Torn(17)

"What's going on tonight?"

She shakes her head slightly, her gaze sliding over to the door of her studio. "I have a date, Asher. I can't see you tonight because I have a date."





CHAPTER 13


Falon




"You know that I would have completely understood if you wanted to cancel so you could bang Asher Foster." She laughs. "I would have cancelled on Jason's birthday dinner myself for a piece of that."

I grin at my best friend Maya. I haven't shut up about my afternoon with Asher since I got to her apartment. We were supposed to leave fifteen minutes ago for the restaurant but I've been spent the last thirty minutes whining about how he pulled back. "Jason wouldn't be into that. He doesn't seem like the type who is down for an open relationship, Maya."

"He doesn't even like an open bathroom door when he's taking a shower." She rolls her eyes. "He has some hang-ups. I'm not going to argue that point but he's gorgeous and he's hung. I mean the man has a huge penis."

I cover my ears and close my eyes in mock disgust as I sit on the edge of her bed. "I told you that I don't want to know about what's inside Jason's pants. That's your business."

"It's my neighbor's business now too," she admits. "They were banging on the wall again last night when he was drilling me."

I cock both brows. "You need to learn how to shut up during sex or you're going to be homeless."

"You'd let me move in with you if I got the boot from this place. I know you wouldn't leave me out in the cold."

"It's a million degrees outside right now," I tease as I smooth my hands over the skirt of the red dress I'm wearing. "Besides, there's no room in my place for me, you and Jason's massive dick."

"I knew you were interested in it."

I giggle. "Tell me about this guy you've set me up with."

I wait for her to respond as I watch her apply another coat of mascara to her long lashes. Maya is one of the most beautiful people I've ever known. Her black hair is cut into a sleek bob, her blue eyes are always rimmed with just the right amount of liner. Tonight she's wearing a little black dress that fits her like a tight glove. She's curvy, vivacious and a master at making everyone in a room feel at ease.

We met right after I moved to Manhattan. I literally ran into her on a street corner near my place and since then, we've been the best of friends. She always says that it was fate that brought us to that corner, the day before our shared birthday.

Her strong belief in the power of the universe to give her anything she hopes for convinced her that we were meant to cross paths. I, the more skeptical of our dynamic duo, wasn't buying it but I was grateful to find a friendly face the same age as me.

She works in real estate which has helped my business tremendously. I've done headshots for all the brokers in her office as well as a few location shoots for apartments hitting the rental market. She's a fantastic work contact and an even better best friend.

"He's no Jason or Asher Foster." She turns and winks at me. "I don't know Tony all that well. He's Jason's friend but he seems cool."

"Cool?"

"He works at the hospital too." She tucks the mascara back into her purse before scanning the screen of her phone. "He's not a doctor like Jason though. He's an administrator of something."

I'm not an expert on anything business or hospital related but that spells boring to me. "How old is he?"

"Twenty-nine, I think."

I'm not a prude when it comes to age. I've dated guys a year younger than me and some ten years older. If it's a good fit, that's what matters to me.

Before yesterday I was looking forward to this dinner. When Maya invited me to celebrate Jason's birthday I envisioned a party at her apartment complete with cheap wine and bags of potato chips.

Maya throws a mean party but little of that has to do with what's on the menu. She has a knack for bringing like-minded people together. I've met a few other friends through her and I'm always excited when she tells me she has someone new for me to meet. Tonight it's Tony and although I'm sure he's going to be a great guy, I can't shake what happened this afternoon.

When Asher kissed me, I wanted him so much. I would have f*cked him right there in my studio, with the door unlocked and the sunlight streaming in. He stopped though and although I know it wasn't because he didn't want me, it didn't matter then.

I was pissed, mostly from sheer disappointment and embarrassment.

He wanted me to give up my plans to go to his place. The offer was temping, but Maya is going to be here for me tomorrow and the day after that and probably ten years from now too. Whatever happens between me and Asher is going to last a night, maybe two or three more at most, but I know what his life is like.

He'll leave New York to go on tour. He'll hook up with whoever is screaming his name from the front row that night and every night after that will be a repeat.

I'll be here, working on building my career and my life. He'll be out there, somewhere in the world, charming another woman.

Maybe Maya's not so wrong about fate. Maybe it was fate that stopped Asher dead in his tracks today when we were kissing. If it was meant to be it would have happened. It didn't and tonight I'm open for any new adventure, Maya, or Tony, for that matter, throws my way.