't lying when she said I'd be up to my ears in cake pops. I just finished two dozen and about to start a third. She thought that would be enough for today.

The first dozen were already out on display, and to my dismay, only one had been sold and to Logan at that. Still, I kept working on the third batch. Even if I have to buy every last one myself, I'll make sure they get sold.

"Asher! Please tell me that second batch is ready to go!" Ashley yells, barging through the kitchen door.

"Uh, yeah. They're right here," I say, pointing at the counter beside me.

She rushes over to pick them up and hurries back to the front of the shop. I follow her to ask if the first batch had been sold, but when I open the door to the kitchen, my question is answered.

There are at least twenty people, if not more, lined up to make a purchase. My eyes widen as I watch Ashley wrapping up one cake pop after another. Logan is behind the counter taking money. Neither of them notice me since they are so busy, so I continue to look on for a while.

I smile to myself. I know it's a small thing, but I needed it. I've spent so much time hating myself over the past few years and believing I'd never amount to anything. A small part of me still believes that, but I've found something that I'm good at and I'm going to give it my all. Not just for me, but for Ashley too. She gave me a chance and I want to make her proud.

"How much longer on those cake pops?" Logan asks, peeking his head through the kitchen door only about half an hour later.

"Fifteen minutes."

"These people are going to riot!" he says in a sing-song voice before going back out front.

Seriously?

I walk back to the door and open it just enough to get a glance of all the people still crowding the small front area of the shop. Wow. My eyes zero in on my cousin Jake who is standing in line chatting with a couple of people I recognize to be his friends.

He came through.

I see Ashley coming towards me, so I hurry back to work.

I can't stop the smile that spreads across my face as she leans against the counter next to me. Not just because I know what she's going to say, but also because I love it when she's this close.

"Hey, Asher. How's it going?"

I look down at her with a knowing smile. "Hello, Ashley," I say, putting emphasis on her name since I know I won't be calling her by it much longer. "I'm pretty busy back here, but I think you already know that."

"These things are a hit. I've seriously never seen a crowd like this since I've been here."

She's definitely on to me judging by the tone of her voice, but I don't mention it. Besides, she looks so adorable right now, I don't want to say anything that might ruin this moment.

"Anyway, we'll need about a hundred more asap," she says, turning to walk away.

I raise my brows faking confusion, since I know very well what's going on. "There's no way we've sold a hundred already."

She stops and turns to face me, grinning from ear to ear. "I just took an order for a hundred from one customer. I guess that means you win."

I smirk at her and cross my arms over my chest. "I told you, I love a challenge....Buttercup."