Rise - Part Three (Rise #3)(21)

"Tess? Are you Tess Marlow?"

"Yes," I say as I look past him to where Landon is talking to the other pilot. "Do I know you?"

"My name is Asher." He reaches out his hand towards me. "Asher Foster."

"Your Gabriel's brother?"

He pushes his hands into the front pocket of his jeans. "Gabriel said you were coming to L.A. He told me you doing some work for Liore."

I rake my eyes over his frame. He's thinner than Gabriel. His shoulders may not be as wide but he's muscular. I can see the definition of his chest through the thin, grey sweater he's wearing.

"I've been working on an event." I tilt my head to the side to try and glance at Landon, but he's moved from where he was before.

"I'm heading out of town." He gestures towards the guitar case on the floor next to him. "I'm flying to Orlando."

I nod. "Have we met before?"

"No." He shakes his head. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm not sure how you know me," I try to laugh to lighten what I'm feeling. "I've heard a lot about you from your mother and brother but I don't think I could pick you out in the middle of a crowded airport."

He throws his head back with a chuckle. "I hear you. You can blame my mom for that. She showed me a few pictures of you."

"Gianna did?"

His eyes brighten at the mention of his mother's name. "She wanted me to see the face of the girl who helped launch my career. You helped connect me with my new record producer. You're old friends with Ansel Rinaldi, right?"

"Sure," I spit out without thinking. "I did give your mom Ansel's manager's number."

"It kicked my career into gear." He pushes the edge of his guitar case with his shoe. "That's why I'm headed to Orlando. I'm going to record a few of my original songs."

I smile as I see Landon approaching out of the corner of my eye. "I'm really happy for you. That's fantastic news."

"Landon?" Asher can't contain the surprise in his voice when he turns to the left. "What the f*ck man? I haven’t seen you in years."

"Asher?" Landon pulls him into a warm embrace. "You grew up. Look at you."

"Gabriel told me you were piloting the plane." Asher rests his hand on Landon's shoulder. "I'm hopping on it now to head to Orlando."

"Sorry I'm not making that trip." Landon's voice sounds warm." We'll catch up soon. Have you met my girlfriend?"

"Tess?" Asher's brilliant white teeth come into full view as he smiles widely. "She's your girlfriend?"

"My one and only." Landon wraps his arm around my waist. "This is my forever, right here. I'm crazy about this woman."

"I can see why. It was great to see you and even better to meet you, Tess."

I extend my hand towards his. "It's been a pleasure, Asher. Good luck in Orlando."

He pulls my hand into his. "I appreciate it, thanks for that."

My eyes drop from his face to our hands.

His index finger rests next to my thumb as he shakes my hand.

I stare down at the mole on my thumb.

It's the same mole that matches the one on my father's index finger.

As he pulls his hand away from mine, my gaze follows his fingers and the mole on his index finger that is an exact match to my father's and mine.





Epilogue – 3 Months Later


"If Gianna told you that Asher isn't your father's son, I think you need to accept that and drop it. Asher is a Foster."

I reach across the table to grab a piece of toast from Landon's plate. "I still think that he's my brother. I studied him when we went to see him perform two weeks ago. Don't tell me that you don't think he looks like me?"

"Your hair is the same color." He playfully pulls on a few strands of my hair. "He looks more like Gabriel than you."

That's true. Gabriel had come to the venue that night as well and when I saw him standing next to his younger brother, there was no mistaking the resemblance between the two of them.

"Remember what your dad said when you asked him about Asher?" He takes a bite of the bacon he prepared. "He told you that he'd already discussed it with Gianna and that Asher has a father he loves very much. He asked you to leave it be because there's nothing there."

I'd waited until I was back in New York after the Liore pop-up shop event before I asked my father about the timing of his relationship with Gianna. He was open about the details, telling me that their trysts had spanned a period of many years. Their relationship had been on-and-off but the pull was there for a very long time.

I wasn't shocked by that. I was disappointed and saddened but I understand now that my father's actions don't reflect who I am.

I can't imagine ever wanting anyone but Landon. He's fulfilled me in ways that have transcended the times we spend in our bedroom. I'd moved in with on, on a whim, right after we'd returned from Los Angeles.

I hadn't brought up his father during that time at all. One night, he did, and as I explained the details of my discussion with Frederick, Landon had gone from clenching his hands in anger to weeping over the loss of his father from his life.