Asha smiled as she sipped her coffee at Tate’s kitchen table. When she had hesitated that first day to invite him in, he had assured her he was no threat because he wasn’t interested in women except as friends. “Really?” she questioned pseudo innocently, already having guessed the truth quite some time ago.
“You looked nervous and I didn’t want to scare you. So it was the best thing I could think of at the time,” Tate said, his voice remorseful. “Forgive me?”
Asha looked at him and the nearly irresistible grin he gave her. Tate was incredibly attractive. With his pleading gray eyes, short blond hair, and the hint of a dimple on the side of his smiling mouth, Asha was pretty sure there wasn’t a woman in the world who wouldn’t cave when they looked at him. She sighed, wishing she could be just a little bit attracted to Tate, but she wasn’t. She loved his company, but she was starting to think that anyone who wasn’t Kade just wouldn’t do it for her. “I already did. Weeks ago.”
“You guessed? What gave me away?” Tate asked curiously.
“Hmm…I think my first clue was the attractive brunette who comes in and out of your apartment. She always has a giddy, love-struck expression on her face every time I see her coming or going from your place.”
Tate shrugged. “It’s not serious.”
Asha gave him an admonishing look. “I think she thinks that it is.”
“Nah…she knows the deal,” he answered, his voice detached. “She doesn’t want anything serious either. She’s recently divorced and is just looking for a casual thing.”
Asha didn’t think so, but it was really none of her business, so she didn’t comment. “I guess I should get back to work.” Tate was her latest client, and she needed to finish the accent wall in his apartment. “You realize you’ll have to repaint over this when you move?”
“Yeah. But it’s worth the effort if I can see your amazing work every day. It already looks incredible. It’s getting late. You can work on it tomorrow. You look tired.”
Asha was tired, and she didn’t have much to do to finish Tate’s project. She was doing a scene with a vintage fire truck on his wall, and it was turning out very well. Tate had given her the photos and she was creating the scene with the aid of the pictures. He had told her that he collected antiques and had a fascination for old fire trucks and fire equipment.
“Okay,” she agreed, draining her coffee cup. “I have something to do in the morning. Can I come over in the afternoon to finish up?” She stood and grabbed her keys from the table.
“Yeah. No problem,” he said agreeably, following her to the door.
“Asha?”
“Yeah?” She turned to look at Tate.
“I’m sorry I bullshitted you. I like you, and I shouldn’t have lied. I feel pretty guilty since you’ve gone out of your way to look after me while I’ve had my cast on.” He moved forward and brushed his lips against her forehead in a gesture of apology.
Tate looked so sincere that Asha smiled. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to do anymore. You shouldn’t have lied, but I understand why you did. I’m not sure I would have befriended you at the time, had you not said you were g*y.”
“Bad relationship?” he asked in a concerned voice.
“A few years ago, yes. My trust in men isn’t all that great.”
“Not all men suck,” Tate answered with a grin.
“I know. I’ve met some good ones now,” Asha answered as she opened the door.
“Am I included in that group?” Tate asked hopefully.
“Time will tell,” Asha said nonchalantly. “I guess that depends on whether or not you keep stringing along that nice brunette and break her heart.”
Asha heard an exaggerated groan from Tate as she closed the door and went back to her own apartment with a cheeky smile.
Asha tried to keep her nervousness under control as she pulled her vehicle to the front gate of Maddie’s home, asking the security guard to let Maddie know she was here. She’d wanted to come visit her sister so many times, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do it.
Security opened the gate for her, and Maddie met her on the steps of her house. Her older sister didn’t say a word as Asha approached. Maddie simply pulled Asha into her arms and held her tightly, comfortingly. They stayed like that for a while, Asha hugging Maddie back and savoring the comfort of her sibling’s embrace.
Finally, Maddie spoke in a tremulous voice, “I was afraid I wasn’t going to see you again.”
“I’m sorry, Maddie. I should have contacted you. I just…couldn’t.” Listening to her sister’s concerned voice, Asha realized she should have at least called. But she wasn’t used to someone caring about whether or not she was okay.
“Something happened with Kade.” It was a statement from Maddie, not a question.
Asha backed slowly out of Maddie’s arms and let her lead her into the kitchen. “It wasn’t him. It was me. I fell in love with him. So I had to leave.”
Maddie stopped at the coffee pot and poured them both some coffee before turning to Asha and raising a questioning brow. “You had to leave him because you love him?” Nodding to the cups of coffee, she mentioned, “Sorry…it’s decaf. I’m banned from caffeine until the babies come.”
The women sat, each with a mug of coffee in front of them. Asha added cream and sugar to hers. “I drink a lot of herbal chai, so I don’t drink much caffeine either.”
“I was so afraid you weren’t going to contact me. The DNA test came back and was a positive match, just the way I knew it would be. We’re sisters, Asha. Officially,” Maddie said, her voice emotional. Tears started to flow from her eyes as she looked across the table at Asha.
Asha lowered her head. “I know. I think I’ve always known. I was just afraid, Maddie. I’m sorry.” Seeing her sister crying nearly undid her. Maddie was upset. About her. It was more than clear that her older sister cared, and it made Asha’s chest ache with longing. “I needed some time. I’ve never really been on my own, made my own decisions without anyone making them for me. I’m messed up, Maddie. I need to get my head on straight, learn to make my own decisions and be independent. I never meant to hurt you. I’m not used to anyone caring about me.”
Maddie’s face softened. “Oh, Asha. Of course people care. Max and I love you, and you have friends. I think you’re going to have to get used to people caring.” She hesitated before adding, “Kade loves you, too. He’s been torn up since you left. He doesn’t talk about it a lot, but he’s not doing well. He told Max that you didn’t want to be with him.”